Southern 3-Ingredient Pepper Jelly Dip that’s sweet, tangy, creamy, and spicy. It’s a staple at tailgates, showers, and holiday gatherings.
Southern 3-Ingredient Pepper Jelly Dip
Ingredients:
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1 block (8 oz) full-fat cream cheese, softened
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1 jar (about 10–12 oz) hot or mild pepper jelly (red or green)
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1 sleeve butter crackers, crushed (Ritz are the gold standard)
For serving: Additional whole butter crackers, pretzel crisps, or celery sticks
Instructions:
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Layer: On a small serving plate or shallow bowl, spread the softened cream cheese into an even round disc, about ½-inch thick. Leave a slight well in the center if you like, but it’s not necessary.
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Top: Spoon the pepper jelly generously over the cream cheese, letting it cascade down the sides.
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Crackers: Generously sprinkle the crushed Ritz crackers over the top of the pepper jelly. Don’t stir — the layers are the point.
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Serve: Arrange whole crackers around the dip for scooping. Serve immediately at room temperature so the cream cheese is dippable.
No crackers mixed in? Many Southerners just do cream cheese + pepper jelly + crackers on the side, which technically makes it 3 ingredients. The crushed crackers on top turn it into a “crack dip” with a buttery crunch in every scoop.
Pro tip: If you want to warm it up, microwave the cream cheese and pepper jelly together for 30-45 seconds, stir lightly (leave it marbled), and then top with crackers. It turns into a hot, creamy, spicy-sweet fondue situation.