brussels sprouts dip

Photo: Marshall Troy

Another Reason to Love Brussels Sprouts
We adore these mini cabbages as a side dish, but it turns out they can also be key players in a zesty, cheesy dip. This one includes bacon (which is basically all we needed to hear), garlic, ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest and sliced Brussels sprouts. You bake the dip until it's browned on top and serve hot with toasted baguette slices, chips or crackers.

Get the recipe: Warm Charred Brussels Sprouts Dip with Ricotta and Bacon
russian layer salad

Photo: Jennifer May

A Salad That's Not "Just a Salad"
The stacked salad is a potluck stalwart; also known as the seven-layer salad, it can be the most interesting-looking and widely appealing dish on the table. Somehow, when everyday ingredients—in this version, beets, potatoes, carrots, eggs, peas and canned tuna—are spread in layers in a glass bowl, they become a whole much greater than the sum of its parts.

Get the recipe: Seven-Layer Russian Salad
bacon guac dip

Photo: Erin Kunkel/Weldon Owen

A Dish That Makes Us Want to Renew Our Vows with Bacon
Bacon and guacamole are two foods that tend to go over really well with pretty much anyone—which is why this brilliant dip combining both is a shoo-in for any buffet table. The recipe also features roasted jalapeños, onions, garlic and tomatillos, which give the spread an extra rich and smoky flavor.

Get the recipe: Bacon-Guacamole Salsa Verde Dip
mega dip

Photo: Erin Kunkel/Weldon Owen

A Brand New Way to Do Sour Cream and Onion Dip
This over-the-top accompaniment for ridged potato chips proves that sometimes, more is more. The dip starts with the basics—sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder—yet goes way beyond the predictable workhorses, incorporating buttermilk, fresh dill and chives, sweet Spanish paprika and crumbled blue cheese, so it delivers a perfect mash-up of sweet and salty tastes. The icing on the cake is a garnish of fried shallots.

Get the recipe: Ultra Mega Dip
mexican seven layer dip

Photo: Lynn Andriani

The Throwback Everyone (Seriously, Everyone) Loves
A Mexican seven-layer dip is one of the most guaranteed-to-be-gobbled-up dishes you can bring to a party. And while there are many ways to build this stalwart classic, we're partial to refried beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, lettuce and olives. Heating the beans with some diced chilies before spreading them into the dish gives it some depth, as well as texture.

Get the recipe: Mexican Seven-Layer Dip
Published 11/17/2015