Easy Beer Cheese Dip Recipe (Hot or Cold)
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This easy-to-make Beer Cheese Dip is packed with zesty flavors and a hint of your favorite beer. Served hot or cold with pretzels, chips, or veggies, it’s the ultimate appetizer for parties or game day gatherings.
Beer Cheese Dip Recipe
If you’ve never tried beer cheese dip, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Pub-style beer cheese dip is creamy, cheesy, a tad garlicky, and has a hint of that tangy ranch goodness. Your favorite beer is added, giving it a subtle richness that sets it apart from other types of cheese dip.
Served hot or cold, your guests will love dunking these homemade Soft Pretzel Bites in the cheesy connection! This dip is also great with these full-sized Soft Pretzels, chips, veggies or slices of crusty bread. It’s the perfect appetizer recipe for game day, movie night or just chilling at home with friends.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Simple to make – This easy beer cheese dip makes an easy appetizer in just 5 minutes, using a few basic ingredients.
- Homemade deliciousness – This creamy dip tastes even better than pub-style cheese dip you get at restaurants.
- Versatile – You can serve it cold or hot with any of your favorite dippable snacks. It’s perfect for game day or any party.
Ingredients
- Cream cheese (softened and cut into cubes)
- Beer (Pale Ale or any type lighter beer)
- Ranch dressing mix
- Stone-ground mustard
- Fresh garlic clove (minced)
- Sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- Monterey jack cheese
- Fresh green onions or parsley for garnish (optional)
Serve with: pretzels, crackers, crusty bread, or fresh vegetables
How to Make The Best Beer Cheese Dip
To Serve Cold:
Step 1. In a food processor, combine the three types of cheese, ranch dressing mix, mustard, and minced garlic. Process until smooth. Scrape down the sides and blend again as needed.
Note: If you don’t have a food processor, use a hand mixer to combine ingredients into a large bowl and mix together on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
Step 2. Pour in the beer slowly and continue to mix together until well blended.
Step 3. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
Tip: Though not required, chilling also gives the flavors time to come together. I like to chill it for about 2 hours prior to serving
Step 4. Garnish with fresh chopped green onions or parsley. Enjoy!
To Serve Hot
Step 1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the softened cream cheese.
Step 2. Slowly mix in the beer, whisking until smooth and well combined.
Step 3. Mix in the ranch dressing mix, Dijon mustard, and garlic. Turn off the heat and remove it from the stove.
Step 4. Add the shredded cheese a little at a time and mix it in until fully melted.
Step 5. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, garnish with fresh chopped green onions or parsley. Serve and enjoy!
How to Serve This Cheesy Dip
Pretzel bites are the most common snack served with beer cheese, but here are some other awesome ways you can serve it:
- Fresh vegetables: Broccoli and cauliflower florets, carrot and celery sticks are popular veggies with this dip.
- Potatoes: Use it as a cheese sauce for French fries or potato wedges. It’s even delish drizzled over baked potatoes.
- Chips: Corn or tortilla chips, pita chips, crunchy pretzel chips or just regular potato chips go great with the ingredients used in the dip.
- Fondue: This is a great recipe to add to a fondue pot once the cheese is fully melted. Serve it with pieces of crusty bread, toasted French or sourdough bread.
- Mac and cheese: Make a grownup version of mac and cheese by using this dip as a cheese sauce in your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe.
Easy Homemade Beer Cheese Variations and Add-ins
- Adjust the garlic: There is a little garlic powder in the ranch dressing mix so if you don’t want extra garlic, you can omit adding the minced garlic clove.
- Add some heat: Feel free to add other spices such as cayenne pepper for a little kick. You can also add chopped jalapenos, red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce: Though this recipe does not call for it, a couple of dashes of Worcestershire adds another level of flavor.
- Crispy bacon: Fried bacon crumbles and cheese dip go hand-in-hand. Add some when you add the cheese or use it as a garnish.
Recipe FAQs
This dip can be made and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it over low heat in a medium saucepan or in the microwave for about 1 minute.
Though you can use most any beer, for best results, avoid fruit flavored or floral beers. I prefer to use lagers, pale ales, or IPA’s. Lighter beer flavors the dip without overpowering it. If you prefer a more intense beer flavor, choose a stronger, darker beer.
Sure! Non-alcoholic beer from O’Doul’s, Corona, Coors, Samuel Adams all make really good non alcoholic beers that will also work in this recipe.
Top Tip
Pre-shredded cheese is coated with anti-caking agents to prevent it from clumping together. To make sure the overall texture of the dip is smooth and creamy, it’s best to shred the cheese yourself. It also melts much better if you’re serving this dip warm.
Want More Delicious Dip Recipes?
- Easy White Queso
- Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Easy Sausage Cheese Dip
- Sour Cream Veggie Dip
- Easy Spinach Dip
- Ground Beef Taco Dip
Beer Cheese Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- 2 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 2 teaspoons stoneground mustard
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ cup beer I used Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
- Fresh chopped green onions or parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
To Serve Cold:
- In a food processor, combine the three types of cheese, ranch dressing mix, mustard, and minced garlic. Process until smooth. Scrape down the sides and blend again as needed.16 ounces cream cheese, 2 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup shredded monterey jack cheese, 1 packet ranch dressing mix, 2 teaspoons stoneground mustard, 1 garlic clove
- Note: If you don’t have a food processor, use a hand mixer to combine ingredients into a large bowl and mix together on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
- Pour in the beer slowly and continue to mix together until well blended.½ cup beer
- Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
- Garnish with fresh chopped green onions or parsley. Enjoy!Fresh chopped green onions or parsley for garnish
To Serve Hot
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the softened cream cheese.16 ounces cream cheese
- Slowly mix in the beer, whisking until smooth and well combined.½ cup beer
- Mix in the ranch dressing mix, Dijon mustard, and garlic. Turn off the heat and remove it from the stove.1 packet ranch dressing mix, 2 teaspoons stoneground mustard, 1 garlic clove
- Add the shredded cheese a little at a time and mix it in until fully melted.2 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, garnish with fresh chopped green onions or parsley. Serve and enjoy!Fresh chopped green onions or parsley for garnish
Notes
- If you’re making this dip cold, chilling also gives the flavors time to come together. I like to chill it for about 2 hours prior to serving. However, it’s still totally fine to serve this right after preparing it if you don’t the extra time for chilling.
- This dip can also be made with non-alcoholic beer. O’Doul’s, Corona, Coors, Samuel Adams all make really good non alcoholic beers that will also work in this recipe.
Nutrition
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