You Only Need 4 Ingredients to Make the “Best Football Dip Ever”

In our opinion, there's one thing that can make or break a tailgate party: the dip. When there’s a good dip on the table, everybody's happy, no matter how many yards your team just lost.

But a good dip can be hard to find. In fact, there’s a pretty lengthy list of prerequisites. 

It’s gotta be easy, crowd-pleasing, and satisfying. It needs to be quick enough to prepare if your team is playing at 11 a.m., and include few enough ingredients that you’re not left running out to the store at kick-off. It should also go well with all sorts of dipping vehicles, from tortilla chips to soft pretzel bites to celery sticks. It should be strong enough to stand alone on the snack table, but complimentary enough to blend well with the other gameday offerings. Still keeping up?

When it comes to a top-notch tailgating dip, It’s all about good texture, flavor, and scoopability, and while we have plenty of recipes that meet those standards, one does it better than all the rest: our Best Football Dip Ever.

What Is the Best Football Dip Ever?

One look at this dip, and you know you’re in for a meaty, cheesy, mouth-watering bite. Best of all, it only takes four ingredients and 10 minutes to prepare. The simple layer dip is made with cream cheese, American cheese, ground, beef, and salsa, and each scoop is more comforting than the last.

Now, you’ve probably made (or eaten) something similar before, but what makes this recipe irresistible is that it’s oven-baked, leaving you with a melty layer of bubbling cheese on top. If you’ve ever had baked mac and cheese (as opposed to one made on the stovetop), you know exactly what we’re talking about. 

This belly-warming dip will serve you well into football season as temperatures drop—just be prepared for everybody to go crazy for it. 

“The name says it all!!” raved Allecipes member Kath.

How to Make the Best Football Dip Ever 

To make this winning football dip, all you’ll need is ground beef, cream cheese, salsa (hot or mild), and American cheese.

Start by cooking the ground beef in a skillet until it turns into brown crumbles, then drain off the grease. Spread the cream cheese (softened) in an even layer on the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish.

Spread the salsa evenly on top of the cream cheese, then cover with a layer of ground beef. Finally, top it off with slices of American cheese, then wrap the dish in foil. Bake it for 15 to 20 minutes in a 400-degree F oven, and serve hot. 

Some Allrecipes community members have added taco seasoning to the ground beef for even more savory flavor, while others suggest kicking up the heat with a seeded jalapeno or a can of green chiles layered in. However, most reviewers call this a “crowd fave” exactly as written. 

“This dip will be enjoyed today and for football history! Thanks for the good idea!” said Allrecipes user Mirah Jane Harrison. 

If we had to guess, you probably have everything you need in your kitchen right now. So, this football Sunday, make this touchdown dip for your crowd and see if they also dub it the “Best Football Dip Ever.”

Get the Recipe: Best Football Dip Ever