Creamy Corn Jalapeño Dip (Printable)
Warm cheesy corn and jalapeño dip baked until golden and bubbling, ideal for sharing at gatherings.
# 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 (adjust for desired heat)
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
# Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or butter.
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 - Fold in the corn kernels, diced jalapeños, bell pepper, green onions, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are 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 the dip rest for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired.
07 - Serve warm with tortilla chips, sliced baguette, or fresh vegetable sticks.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet corn against the sharp bite of jalapef1o creates a flavor contrast that keeps people coming back for more.
- It comes together in ten minutes flat with zero fancy techniques, making it a lifesaver for last minute company.
- Everything bakes in one dish, which means cleanup is almost nonexistent.
02 -
- If you make this ahead and refrigerate it before baking, add about five extra minutes to the baking time because a cold dish takes longer to bubble.
- Pat frozen corn dry with a paper towel before mixing it in or your dip will weep liquid into the bottom of the dish.
- Using pepper jack instead of Monterey Jack is an easy way to dial up the spice without changing anything else about the recipe.
03 -
- Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you plan to mix, because patience at this step saves you from a lumpy mess later.
- Broiling the dip for the last two minutes of cooking creates an irresistible blistered cheese crust on top that will have everyone scraping the edges of the dish.