It’s not just me, but every December I’m looking over a holiday party spread wondering if there’s any protein to be found… Usually there’s not. (Hi chips! Hi cheese plate!) I’ve started bringing my own protein-packed dips made with Greek yogurt, beans, chicken, cottage cheese and more! Here are my favorite high-protein dips to bring to a holiday party (or eat at home!).
I’ve included some warm, baked dips, some cold dips, some dips on a platter and even a couple of sweet dips!
| Group | Dishes |
|---|---|
| Warm and baked dips | Buffalo Chicken Dip, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Queso Blanco Dip, Beer Cheese Dip, Chili Cheese Dip, Pizza Dip, Hot Crab Dip |
| Cold creamy dips | Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip, Deviled Egg Dip, Smoked Salmon Dip, Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip, Tzatziki, Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip |
| Salsas, hummus and vegetable dips | Spicy Guacamole, Mango Salsa, Roasted Garlic Hummus, Baba Ganoush |
| Shaped platters | Turkey Cheese Ball, Holiday Hummus Platter, Christmas Tree Layered Dip |
| Sweet dips | Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip, Pumpkin Pie Dip |
Warm and baked dips
Buffalo Chicken Dip
This chicken dip recipe is made with shredded chicken and is basically a meal in dip form! I use Greek yogurt in place of half of the cream cheese to increase the protein. Serve warm with carrots and celery for dipping. TIP: Use a rotisserie chicken to make this dip in just 20 minutes!
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Spinach artichoke dip is a holiday staple, but it doesn’t have to be super heavy! My protein-packed spinach artichoke dip recipe uses cottage cheese blended until smooth with a little Parmesan cheese to boost the protein. TIP: Bake this dip in a shallow pan to increase the delicious browned top! Serve with crisp bell pepper strips or toasted baguette slices.
Queso Blanco Dip
This white queso is one of the most requested recipes on my site! Cottage cheese is blended until smooth then added to the queso to make it extra creamy (and more protein!). TIP: White queso is best served warm. Add cumin and green chiles if you’d like. Keep warm as this queso thickens quickly.
Beer Cheese Dip
Soft pretzels and beer cheese are a must in our house on New Year’s Eve! My protein-packed beer cheese dip is made with Greek yogurt, sharp cheddar cheese and a splash of lager beer. TIP: This dip is rich so a little goes a long way! Serve with pretzel bites or apple slices.
Chili Cheese Dip
Serve with your favorite chips. This dip is basically chili in dip form! Made with your favorite ground turkey or lean ground beef chili topped with melted cheese it’s filling and delicious! TIP: This dip can keep warm in a small slow cooker on warm for up to 2 hours. Serve with bell pepper scoops or tortilla chips.
Pizza Dip
Everyone, adults and kids, love this pizza-inspired dip! Made with part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella then topped with marinara and turkey pepperoni. Bake at 375°F until bubbly around the edges. TIP: Like pizza, but with more protein in every bite! Serve with breadsticks for dipping.
Hot Crab Dip
Crab meat is as lean as protein gets! This creamy, Old Bay-infused crab dip is full of flavor with lemon, cream cheese (I use some Greek yogurt in mine!) and a handful of shredded cheddar. Bake until bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve with sliced baguette or crackers.
Cold creamy dips
Most of these use Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or cream cheese as the base.
Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
Pulse together cranberries, lime, green onion, cilantro, jalapeño and a bit of sugar, then use over cream cheese for a sweet, spicy and tart dip that’s perfect for the holidays! TIP: Make the cranberry relish up to 4 hours ahead of time to allow the flavors to mingle. The red and green over a white dip looks super festive!
Deviled Egg Dip
Mix chopped hard-boiled eggs with a pinch of paprika and some Dijon mustard and fold it into some Greek yogurt. (It’s like the filling for deviled eggs, except you don’t have to pipe 4 dozen deviled eggs.) Serve on top of cucumber rounds or crostini.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Cream cheese, Greek yogurt, flaked smoked salmon, capers, and dill make an easy no-cook dip in just 5 minutes. I love to serve this one up as part of my Christmas morning brunch spread! Serve with cucumber slices or bagel chips.
Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
Did you know that most bottled ranch dressing is mainly oil? I love to mix a packet of ranch seasoning with plain Greek yogurt to create a delicious, creamy, higher-protein version. I serve this at parties any time there is a veggie tray! TIP: This protein-packed ranch dip tastes homemade especially when you add lemon juice and fresh dill!
Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a cool, garlicky Greek yogurt dip that’s perfect on a mezze platter. TIP: Be sure to squeeze all of the liquid out of the grated cucumber or the dip will get runny within the hour! Serve with hummus, olives, sliced chicken and pita. Add lemon juice and fresh dill for more flavor.
Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip
This is the dip I want you to try! Blend cottage cheese until super smooth, then top with roasted red peppers or everything bagel seasoning. TIP: Each 1/2 cup serving of this dip has about 12 grams of protein.
Most of these dips get their protein from plain nonfat Greek yogurt, 2% cottage cheese and cooked chicken breast, with figures taken from USDA FoodData Central. Our page on how we calculate nutrition covers the method.
Salsas, hummus and vegetable dips
Spicy Guacamole
While guacamole isn’t necessarily a protein dip, I include it because the healthy fats can help you feel full and balance out the dips that are higher in cheese. TIP: Make sure to add salt, lime and a serrano pepper! Serve with shrimp or chicken skewers for added protein.
Mango Salsa
This protein-packed mango salsa is great to include on a holiday table to balance out all of the cheese dips! Made with diced mango, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño and lime. TIP: Make the salsa an hour ahead of time to allow the flavors to mingle. Save the leftovers and top chicken or shrimp the next day for an easy lunch!
Roasted Garlic Hummus
Protein-packed chickpeas and tahini make this roasted garlic hummus extra filling. TIP: For the best roasted garlic, roast a whole head of garlic for 40 minutes at 400°F. Then squeeze the garlic cloves into the food processor. Add a spoonful of Greek yogurt to make it even fluffier! This high-protein hummus recipe keeps for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. I like to make mine 1 or 2 days before Thanksgiving!
Baba Ganoush
A smoky roasted eggplant dip made with tahini, lemon and garlic! TIP: Char the eggplant until it collapses for the best flavor! Serve with a pile of chicken bites and pita bread for added protein. Top with parsley and diced tomatoes.
Shaped platters
These healthy holiday dips are fun to make and look super cute when arranged into fun holiday shapes on a platter!
Turkey Cheese Ball
Made with cream cheese, Greek yogurt and sharp cheddar cheese rolled in chopped pecans, this Thanksgiving appetizer is a big hit with kids and adults alike! TIP: Make the turkey body 1 day ahead of time to allow it to firm up. Arrange the cracker tail feathers on just before serving! Use a couple candy eyes and a pretzel stick beak to complete the look.
Holiday Hummus Platter
This veggie hummus wreath doubles as a fun holiday centerpiece! Spread the high-protein hummus on a platter, then decorate with your favorite vegetables to form a wreath (or little tree)! TIP: Takes about 10 minutes to make and I bet your guests will gobble up even more veggies than usual!
Christmas Tree Layered Dip
My kids devour this fun Christmas tree dip! This easy taco dip Christmas tree is packed full of flavor! Shaped like a tree and made with refried beans, guacamole, salsa, lettuce and Greek yogurt, this healthy dip Christmas tree is decorated with cherry tomatoes and a star of cheese. TIP: Packed with protein from the Greek yogurt and refried beans!
Sweet dips
Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip
Not all dips are supposed to be savory! Made with vanilla Greek yogurt, cinnamon and a spoonful of honey, this high-protein yogurt dip has about 20 grams of protein in each cup! TIP: Serve in the middle of a fruit tray!
Pumpkin Pie Dip
This high-protein pumpkin dip tastes just like pumpkin pie without all of the extra calories! Made with cream cheese, vanilla Greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice! TIP: Serve with graham cracker cookies, gingersnaps and apple slices.
