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Everyone’s Favorite Thanksgiving Desserts.
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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
- cheddar cheese
- mozzarella cheese
- 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!
Broccoli Cheddar Dip
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 289 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3-4 cups chopped broccoli florets
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or Sour Cream
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- black pepper
- hard pretzel twists for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. 2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook 1-2 minutes, until bright green. Drain.3. In a bowl, mix all remaining ingredients. Add the broccoli and season with pepper. Mix until creamy.4. Spoon the dip into your favorite baking dish. Bake 25 minutes, until bubbly on top. Serve with hard pretzels. Trust me - SO DELICIOUS!
This post was originally published on November 24, 2025
Not sure why all the negative feedback on this one – we loved it! I shredded my own cheese which guaranteed it wasn’t too heavy extra creamy. The hot sauce adds a nice touch of heat and the fresh herbs made sure it wasn’t too heavy. We served it with pretzels and homemade crusty bread and both were delicious! Thank you for yet another delicious recipe – I will definitely be adding this one to the Super Bowl lineup!
Hey Marsha,
Happy Monday! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try, so glad to hear it was a hit!
My family really enjoyed this! The seasoning was perfect with just a tiny bit of heat, which was a nice addition to broccoli and cheese. I used pretzel twists and baked pita triangles for serving. The pretzel twists were preferred and perfect for this dish. One could add more broccoli and turn it into a perfect side dish with lots of flavor. Thank you for yet another win!!
Hey Lisa,
Fantastic! Thanks for making this recipe, I’m so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday!
While I would not classify this as ‘healthy’ dish, my kids loved it and they hate broccoli so I felt good that at least they got a vegetable in their bellies. I am going to make it again and add more broccoli and maybe some other vegetables like cauliflower or shredded carrots!
Hey Joni,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed!
Tried this dip and honestly, the flavor was half decent, but the texture was disappointing…. greasy, watery, and the cheese didn’t melt properly. Definitely not as smooth or creamy as I expected.
Hi Ana,
Thanks for trying this recipe and your feedback, very sorry to hear you did not enjoy it!
Anna, did you use pre shredded cheese or did you shred yourself from a block. It makes a huge difference. The anti caking powder they put in pre-shredded cheese makes a huge difference when making melty dips and things.
This, was so-so. I just used block cheese which I Grated. The dish was very heavy and had no balance of flavour. Disappointed.
Made this and the dip ended up really greasy and the broccoli watery. The cheese didn’t melt smoothly and it felt kind of sloppy, not very flavorful either , definitely needs some tweaks.
Hi Jean,
Very sorry to hear this dip did not turn out for you. Thanks for making it and your comment!
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was so bad. A good reminder to test recipes in the future before serving, I felt awful for my guests!
Hi Brookes,
So sorry to hear this recipe was not enjoyed. If there is anything that I can help with, please let me know!
Left out the hot sauce. It was great. Also makes an amazing casserole as well. Goes great with pretzels, corn chips and carrots. Will definitely make it again.
Hey Frances,
Fantastic! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it turned out well! Have a great weekend!
Made this for my family’s thanksgiving, it was a huge hit! I used a ghost pepper hot sauce, which added a good kick.
Hey Grayson,
Amazing! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was a hit!
Added minced garlic and Gruyère cheese and it was the hit of the party
Hey Sarah,
Fantastic! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it turned out well! Have a great weekend!
EVERYONE loved this dip! It was easy to make and our favorite appetizer on Thanksgiving! Many said it must be added to our regular menu 😋
Hey Erica,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was a winner! Happy Holidays!
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was so bad, I’m so embarrassed.
Hi Jenna,
Very sorry to hear this. If there is anything that I can help with, please let me know!
This was so awful. Way too much dairy, and boiling the broccoli for a minute felt pointless since it cooked in the oven anyway. Just a mess with no real flavor. Sad to see HBH making so many dairy heavy dishes constantly!
So sorry to hear this, Rebecca. Thanks for trying the recipe and your feedback. Happy Thanksgiving!