Creamy Corn Jalapeno Dip (Printable)
Warm, cheesy corn and jalapeño dip with a golden baked crust. A crowd-pleasing appetizer for any occasion.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dairy
01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
03 - ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
04 - ¼ cup sour cream
→ Vegetables
05 - 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or drained canned)
06 - 2–3 jalapeños, seeded and finely diced
07 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Spices & Seasonings
09 - 1 garlic clove, minced
10 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
11 - ¼ tsp ground cumin
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Optional Garnish
13 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, Monterey Jack cheese, and half of the cheddar cheese. Stir until smooth and well blended.
03 - Gently fold in the corn kernels, diced jalapeños, bell pepper, green onions, minced garlic, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper until evenly distributed.
04 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top.
05 - Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the dip is bubbling and the edges turn golden brown.
06 - Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro if desired. Serve warm with tortilla chips, sliced baguette, or fresh vegetable sticks.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet corn and spicy jalapeno balance is genuinely addictive, and you will catch yourself eating it straight from the dish with a spoon.
- It requires zero fancy technique, just mix, spread, and bake, which means you can prep it while catching up with guests.
- Everything bakes in one dish, so cleanup is almost nonexistent.
02 -
- Under softened cream cheese is the number one reason this dip turns out lumpy, so plan ahead and set it on the counter for at least half an hour.
- If you are making this ahead and refrigerating it before baking, add five extra minutes to the bake time and cover with foil for the first ten minutes so the top does not brown too fast.
03 -
- Char your corn in a dry skillet before mixing it in for a smoky depth that makes people think you did something far more complicated than you actually did.
- Taste a tiny piece of your jalapeno before adding the full amount because their heat level varies wildly, and you cannot undo spice once it is in there.