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Cream cheese dip is my go to when people are coming over and I want something rich and creamy on the table in minutes, and this roasted garlic version is my favorite of them all. I whipped it up before a *last minute game day* gathering and Lizzie kept sneaking chips into it before the guests even arrived. It takes about 10 minutes with no cooking at all. If you love easy party dips, our hot spinach artichoke dip is another crowd favorite.
This roasted garlic cream cheese dip is smooth, savory, and packed with sweet mellow garlic flavor in every bite.
Cream Cheese Dip Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: No cooking
- ⏳ Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 6 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 174kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Rich, creamy, and savory with sweet mellow roasted garlic
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, about as simple as our toffee fruit dip
Quick Answer
Place softened cream cheese in a medium bowl and beat it with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Add sour cream, roasted garlic, salt, and pepper, then whip everything together until fully combined and the garlic has broken up into the dip. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with thinly sliced fresh chives. Serve with chips, crackers, and fresh vegetables. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes and needs no cooking at all.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- No cooking required. This cream cheese dip is whipped together in one bowl in about 10 minutes, no oven or stovetop needed.
- Sweet, mellow garlic. Roasting the garlic first turns it soft, sweet, and mellow, so it flavors the whole dip without any harsh bite.
- Ultra creamy texture. Beating the cream cheese smooth before adding the sour cream gives you a light, dippable, lump free dip.
- Just a few ingredients. Cream cheese, sour cream, roasted garlic, salt, and pepper are all you need for a rich party dip.
- Make ahead friendly. It actually tastes better after chilling, so you can whip it up the day before your party.
- Endlessly dippable. It is perfect with chips, crackers, pretzels, and fresh cut veggies of every kind.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It comes together in one bowl in about 10 minutes with no cooking.
- Roasted garlic gives it a deep, sweet, savory flavor you cannot get from raw garlic.
- It is smooth, creamy, and endlessly dippable, even richer than our strawberry cheesecake dip.
- It uses just a handful of simple ingredients and is easy to make ahead.
Key Ingredients
Here is everything you need to make this roasted garlic cream cheese dip.
- Cream cheese: Full fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature, is the rich and creamy base. Let it sit out so it beats smooth without lumps.
- Sour cream: Loosens the dip to a soft, scoopable texture and adds a gentle tang that balances the garlic.
- Roasted garlic: The star of the dip. Roasting mellows and sweetens the garlic so five cloves add deep flavor without any raw sharpness.
- Salt and pepper: Simple seasoning that brings all the flavors together. Add to taste.
- Fresh chives: Thinly sliced over the top for a pop of color and a mild oniony freshness. Optional but pretty.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This cream cheese dip is easy to make your own. Here are a few ideas.
- Stir in shredded cheddar or a handful of crumbled bacon for a loaded version.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice or a spoonful of mayo for a tangier, softer dip.
- Fold in chopped fresh dill, parsley, or green onion for an herby twist.
- Serve it warm by baking it for 15 minutes for a hot dip like our spinach artichoke dip.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a little hot sauce for a spicy kick.
How to Make Cream Cheese Dip
- Place the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Add the sour cream, roasted garlic, salt, and pepper, then whip until everything is combined and the garlic has broken up and fully incorporated.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and garnish with thinly sliced fresh chives if using. Serve with chips, crackers, and fresh vegetables of your choice.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Soften the cream cheese fully so it beats smooth and creamy without any lumps.
- Roast the garlic ahead of time, a whole head roasts in about 40 minutes and keeps in the fridge for days.
- Whip until the garlic breaks up so you get sweet garlic flavor evenly throughout the dip.
- Chill before serving if you have time, the flavor deepens as it sits.
- Taste and adjust the salt and pepper at the end, since roasted garlic varies in strength.
- Bring it to room temperature before serving so it is soft and easy to scoop.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Serve roasted garlic cream cheese dip in a shallow bowl surrounded by a colorful spread of potato chips, crackers, pretzels, and fresh cut vegetables like broccoli, carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes. It is the perfect no fuss appetizer for game day, holidays, and last minute get togethers.
Set it out as part of a bigger snack table next to our cheese sticks or a batch of sweet chipotle bacon crackers for an easy grazing spread.
Because it needs no cooking and can be made ahead, it is a stress free addition to any party. Pair it with our baked ham and Swiss sliders for a heartier appetizer lineup.
Cream Cheese Dip FAQs
Store roasted garlic cream cheese dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Because it is a dairy based dip, keep it chilled and only leave it out for about two hours at a party. Give it a quick stir before serving again, and it will taste just as fresh.
Yes, and it is even better made ahead. Whip it up a day in advance, cover it, and chill it in the refrigerator. The flavors deepen and the roasted garlic mellows even further overnight. Let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving so it softens and scoops easily.
Slice the top off a whole head of garlic, drizzle it with olive oil, wrap it in foil, and roast at 400 degrees F for about 40 minutes until soft and golden. Let it cool, then squeeze the sweet, soft cloves right out of the skins. You can roast several heads at once and keep the extra in the fridge.
Roasted garlic is what gives this dip its signature sweet, mellow flavor, so it is worth roasting. In a pinch you can use a teaspoon of garlic powder or a couple of cloves of jarred roasted garlic, but the fresh roasted flavor is much richer and less sharp.
This dip is delicious with ridged potato chips, crackers, pretzels, pita chips, and toasted baguette. For a lighter option, serve it with fresh cut vegetables like broccoli, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes. It also makes a great spread for sandwiches and bagels.
Freezing is not recommended for this dip. Cream cheese and sour cream based dips tend to separate and turn grainy once thawed. It comes together so quickly that it is best made fresh, and it keeps well in the refrigerator for several days.
Love easy dips? Make our hot spinach artichoke dip next.
Love this flavor combo in finger food form? Try our roasted garlic goat cheese pinwheels.
Roasted Garlic Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 5 cloves roasted garlic
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Thinly sliced fresh chives for garnish optional
Instructions
- Place the cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth.8 ounces cream cheese
- Add the sour cream, garlic, salt, and pepper, whip until everything is combined and the garlic has broken up and fully incorporated.½ cup sour cream, 5 cloves roasted garlic, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Garnish with chives if using. Serve with chips, crackers, and veggies of your choice.Thinly sliced fresh chives for garnish
Notes
- Nutritional value does not include dippers.
- Make sure your cream cheese is softened before making, this helps everything blend easily.
- You can smash your garlic before adding it to the dip.
- Double this recipe to serve more people.
- You can serve this with various different dipping vessels.
- Do not substitute with any other garlic, this dip needs roasted garlic, I have included how to roast garlic in a recipe above.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
Both of these recipes are drool-worthy.
I love that the garlic dip is so easy to make. Definitely what I need when it comes to holiday entertaining. I can’t wait to check out Parrish’s recipe, too. What a great series.
Thanks for sharing at Home{work} Wednesday.
This looks perfect for hosting my first bible study next week – simple and delicious! Thanks!
Dana, this looks so good! Definitely bookmarking this to make later. Thanks for sharing. You will be one of the features tomorrow at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
3 to 5 cloves
You had me at garlic and cream cheese! Pinning. Thanks for sharing at All Things Pretty!
3 to 5 cloves of garlic or 3 to 5 heads of garlic????
Mmmm, roasted garlic is my absolute favorite!
Mmmm I would have licked the bowl clean too! Pinning this so we can try it later, and thanks for sharing the recipe at my link party!
Yum!
Thank you for linking up with Friday’s Fab Favorites!
Lauren xx
http://www.stylelixir.com
This looks so good!!! Thanks for linking up over at Feed Me Friday, can’t wait to see what you link up next week 🙂