Put your mini slow cooker to use with this delicious red wine and cheese party dip that combines a few of my favorite things: melted cheese with the fresh taste of citrus and a full-bodied red wine. Your guests will enjoy scooping the bubbling cheese dip right from your food warmer or mini crock pot.
A mini slow cooker isn't just a cute kitchen appliance--it's also the perfect vessel for dips like this red wine dip, my bison cheeseburger party dip, Franks red hot buffalo chicken dip and other hot, appetizer dips.
Adding booze can really elevate the flavor profile, just like it does in beer cheese dip.
This little dipper recipe takes about an hour to warm up, so plan accordingly. You can start heating up the dip ahead of time or let it simmer while your guests are still arriving. Either way, you'll be serving up a unique appetizer that keeps everyone happy.
Check out more of my easy & delicious appetizer recipes here.
Jump to:
Red Wine and Cheese Party Dip Ingredients
In this recipe, I've combined soft cream cheese with cheddar cheese, red wine, fresh orange juice and mild spices. The result is a hot, bubbling dip that resembles a pot of fondue.
This recipe makes 2 cups of cheese sauce but the serving size can easily be adjusted in the recipe card to fit your crock pot, large or small.
- cream cheese - softened
- old cheddar cheese (white) - shredded
- red wine - cabernet sauvignon works great or pair it with your favorite red wine to bring out the rich flavor in this recipe
- orange juice - freshly squeezed
- ground thyme - a go-to herb for cheese but also complements the earthiness of cabernet sauvignon
- salt - to enhance the flavor
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
Recipe Tweaks
Once you've mastered this recipe, you can try experimenting with different types of cheddar:
- Try shredding an aged farmhouse cheddar or a block of white Vermont cheese.
- Gouda is a great melting cheese and pairs well with red wine, so you might want to give that a try.
How to Make Red Wine and Cheese Dip
Step 1. Combine. Combine all dip ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth. Season with salt, to taste.
Step 2. Transfer. Add the dip to a mini warmer or slow cooker (such as the crock pot little dipper).
Chef's Note: I know it might not look very appetizing at this point, but once it cooks and the cheese melts, everything will come together beautifully. You'll end up with a hot, creamy, and irresistibly delicious, crockpot cheese dip!
Step 3. Heat. Heat until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly, about 60 minutes or more.
Step 4. Serve. Serve with tortilla chips, crispy breadsticks, crusty bread and/or crackers.
Top Tip
You can stir the cheese dip occasionally, as it cooks, to help combine the ingredients.
Serving Suggestions
- Offer a selection of dipping materials like crusty bread, crackers, chips, mini breadsticks and more. Your guests will be delighted by the creamy concoction that melts in their mouths with gooey, cheesy deliciousness.
- Unlike most party dips, which are served cold, dump dip is served hot like a pot of white cheddar nacho cheese sauce. As a result, this dip is much heartier and more filling than traditional party appetizers.
- Serve this dip as an after-dinner snack while you sip on some bubbly or make it the centerpiece of the meal.
- Serve it for special occasions such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, the Super Bowl, birthdays etc.
Storage & Reheating Tips
- Storage: The dip can be refrigerated for up to 3 to 5 days. I let it cool first and then I cover the mini slow cooker and place it in the fridge.
- Reheating: It can be reheated in the mini food warmer/slow cooker until hot and bubbling. You might need to whisk in a touch of milk because it tends to thicken the more you heat it.
If you tried this Red Wine and Cheese Dip Recipe (for Mini Slow Cookers) or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Red Wine and Cheese Dip (for Mini Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cream cheese - ¾ of a brick--softened
- 8 ounces old white cheddar cheese - shredded--about 2 ½ cups
- 5 tablespoons red wine - cabernet sauvignon
- ¼ cup orange juice - freshly squeezed
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- salt - to taste
Instructions
- Combine all dip ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth. Season with salt, to taste.
- Add the dip to a mini warmer or slow cooker (such as the crock pot little dipper).
- Heat until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly, about 60 minutes or more. You can stir it occasionally to help combine the ingredients.
- Serve with tortilla chips, crispy breadsticks and/or crackers.
Equipment
Notes
- This recipe makes 2 cups of cheese dip but the serving size can easily be adjusted in the recipe card to fit your crock pot, large or small.
- The dip can be refrigerated for up to 3 to 5 days. I let it cool first and then I cover the mini slow cooker and place it in the fridge.
- It can be reheated in the mini food warmer/slow cooker until hot and bubbling. You might need to whisk in a touch of milk because it tends to thicken the more you heat it.
- Note that it will thicken as it cools.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Leave a Reply