Football season is back, and that means tailgating recipes are in full swing. This warm skillet sausage dip is a must-have for game day.
September 2021 update: I revised this post with tips for serving the skillet sausage dip, including how to adjust the spice level and what to pair it with at parties.
It’s officially football season again. I admit I’m not the biggest football fan in the house, but I am definitely here for the food. Any excuse to cook something delicious, and I’m in — and football weekends provide plenty of those.
During football season our weekends revolve around game times. It’ll be fun to see whether little Greyson grows into a fan and which team he ends up rooting for. Fortunately my husband and my mom cheer for the same team, so we usually watch that game together. If they win, we celebrate; if not, everyone retreats for a bit. It’s serious business here.
Why a cast-iron skillet dip is better than a crockpot dip
This skillet sausage dip is inspired by a version I tried at a Super Bowl party that was made in a crockpot. It was delicious, but lately I’ve been on a cast iron kick, so I made it in a skillet — and it turned out amazing.
A well-seasoned cast iron skillet contributes flavor and has other advantages: it’s durable, chemical-free, and can even add a bit of iron to your food. I use mine for all kinds of recipes and love how it enhances dishes.
You can make the dip in a skillet and, if you prefer, transfer it to a slow cooker on the “warm” setting for serving. For parties, consider keeping it in a warmed serving dish alongside other dips so guests can easily help themselves.
How to make skillet sausage dip
This sausage skillet dip is a simple, crowd-pleasing appetizer — especially when the weather turns cooler. Below is a quick overview of the method, followed by the full recipe card.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F so the dip will finish warm and bubbly.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and melt a little butter. Brown the sausage, drain excess grease, and return the sausage to the pan.
- Stir in milk and the diced tomatoes with green chiles (RO*TEL). Mix well.
- Add cubed cream cheese to the skillet, but do not stir — letting the cream cheese melt slowly helps create a creamier texture when baked.
- Bake the skillet for 10 minutes, then remove and stir the dip so the cream cheese incorporates.
- Stir in half of the shredded cheese, then bake for another 10 minutes.
- Top the dip with the remaining cheese and place it on the top rack for five minutes to brown the cheese.
- Remove and serve warm with bread, chips, crackers, or vegetables.
This makes a terrific game-day dip, but it’s also great for other gatherings — Thanksgiving appetizers, housewarmings, or fall showers.
What to serve with skillet sausage dip
This dip is a favorite at parties because it’s rich, cheesy, and easy to scoop. It’s similar to a Rotel and Velveeta dip but made from scratch with real ingredients. Here are great dippers to serve alongside it:
- Tortilla chips (scoop-style work especially well)
- Potato chips
- Fritos
- Crackers
- Breadsticks or slices of fresh bread
- Carrot and celery sticks
- Slices of bell pepper
- Pretzels, soft or crunchy
Whether you load up a chip or break off a piece of bread, these options all do the job: get as much of that delicious sausage dip into your mouth as possible. If you pair it with veggies, you can even pretend it’s a balanced meal.
Spicy skillet sausage dip
You can easily customize this dip to suit your spice preference. Try any of the following:
- Peppers: Add green chiles or diced jalapeños for heat.
- Sausage: Use a spicy sausage variety labeled “hot” or “spicy.”
- Cheese: Swap some cheddar for pepper jack for a flavorful kick.
Combine any of those options for a seriously spicy dip, or keep it mild by using a can of tomatoes with green chiles for a touch of heat. Adjust to your taste — this is your skillet dip.
I think you’ll love this baked sausage dip as much as we do. Below is the full recipe card with ingredients, instructions, notes, and nutrition information.
Skillet Sausage Dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 18 oz cream cheese, cubed
- 1 can RO*TEL with green chiles
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Melt butter in a medium or large cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Brown sausage, drain grease, and return sausage to the pan.
- Mix in milk and RO*TEL.
- Add cubed cream cheese to the pan — do not stir.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove pan and stir the dip until smooth.
- Stir in half of the shredded cheese and bake 10 more minutes.
- Top with remaining cheese and bake an additional five minutes to brown.
- Serve warm with bread, veggies, chips, or crackers.
Notes
Nutrition
To celebrate the start of football season, I joined a group of bloggers sharing 64 tailgating recipe ideas. Below are contributions from many cooks and blogs — a great resource for planning a terrific game-day spread.
Enjoy the dip and have a great season of food and football!