Campfire Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
This homemade chili cheese dip recipe, cooked over the campfire, is super easy to make and beyond delicious. It will make the perfect addition to your camping menu this summer!
We love, love, love campfire dip! This cheesy campfire dip is a staple in all of our planning and the family requests that we have it all the time, even at home.
We’ve been making this easy dip recipe for years, but last time we were camping, I decided to spice up the original recipe a bit with the addition of a delicious homestyle chili. It is a total bonus that this campfire chili cheese dip recipe is just as easy to create as the original!
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This homemade chili cheese dip is everything you want in a camping recipe: simple ingredients, minimal cleanup, and maximum flavor. It’s great for game days, summer cookouts, or nights when you just want a delicious dip without much fuss.
The best part? It all comes together in foil over a fire (or even your grill), and it’s the perfect hot dip to share—or not, no judgment. The blend of shredded cheese, creamy base, and a hearty can of chili creates a smooth, rich texture that scoops like a dream.
You can totally prep it ahead, stash it in your cooler, and toss it on the fire when hunger hits. Plus, it’s a crowd favorite that even picky eaters devour.
Campfire Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
This is one of those perfect appetizer recipes that makes you the hero of the trip. It’s gooey, savory, a little smoky, and totally addictive with tortilla chips, corn chips, or Fritos scoops.
Whether you’re lakeside, fireside, or tailgating during football season, this dip shows up and shows off.
So melty, so cheesy, so ridiculously good—you’ll want to plan your next camping trip just for this dip. For more delicious recipes like today’s easy cheesy chili dip, give this campfire spinach dip or this tinfoil packet nacho dip a try.
This post contains affiliate links.
Our Camp Cooking Essentials
- A pie iron camp cooker makes cooking over the open fire super easy. Check out these 20+ Pie Iron Recipe Ideas for tons of camp cooker inspiration! Or visit my how to use a pie iron post for tips.
- Foil pie plates make tinfoil packet meals even easier with the sturdy base that they provide.
- These grilling bags that I recently found are amazing! Simply add all of your ingredients to the bag at home, then throw it on the campfire or grill when camping in the great outdoors.
- We love these BBQ cooking gloves because they make handling campfire food a whole lot safer!
Tips for Making Foil Packets
- Cut two pieces of aluminum foil large enough to cover the entire meal (about 12″). Layer the sheets of foil one on top of the other. Optional: spray the interior with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
- Place recipe ingredients in the center. Bring up the longer sides of the foil and fold together. Grasp one end and roll it up, then repeat with the other end. A 2-inch fold is ideal.
- Alternatively, a disposable foil pie pan may be used to cook a foil packet meal. Simply place the recipe ingredients into the foil pan and cover with aluminum foil before cooking.
- For best results, cook the foil packet on a grill over the open fire.
- Use caution when handling the foil packet as it can become hot while cooking.
Ingredients
This great dip is made with a few simple ingredients from the grocery store.
- Herb and garlic cream cheese – Soft, creamy, and packed with savory goodness.
- Tex Mex shredded cheese – A melty mix that gives that stretchy, gooey cheese pull we all love.
- Homestyle chili – Just grab your favorite canned chili from the grocery store—beef, bean, or turkey all work.
- Green onions – Dice them up for a fresh zing that cuts through the richness.
- Tortilla chips or corn chips – The vehicles for all that delicious dip.
Instructions
1. Prepare the ingredients.
Tip: Cut up and package veggies and cheese at home.
2. In a large foil pan or foil packet, layer in the cream cheese, the can of chili, and the shredded cheese. Give it all a mix with a wooden spoon.
3. Seal up the foil and place the packet on low heat over your campfire or charcoal grill. Cook for 10–15 minutes until melty and bubbly.
4. Top with diced green onions and serve with tortilla chips for dipping.
Check out this “How to Build a Campfire for Cooking” post for more tips and tricks on cooking over a campfire!
We love how easy these kinds of campfire dip meals are to prepare. I love how easy cleanup is after too!
Variations
- Use any type of chili you want. Try meatless, bean-less, turkey chili, or your own homemade chili.
- Just add cooked ground beef or hot sausage.
- Vary the cheeses. Sharp cheddar cheese, Colby jack, Monterey jack, a Mexican blend, pepper jack cheese, or even Velveeta cheese will all create a unique flavor profile.
- For a spicier dip, include additional seasonings like chili powder, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, taco seasoning, or hot sauce. You could even add a can of green chiles.
- Use this cheesy dip as a topping for hot dogs or add it to these tinfoil packet cheesy fries.
Tips and Tricks
- When planning a camping trip, I like to do as much food prep as possible at home, while I have access to hot running water. It makes cleanup so much easier.
- Place foil packs on a baking sheet if you are worried about the packet leaking on the grill.
- Use sheets of heavy-duty foil or double wrap your packet if you are worried out breakage.
- Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the cooler for the next day—it reheats like a dream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dip without a campfire?
Absolutely! You can bake it in a small baking dish at 375°F for 15–20 minutes or toss it in the slow cooker on low until hot and bubbly.
How long does leftover chili cheese dip last?
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge or cooler, it’ll stay good for 1-2 days. Reheat over low heat or in the microwave until it reaches a smooth consistency.
Can I use homemade chili instead of canned?
Yes! Leftover homemade chili would be great here. Just be sure it’s not too chunky for that dreamy scoopability.
This campfire chili cheese dip is the ultimate dip to add to your rotation, whether you’re camping, celebrating the Super Bowl, or just looking for a delicious appetizer to wow your crowd.
I would love for you to check out my new blog, Campfire Foodie, where I’m sharing ALL of the camping recipes!!
If you love this campfire chili cheese dip recipe, please give it a 5-star review and help me share it on Facebook and Pinterest!
Campfire Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 250 g Herb & garlic cream cheese
- 1 cup Tex mex shredded cheese
- 500 ml Homestyle chili
- 2 Green onions diced
- 1 Bag Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese, chili and tex mex cheese into a foil packet.
- Cook over the campfire on low for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melty.
- Top with diced green onion and serve with tortilla chips for dipping.
Notes
- When planning a camping trip, I like to do as much food prep as possible at home, while I have access to hot running water. It makes cleanup so much easier.
- Place foil packs on a baking sheet if you are worried about the packet leaking on the grill.
- Use sheets of heavy-duty foil or double wrap your packet if you are worried out breakage.
- Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the cooler for the next day—it reheats like a dream.
Nutrition
