Broccoli Cheddar Dip. – Half Baked Harvest

The simplest holiday appetizer—and such a good one for entertaining! Think of it like a creamy bowl of broccoli cheddar soup turned into a warm, cozy dip everyone will devour. Fresh broccoli is mixed with cream cheese, a few spices, and plenty of cheddar. I use both sharp white cheddar for tang and classic yellow cheddar for that perfect melt. A splash of hot sauce adds subtle heat, and lots of black pepper brings everything together. Bake until bubbly and golden on top, then serve with hard pretzel twists (trust me—this is the secret!). It’s a guaranteed holiday favorite.

Since it’s Thanksgiving week, most of us already have our menus set, the turkey thawing, and the timeline ready. But sometimes you just need one more appetizer… or something easy to bring along to someone else’s house. Either way, this dip is the recipe you want to make this holiday season.

I know it’s not the most classic holiday appetizer, but after making all the usual favorites—goat cheese stuffed dates, crostini, and everything else we all love—this year I wanted something different. Something cozy, cheesy, and fun.

The moment I thought of broccoli cheddar dip, I knew I had to make it. It sounded too delicious not to share. I considered a more traditional option, maybe a cranberry dip, but I made this instead… and definitely didn’t regret it.

It’s simple, comforting, and so delicious!

These are the details

Ingredients

• broccoli florets
• cream cheese
• plain Greek yogurt – or you can use sour cream
• mayo
• hot sauce
• fresh thyme
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• smoked paprika
• black pepper
• salted pretzels – for scooping

Tools

All you need is a large pot, a bowl, and your favorite baking dish.

The Steps

Step 1: pre-cook the broccoli

I debated this step, but in the end, I wanted the broccoli to turn out just right. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the broccoli, and cook for 1–2 minutes, just until it turns bright green. Drain well.

Step 2: mix it together

In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, yogurt, mayo, hot sauce, spices, and all three cheeses. Mix until everything is creamy and evenly combined.

Step 3: bake it

Spoon the dip into a baking dish and add extra cheddar on top, if you’d like.

Bake for about 25 minutes, until the cheese melts and the top is lightly bubbling.

Time to serve

I love serving this with salted pretzel twists. They’re simple and perfect—and once you try them with this dip, you’ll never go back. Any appetizer made with cream cheese needs a pretzel for dipping!

Pretty close to the perfect holiday appetizer. Everyone will enjoy this one!

Looking for other easy holiday appetizers? Here are my favorites: 

Whipped Goat Cheese Candied Bacon Dip

Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twists

Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates

Pull Apart Roasted Garlic Pizza Dip Sliders

Lastly, if you make this Broccoli Cheddar Dip, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!