Creamy, Crunchy Dill Pickle Dip

If you love the zesty flavours of dill pickles, have I got a dip for you!  Easy to make with just a handful of ingredients, this crunchy, creamy, savoury pickle dip is the snack you need for your next game day or movie night.  Need an appetizer for a pot luck or get together?   You’ve come to the right place – this crowd pleasing spread will be the hit of the party!

There is no denying that this addictive pickle dip is salty, creamy and indulgent, but here’s my observation about delicious dips:  the tastier the dip, the more vegetables get eaten!  Even if you plan to serve it with crackers or chips, include some cucumber slices as well and watch them disappear!

What goes in Creamy, Crunchy Dill Pickle Dip?

The ingredients list for this tangy dip is short and simple, and most ingredients might  already be in your fridge – which is great news, because that means you can whip up this quick appetizer anytime you want!

• Cream Cheese: This recipe starts with a block of regular cream cheese.  Leave it out on the counter for an hour to soften before starting this recipe, or microwave it for short intervals to soften it up if you can’t wait.
• Dill Pickle Juice:  Use the juice (aka dill pickle brine) from the jar of pickles.
• Chopped Dill Pickles:  I use full-sour Kosher Dills in my dip, but feel free to use your favourite type of dill pickle.  If you like a little heat, consider using spicy dills for an extra zippy twist on this dip.
• Green onions:  For mild oniony flavour and extra crunch, stir in 2 finely chopped green onions.
• Fresh Dill:  To boost the dill flavour of this dip, stir in lots of finely chopped fresh dill.   Chop a little extra dill for sprinkling on top of the dip as a garnish.
• Salt: I add just a pinch since the cream cheese and pickles are already salty, but you can add salt to taste.

DRINK PAIRINGS

Salty, briny pickles love to be matched up with savoury gin or vodka based drinks.  This recipe is delicious with a classic martini.  Serve this dip slathered on bagels at brunch, alongside a Caesar or Bloody Mary bar.  A crisp lager is a great match if you’re serving dill pickle dip as a game day snack.  Pickles and wine aren’t always a great match, but if you’re serving this dip as an appetizer and wine is on the menu, reach for an herby, grassy Sauvignon Blanc.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Serve Dill Pickle Dip as an appetizer or snack alongside crisp crackers, raw veggies, pretzel chips or potato chips.  This dip is extremely versatile though, so don’t limit it to just a snack food.  Dill Pickle Dip also makes a great, creamy topping for sandwiches and burgers.  It’s delicious heaped into a grilled chicken wrap or on a spread on a bagel.  This dilly dip is also fantastic dolloped onto baked potatoes.  If you need any tips and tricks for making perfect crispy skinned, fluffy baked potatoes every time, here’s your go-to guide!

RECIPE NOTES

• Chopping the dill pickles into smaller pieces ensures delicious dill pickle flavour in every bite.  If you like a chunkier dip though, chop the pickle pieces more coarsely for extra texture and crunch.
• Room temperature cream cheese will blend together wit the dill pickle juice fairly easily with just a sturdy spoon.  A hand mixer will make quick work of blending the cream cheese and pickle juice though, if you need to speed things up.
• The herby flavour of fresh dill makes this dip sing, but if you can’t find any you can use 1 Tbsp of dried dill instead.
• Using spicy pickles in this dip will add some delicious heat.  Add a little cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to take the spice up an extra notch, if you’d like.
• Leftovers are unlikely, but you can store any extra dill pickle dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.  Don’t try to freeze this recipe, since the pickles will become watery and loose their crunch, and the cream cheese may separate and loose its creamy texture.