Cheese dips are a cheap and easy party food. There are a variety of ingredients that can be used to prepare the dish---and each ingredient brings a unique flavor to the dip. By trying different combinations of cheeses and ingredients, one can create a wide variety of cheese dips of diverse flavors. Cheese dip ingredients are used to build recipes that range from being foolproof for beginners to those better left in the hands of experienced cooks.
Cheeses
The easiest and least expensive base for cheese dip is a such as Velveeta. Simply slice off the desired amount of cheese and melt it for a standard cheese dip. Other cheeses can be used, but are often much thicker or are used in recipes where unique ingredients are required. For example, a recipe on foodnetwork.com calls for the use of cream cheese for a crab dip.
Meats
There are several different meats at home in a cheese dip. Beef, turkey, and pork in shredded or ground form mix well with melted cheese. Seafood, primarily crab and shrimp, are also not out of place in a cheese dip---and bacon and sausage are also used in some dips.
Other Ingredients
Vegetables are good secondary ingredients---and adding jalapenos is certainly one option in making a cheese dip. Broccoli is also another popular example. Salsa or fresh pico de gallo blend well too.
Consistency
It is possible to add milk to a processed cheese dip to thin the consistency. Start with one to two tbsp. of milk, and add more until the desired consistency is achieved.
Examples and Warnings
For a simple cheese dip, melt a hunk of processed cheese in the microwave. Add salsa or cooked ground beef (or both) to flesh out the flavors. Mix the ingredients together and serve with tortilla chips. Others seeking a more challenging cheese dip may discover other ingredients. Remember that seafood and meats need to be cooked properly before mixing into a cheese dip. Also, people cooking seafood for guests should make sure they aren't allergic to the ingredients.
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