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The 10 Best Holiday Party Dips Of All Time, In Order (PHOTOS)

It's holiday party season. Get your dip game in order.
By 

Co-Owner and Sandwich Pusher at Pop+Dutch

Our favorite thing about holiday parties: the hors d'oeuvres (so predictable, we know). There's no easier way to feed a crowd with something delicious that they'll remember for weeks after the party than a perfect party dip.

Little morsels straight out of the oven (maybe wrapped in bacon) are awesome. Fussy canapés are beautiful. But the dip is the heart and soul of the party and we want to make sure you've got a great one in your repertoire. In a few weeks we'll be thinking about Super Bowl dips -- those dips are built for caloric abundance and total comfort. Holiday party dips want to be a little more elegant, a little fancier, but still totally satisfying and delicious. Here are the top 10 holiday party dips of all time.

10
Hummus
Gimme Some Oven
I mean, it's hummus. It's not riveting. But it is a crowd pleaser, it's dirt cheap and you can dip just about anything into it.

Get the Classic Hummus recipe from Gimme Some Oven
9
Onion Dip
Verses From My Kitchen
No one is ever going to turn their nose up at good onion dip at a party. But just make sure to make yours extra delicious. It's a holiday party.

Get the Ultimate Onion Dip recipe from Verses From My Kitchen
8
White Bean Dip
Sarah Shatz/Food52
White bean dip always feels a little fancier than hummus for some reason. Especially if you cover it with breadcrumbs and bake it until it's crispy. Now you have a holiday-party-worthy white bean dip.

Get the Roasted Fennel & White Bean Dip recipe from Food52
7
Pimento Cheese
James Ransom/Food52
It's appropriate for every single occasion on earth. Don't get it twisted.

Get Parker & Otis' Pimento Cheese (+ Grilled Sandwiches with Bacon & Tomato) recipe from Food52
6
Bagna Cauda
Sarah Shatz/Food52
The holidays are a great time to try something a little different, a little more sophisticated and a little more indulgent. This warm garlic and anchovy-spiked dip will change your world.

Get the Bagna Cauda (Piedmontese Warm Garlic-Anchovy Dip) recipe from Food52
5
Chicken Liver Parfait/Mousse/Paté
John Loydall
Yeah, that's right, I said indulge.

Get the Chicken Liver Parfait recipe from FOOD
4
Tunisian Eggplant
The Huffington Post
It isn't pretty, but looks can be deceiving. This is one of the best dips of all time, with the added bonus that it's vegan, so almost everyone can eat it.

Get the Tunisian Eggplant recipe
3
Shrimp Butter
Elizabeth's Edible Experience
You may be wondering what I'm thinking, and that is probably because you've never eaten this magical concoction before. Shrimp butter IS the holiday party around here.

Get the Shrimp Butter recipe from Elizabeth's Edible Experience
2
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Lemons for Lulu
This dip does a magic trick by always feeling appropriate, no matter the occasion. Never miss an opportunity to combine these ingredients and dip things into them.

Get the Tex-Mex Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe from Lemons for Lulu
1
Fondue
drumsullivan/Food52
Fondue is the single best holiday party dip on earth. It's interactive and fun, it's a little dangerous, it's warm and it's cheese. No other dips need apply.

Get Michael Field's Fondue recipe from Food52

Did we skip your favorite holiday party dip? Let us know what it is in the comments!

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Before You Go

7 Ways to Eat Dip for Dinner
White Bean Dip with Fresh Herbs(01 of07)
Open Image Modal
Get the recipe on Food52.
This dip is like hummus' spunky sister, and it will work beautifully with a wide variety of seasonal herbs. Feel free to experiment with different combinations; it’s hard for this dip to taste anything but irresistible. - Gena Hamshaw
Photo: James Ransom
Curried Lentil Dip(02 of07)
Open Image Modal
Get the recipe on Food52.
This dip is a dish that is full of happy surprises. We love the technique of skimming the coconut butter from the top of the coconut milk to sauté the onions, garlic and ginger, and the hot spice oil adds a vibrant finish. - Amanda and Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Roasted Fennel White Bean Dip(03 of07)
Open Image Modal
Get the recipe on Food52.
Roasting the fennel and garlic intensifies their flavors, and topping it with a layer of cheese will leave you with a crisp veil over the pillowy dip. You won't even remember the work that went into it once you're showered with praise. - Amanda and Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Sweet Pea Hummus(04 of07)
Open Image Modal
Get the recipe on Food52.
A light, delicate spin on traditional hummus, this recipe features fresh, bright green spring peas, lemon, and a hint of garlic. - Gena Hamshaw
Photo: James Ransom
Yoghurt Spinach Dip Borani Esfanaaj in the Persian Manner(05 of07)
Open Image Modal
Get the recipe on Food52.
Don’t let a little blanching stop you from making this wonderful dip. While it’s true that blanching spinach is a pain in the neck, once the water comes to a boil, the whole process is over in a minute, and then you’re well on your way to bliss. - Amanda and Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Roberto Santibanez Classic Guacamole(06 of07)
Open Image Modal
Get the recipe on Food52.
In this guac recipe, we only crush enough of the avocado to warrant it consideration as a dip rather than a salad, but leave the rest of the cubes intact, bathing them in the vividly flavored chile sauce, making it a bit like salad properly dressed in vinaigrette, - Kristen Miglore
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi's Basic Hummus(07 of07)
Open Image Modal
Get the recipe on Food52.
Most from-scratch hummus recipes involve simmering the chickpeas for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Ottolenghi and Tamimi's are done in 20 to 40 minutes by briefly cooking the soaked chickpeas directly with baking soda which scruffs up the skins and allows them to cook much faster and puree smoother. - Kristen Miglore
Photo: James Ransom

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