Easy Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip

Published: 01/17/2017
Updated: 07/29/2024
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Get the party started with this ultra easy vegetarian chili cheese dip! Sketch-Free + Gluten-Free

Easy Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip... with NO VELVEETA! This easy cheesy dip is sketch-free and delicious!

Easy Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip with NO Velveeta.

Say it with me: NO VELVEETA.

Throw on your party pants and get ready to faceplant into this easy, cheesy, dip without an ounce of sketch, preservatives, shenanigans in the mix. Just good, hearty vegetarian chili, all-natural salsa, and cheese glorious cheese!

YES!!!

Today’s recipe features leftover Lentil Veggie Chili which is the perfect base for big heaping bowl of melty amazingness. Serve it up skillet style (more dipping surface, yo!) with a mountain of toppings and a side of crispy tortilla chips.

Easy Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip... with NO VELVEETA! This easy cheesy dip is sketch-free and delicious!
vegetarian chili cheese dip in a cast iron skillet with jalapeno and tortilla chips

Easy Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip

Feel free to use whatever chili you have on hand (t-rex or veggie) or make my go-to vegetarian chili with intentions of making this dip with some of the leftovers, which are insanely awesome the next day!

This easy vegetarian chili cheese dip would also taste AMAZING poured over tray of baked french fries, a hearty baked potato, or even your favorite veggie burger. The possibilities are endless!

Tried it? Leave me a comment or snap a photo and tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram

so. . . how was it?!

INSANE. We love this dip OHSOMUCH! I’ve made it a few times now, squirreling an extra cup or two of my beloved  Vegan Lentil Chili and the batch I measured out to share with y’all today is the best one I’ve made yet! Occasionally I’ll toss this dip together sans chili with jarred or fresh salsa and chopped jalapeños in its place but the chili version is our absolute favorite!

I’m seriously SO glad it’s chili season!

Paul raved about the smoky kick of the paprika (I opted for smoked paprika for a chance and it was amazing!) and quickly devoured half the pot. It’s perfect as a party appetizer, game day eats, or as an easy cheesy snack attack while you curl up with your latest Netflix obsession.

Easy Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip... with NO VELVEETA! This easy cheesy dip is sketch-free and delicious!

Easy Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip

Get the party started with this ultra easy vegetarian chili cheese dip! Sketch-Free + Gluten-Free
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keyword: Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dip
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Author: Jenn Laughlin – Peas and Crayons

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vegetarian chili
  • 4 TBSP cream cheese
  • ¼ cup salsa
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp chili powder
  • ⅛ tsp cumin
  • ⅛ tsp paprika (try smoked for smoky flavor!)
  • 1 cup grated cheese plus extra to taste (see note below)

TASTY TOPPING OPTIONS

  • sliced jalapeños
  • chopped green onion or cilantro
  • crushed corn chips
  • fresh tomatoes
  • pico de gallo
  • chopped red onion

Instructions

  • Heat up your chili in a medium pot on the stove until simmering.
  • Add cream cheese and stir well.
  • Add salsa and season with chili powder, cumin, and paprika.
  • Add cheese and stir until melted.
  • Dive in with a chip to taste test and add any additional seasoning or mix-ins you’d like! You can add extra of the above spices or something extra like green onion, hot sauce, or cayenne pepper. Anything goes — let your tastebuds be your guide!
  • Top with all your favorite toppings and dive in while hot!

Notes

I use a combination of sharp cheddar and creamy pepper jack cheese.
If you can, totally follow suit — It’s PHENOMENAL! The dip will still taste great with any combination of cheeses so don’t fret if you’re going off what you have on hand. However, if you’re going to the store with this dip in mind, do yourself a favor and for sure get the cheddar pepperjack combo in your cart. It’s great with a capital ATE! For real.
I used my go-to recipe for lentil veggie chili but you can 100% use what chili you have on hand! The more beans, veggies, and spices in the chili, the more rockin’ flavor this dip will have! Customize to your heart’s content and have fun with it!
Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 82kcal
Did You Make This Recipe? Leave a Comment and Rating!
Love your Leftovers Title Image

This easy vegetarian chili cheese dip is part of my Love Your Leftovers blog series. A quick dive into the back of your fridge (and into that overflowing crisper drawer!) can provide you with everything you need to create something positively awesome in record time!

past installments include:

Peas and Crayons is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to readers.
Jenn Laughlin Headshot Photo - About the Author
About The Author:

Jenn Laughlin

Jenn Laughlin has been creating and sharing recipes for over 15 years. After graduating with a B.S. in Dietetics from Florida State University and working as a Nutrition Educator for WIC, she created Peas and Crayons in 2009. The goal was simple: create and share delicious tested and perfected recipes with vegetables as the star!

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Questions & Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I simply loved this delicious, hearty and most importantly easy to put together vegetarian chilli recipe! Thank you so much for sharing. I made this for my family and friends and they loved every last bit of it. Thank you! 🙂

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    This looks amazing! I’ve never tried a veggie chili before but it looks like such a great base for this cheese dip recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    1. You know what, if you add extra beans you totally could! It’s more soupy than the chili (haha by sheer definition of the two words) but if you thicken it up with veg and beans you should be able to pull it off deliciously! <3 Let me know how it goes, Jill! xoxo

      Reply

    1. Glad you’re team real cheese Catherine! 🙂 Sketch is just my way of saying that somethings a little shady – aka weird ingredients, preservatives, and additives.

      Reply