Too Many Dips for my Chips

By Madi Yeh

Photo by Melissa Shao

Photo by Melissa Shao

It’s 12:35am, you look outside and can’t seem to remember when the sky suddenly shifted from a beautiful pink sunset to pitch black. The blue tinged screen illuminates your face as Netflix relentlessly begs you to go to sleep for the second time that night, asking, “are you still watching?” Your stomach grumbles, instinctually, you gravitate towards the pantry, grab your favorite chips, and head to the fridge, where you are faced with the age old dilemma- having too many chips for your dip. 

Too many dips for your chips has never been a dilemma that anybody’s faced… until now! This article is a complete guide to the perfect chip dip combo to match your most recent Netflix binge, and might even inspire your next TV show obsession. 

For the Reality TV Lover: Seven Layer Dip

Madi’s Recommendation: Keeping up with the Kardashians

Just like Keeping up with the Kardashians, and other reality TV shows, this seven layer dip is a true guilty pleasure. Providing no substantial benefit to your wellness, or health, both the show, and this dip WILL keep you on your toes. From its colorful appearance, to its intense savory flavor, the fusion of freshness and spice in these seven layers are sure to bring the drama to your dip.

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups salsa

  • 16 oz. refried beans (1 can)

  • 2 tbsp. milk

  • 8 oz. cream cheese

  • 1 ½ cups sour cream

  • 2 tbsp. taco seasoning

  • 1 cup guacamole

  • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, grated

  • ½ cups black olives

  • 4 green onions, sliced

Recipe

  1. Place salsa in a sieve to drain liquid.

  2. In a separate bowl, combine refried beans and milk, mixing until smooth.

  3. In another medium sized bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning with a mixer on medium.

  4. Spread the refried beans at the bottom of a medium sized pan (9x13 is my recommendation)

  5. Next, layer on the cream cheese and sour cream mixture

  6. Spoon the guacamole into the pan, then repeat with the salsa

  7. Top the dip with cheese, olives, and finally, green onions.

  8. Chill 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Feel free to replace ingredients to taste- fresh diced tomatoes are a great substitution to olives! 

Pairs Well With: Tortilla chips, lightly salted popcorn chips, lightly salted crackers

For the Casual Sitcom Fan: French Onion Dip

Madi’s Recommendation: Modern Family

Like Modern Family, and other sitcoms, this French onion dip, is absolutely addicting and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The creamy and beautiful velvet consistency mixed with the perfectly smokey, caramelized flavor of French onion dip are absolutely to die for. From heartfelt scenes and sweet caramelized flavors to rolling-on-the-floor humor and smoky savory bites, Modern Family and French onion dip both have everything you need in a TV show and dip.

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp. butter

  • 2 ½ cups diced yellow onions (2-3 medium onions)

  • ¾ tsp. salt

  • ½ tsp. black pepper

  • ½ tsp. onion powder

  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

  • 4 oz. cream cheese (cubed and softened)

  • ¼ cups whole egg mayonnaise

  • ½ cups sour cream

  • 2 chives, chopped (optional)

Recipe

  1. In a frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat.

  2. Add onions, salt, pepper, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often until the onions are a caramelized brown.

  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onions should be sweet and golden. 

  4. Remove from the stove and allow caramelized onions to cool.

  5. Add cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise into a bowl and mix until smooth 

  6. Add caramelized onions into cream mixture and mix until combined. 

  7. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set, serve at room temperature.

  8. Add chives at room temperature for garnish.


Notes

Pairs Well With: Original Ruffles, Original Lays

For the Internet Sleuth and Documentary Junkie: Buffalo Chicken Dip

Madi’s Recommendation: Unsolved Mysteries

The savory, fiery flavor of buffalo chicken dip is sure to give your mouth a scare as you unravel murder mysteries, and true crime while watching Unsolved Mysteries. Its smooth, creamy consistency and cheesy goodness offer the perfect amount of comfort amidst its subtle spicy and savory kick. This dip is everything you need to accompany your night of thrill and suspense. 

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. unsalted butter

  • 2 tsp. minced garlic

  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded

  • 5 tbsp. hot sauce (or to taste)

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

  • ½ cups sour cream

  • ½ cups white cheddar, shredded

  • ½ cups American cheese, shredded

  • ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)

  • 2 green onions, sliced (optional)

Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius,) and prearrange the oven rack to the middle position.

  2. In a cast-iron skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.

  3. Add garlic and saute until fragrant (30 seconds.)

  4. Add chicken and hot sauce to the pan and let simmer.

  5. Reduce the heat to low and add cream cheese. Mix until combined.

  6. Remove the skillet from the heat, and stir in the sour cream.

  7. Top the mixture with both white cheddar, and American cheddar.

  8. Bake the dip and cast iron pan in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

  9. While hot, garnish with blue cheese and green onions, and serve immediately.


    Notes

Pairs Well With: Original potato chips, baguette slices, tortilla chips, celery sticks, carrot sticks

Crème de Cornell