Does anyone else love Italian food? It’s always a favorite with my kids and husband and one of those go to crowd pleasers when company is coming for dinner. Today, I have some delicious Italian Dips to share with you and the recipe for my favorite Italian Layer Dip!
These Italian dips would be perfect appetizers for a dinner or cookout. They are also great for bringing to a holiday party! They taste amazing and you’ll be bringing something different than everyone else.
Delicious Italian Dips
Italian Salsa. First up is this super easy (and frugal) recipe for Italian salsa! Becky suggests serving it with chips, crackers, or pita chips. Love the simplicity of this appetizer. Perfect for throwing together for a last minute event.
Tuscan White Bean Bruschetta Dip. I’m a huge hummus fan, so this dip is up my alley! The creamy dip is made with cannellini beans and topped with tomatoes. You serve it with easy garlicky toast.
Restaurant Style Bread Dipping Oil. A quality olive oil and a bunch of dried herbs and fresh garlic. Love having this at Italian restaurants but it’s so easy to make at home. If you already have a good loaf of bread, this takes minutes to come together. (I think homemade french bread would be delicious with this!)
Lasagna Dip. This is a warm, meaty dip that you bake in the oven. I love that even with baking time, this can be done in 30 minutes. They serve it with bread, but I think it would be great with pita or bagel chips as well.
Italian Layer Dip. You’ll find this tasty recipe down below! Keep scrolling. It has a creamy ricotta base and is covered with the delicious tomato topping you usually associate with bruschetta. I love serving it with this slices of bread I bake until crisp.
What Italian dips are your favorite?
Now, on to the recipe for Italian Layer Dip!
Italian Layer Dip Recipe:
Oh my goodness. This Italian layer dip is amazing! Definitely drool worthy and it’s also super easy and can be made in advance.
I mean can you really go wrong with basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar? Especially when combined with the creaminess of ricotta cheese! It really can’t get much better than that.
This appetizer is refreshing, creamy, and light. Serve on top of bagel chips (or thinly sliced baguettes toasted in the oven is what I normally do) and you have the perfect mix of textures and flavors.
Ideal appetizer for a summer party, small group, cookout, Christmas party etc or you could serve it with a nice salad and you’d have an ideal meal for a girls’ night.
To make ahead, combine the ingredients for the base and store in the fridge until ready to use. Do the same with the topping (storing in a different container). They can remain in the fridge for several days. Before serving, spread the base on your plate/platter and make sure to use the slotted spoon to scoop the tomatoes on the top.
[In case you are wondering what to do with the rest of the container of ricotta, don’t forget about Easy Skillet Lasagna (again, perfect for summer since you don’t have to turn the oven on)!]
- ½ cup ricotta cheese (full fat is thicker and holds up better)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
- ⅛ t. salt
- 2 T. fresh parsley, minced
- 2 T. grated Parmesan
- 3 roma tomatoes (1 cup) deseeded and diced
- 2 T. finely chopped red onion
- 2 T. chiffonade basil
- ⅛ t. garlic paste
- 2 T. olive oil
- 2 T. balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper
- Additional basil for garnish
- Grated Parmesan
- Combine the cheeses until smooth.
- Stir in salt, parsley, and parmesan.
- Spread on the bottom of a plate or pie pan.
- Combine all topping ingredients in a bowl. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Let sit for an hour.
- Using a slotted spoon to let as much of the liquid off as possible put on top of the cheese layer.
- Garnish with additional basil and freshly grated parmesan.
- Refrigerate until serving.
To make ahead, combine the ingredients for the base and store in the fridge until ready to use. Do the same with the topping (storing in a different container). They can remain in the fridge for several days. Before serving, spread the base on your plate/platter and make sure to use the slotted spoon to scoop the tomatoes on the top.
Aren’t you ready to dig into these tasty looking Italian dips? Move on over chips and salsa! (Although, those will always be a favorite of my kiddos too!)
Originally published January 24, 2014. Updated September 14, 2020.
Yum, yum! This looks like the best dip yet! 🙂 I’m going to miss your Friday dip posts…
Yay! Glad you think this one sounds good. I think I’m bringing it to a Super Bowl party Sunday. 🙂 Maybe sometime I’ll have to do a month of dips, part 2. 🙂
This would be great for my husband, who eats gluten free. Beautiful picture too!
It is soooo good! I made it for the super bowl party we went to. Yum! Thanks for commenting!
I’m extremely low carb and this fits the bill! I can skip the bread and use a fork. YUM!
My daughter and I might have just used a spoon too, ha ha! It is really good!
This looks tasty! I don’t think I’ve ever made a dip with ricotta cheese!
It is amazing! If you like ricotta and the tomato basil salad separately I highly recommend making it! Thanks for stopping by.
I think if I made this, I’d eat it all myself!! Yummy 🙂 I pinned it and am going to feature it at Babies & Beyond this coming week. Thanks for sharing another great recipe 🙂
It is so yummy! My daughter and I ate a good portion of it. 🙂 At least it’s pretty healthy and easy! Thanks for hosting and for featuring!
What a clever idea, love it 🙂 Bet it tastes wonderful too! Thank you so much for linking this recipe up at Recipe Sharing Monday. I hope to see you back next Monday. Have a good weekend!
It is fantastic! One of my favorite dips. The Indian one is high on the list too. Thanks for hosting! Looking forward to Monday!
I have really enjoyed all of your dips that you have linked up with us for MMM link up party! I cant wait to see what you link up next week!
Thanks! The dips were a lot of fun to do! This and the Indian might be my favorites!
your dips are always so delicious looking! YUM! Thanks for linking up to GooD Tips Tuesday.
Thanks! I’m kind-of sad to be done with them. Might have to to round two sometime. 🙂
This looks great!
It is super yummy! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Oh yum! This sounds SO tasty! Can’t wait to check out some of your other dip recipes. My family loves to dip and sadly, I fail to provide dips very often.
Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday.
Glad you think it sounds good! They really are a terrific group of 5 dip recipes. I hope you guys can try some of them. They are all pretty easy and healthy too. This as the Indian one are my favorites.
G’day Deanna and YUM! Looks delicious and very healthy!
Thanks for sharing!
Viewed as part of the Foodie Friends Friday Valentine’s Day Party!
Cheers! Joanne
Thanks for commenting again! This dip is on of my top picks – so tasty!
I love your dip recipes, it must be fun in your kitchen. Thanks for coming back and sharing this with us at the #WWDParty.
Aww, thanks! Some days in my kitchen are really boring and we try recipes we don’t love but other times the flavors are hit out of the park! This dip is one of my top two, I think!
I need to make this! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
It is fabulous! We made it again for the super bowl game and really enjoyed it.
this sounds good.. Thanks for linking up to our Foodie Friends Friday Valentine’s Party and I hope you will join us at our Snack Food party this week.
Snack Food Party sounds like fun! I’ll have to link up my other dips!
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