• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Family Food on the Table
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Snacks

Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip {10 minutes}

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 10, 2025 | Published: Aug 24, 2018
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe
Pin

This quick and easy jalapeño cream cheese dip is perfect for parties, served warm with tortilla chips and veggies for dipping. Adjust the spiciness to your liking and get ready to dig in!A white bowl full of a creamy jalapeno cream cheese dip on a platter of chips and bell pepper scoops for dipping.

Hi friends! I had to pop in with just one more recipe this week that would be perfect for any weekend plans, or for Labor Day next weekend or for all the tailgating coming up!

I also wanted to tell you that my husband and I had SO much fun at the Beyonce and Jay Z concert earlier this week. We drove down to see them at a college football stadium in South Carolina and wow, it was such a crazy awesome production!

Great music, great dancing and so much energy in the crowd. It was a really fun mid-week getaway and date night!

But let's focus now... does it get much better than a slightly spicy, ooey gooey cheese dip?

(Answer: no, not really.)

Today’s jalapeño cream cheese dip celebrates this in the best way possible.

It’s full of creamy, melty cheeses made just a tad bit spicy (which you can adjust to your liking) with the jalapeños.

A white bowl full of a creamy jalapeno cream cheese dip on a platter of chips and bell pepper scoops for dipping.

I started making this when I started growing jalapeños in my garden.

I love adding them to veggie scrambles, salsas, even some scrambled eggs. But if you’ve grown jalapeño peppers, you know that sometimes you can’t keep up! I’ll go out and have 5 or 6 ripe jalapeños every few days for a few weeks at a time. That’s a lot of jalapeños to use up!

So, this dip.

(And also my chicken breasts with jalapeño cheese sauce, quick and easy Mexican shrimp skillet and Mississippi caviar recipes that use jalapeños.)

I mean, who can resist a cheesy dip? If I’ve got friends or family coming over, this is definitely one of my favorites to make. Everyone goes crazy for it!

Plus, this easy recipe comes together in less than 20 minutes - a few minutes to chop the veggies and just 10 minutes to make the jalapeño sauce.

It goes great with tortilla chips, as well as mini sweet peppers and other veggies for dipping. It also works as a sauce for nachos.

You may just want to take a spoon to it too. #nojudgement

Oh, and if you love cheesy, my queso chicken skillet with vegetables is another favorite cheesy recipe that’s a full meal. Definitely worth checking out.

You can also check out this homemade pepper jelly, which is delicious served over cream cheese with crackers for another jalapeño + cream cheese combo.

A white bowl full of a jalapeno cream cheese dip on a platter of chips and bell pepper scoops for dipping and jalapenos in the background.

Recipe Notes:

  • Heat: You can adjust how spicy this is with the jalapeños. If you remove all the seeds and membranes, it won’t be very spicy at all. Or you can leave some or all of them in to give it a bit of a kick. You can also add a splash of hot sauce if you want a different type of spicy flavor in this dish.
  • Cream cheese: I use a ⅓-reduced fat cream cheese for this recipe but you could substitute regular cream cheese. Fat-free would work fine here too, though it will be a little less rich.
  • Salsa: I use a regular medium chunky-style salsa for this recipe, as that's what we tend to keep on hand. You could also try a fruity or flavored salsa for a different twist.
  • Leftovers: If you have leftovers, you can keep this in the fridge and then reheat it on the stove over medium-low heat in a small pot or you can reheat it in the microwave. Start with 45 seconds and then add 30 second intervals as needed, stirring in between, until it’s warmed through.

And of course, you know I have some topping ideas for you!

Cooked, crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, chopped fresh cilantro or some diced tomatoes would all be great with this easy jalapeño cheese dip.

So invite your friends, neighbors or family over and get ready to dig into some deliciousness with this cheesy dip. (And be sure to share with me on Instagram; I love seeing your creations!)

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

A white bowl full of a jalapeno cream cheese dip on a platter of chips and bell pepper scoops for dipping.
PRINT PIN SaveSaved!
3.43 from 26 votes

Jalapeño cream cheese dip

This quick and easy jalapeño cream cheese dip is perfect for parties, served warm with tortilla chips and veggies for dipping.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Yield: 8 -10 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup onion, finely diced
  • 4 medium jalapeños, finely diced (remove seeds and membranes for less heat)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
  • 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup salsa
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeños and sauté for 5-6 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and sauté for 30 more seconds.
  • Add remaining ingredients (cream cheese through cumin), reduce heat to medium low and stir until warmed through and cheese is melted.
  • Remove from heat, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve warm.

Notes

You can adjust how spicy this is with the jalapeños. If you remove all the seeds and membranes, it won’t be very spicy at all. Or you can leave some or all of them in to give it a bit of a kick. You can also add a splash of hot sauce if you want a different type of spicy in this dish.
I use a ⅓-reduced fat cream cheese for this recipe but you could substitute regular cream cheese. I think fat-free would work fine here too.
If you have leftovers, you can keep it in the fridge and then reheat on the stove over medium low heat in a small pot or reheat in the microwave. Start with 45 seconds and then add 30 second intervals as needed, stirring in between, until it’s warmed through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 366mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!
A hand dipping a tortilla chip into a bowl of jalapeno cream cheese dip.

Pin

More Appetizers & Snacks

  • Close up of a cheese ball appetizer on a cutting board with Christmas decorations in the background.
    Christmas Cheese Ball
  • Close up of puff pastry brie bites with pecans, bacon and other toppings and sprigs of fresh herbs for garnish.
    Mini Baked Brie Bites
  • An assortment of healthy snacks arranged on a counter, including nuts, fruit, rice cakes and graham crackers.
    Best Beach Snacks
  • Close up of a chip scooping up some guacamole from a serving bowl.
    Easy Guacamole Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary

    May 07, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    I made this when I wanted a quick cream cheese jalapeño dip at 9 pm because kids. I was very happy with how quick it came together and the flavor was really good! I’m using the left overs to make chicken enchiladas tonight!!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      May 08, 2020 at 6:55 am

      Haha, I'm so glad this hit the spot Mary! And love the idea to use the leftovers for enchiladas - yum!

      Reply
  2. Lucy D

    December 25, 2023 at 7:27 am

    This was delicious and all my guests were clamoring for more! I omitted most of the membrane and seeds and it was mild and yummy. Another time, I’d be happy for a little more heat. I did shake in some Cholula Chile Garlic for a little tang. I’d be happy to make this again; it was fast and easy, as promised.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      December 29, 2023 at 2:39 pm

      Yay, I'm so happy to hear it was a hit Lucy! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
3.43 from 26 votes (26 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • A cream cheese chicken and mushroom mixture in a large pan with a wooden spoon resting in it.
    Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
  • Close up of honey garlic chicken served in a blue and white bowl with sliced green onions on top.
    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
  • Close up of a whole roasted chicken on a large white serving platter with veggies and fresh parsley to the side.
    Easy Whole Roasted Chicken
  • Close up of a fork resting in a bowl of rice and curried ground turkey with peas.
    Curry Ground Turkey with Rice and Peas
  • Close up of a wooden spoon drizzling pan gravy over seared pork chops.
    Easy Skillet Pork Chops with Gravy
  • Close up of cooked cubes of chicken breasts in a honey garlic sauce with red pepper flakes.
    15-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken

Footer

↑back to top

About

  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Newsletter

  • Sign up for emails!

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Family Food on the Table

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.