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Store-bought vegetable cream cheese dip will be a thing of the past with this easy recipe! Customize the veggies you add to suit your tastes, and serve it as a spread for bagels and sandwiches or as a dip for chips, pretzels, or fresh vegetables.
You might remember me mentioning my love of everything bagels a while ago. What I didn’t tell you is that my favorite way to enjoy them is spread with a schmear of veggie cream cheese. Such a perfect pair, those two; which is why when I recently made everything crackers, the natural thing for me to make with them was this dip.
In this recipe, you’re not limited to using the veggies I used. Feel free to use whatever you like or have on hand. (Try to stick with veggies that don’t give off too much water though, since they could add too much liquid to the dip.)
You can serve this dip with crackers, toasted bread, pita crisps, and/or crudités. And I can say from experience that it is also fantastic on bagels.
If you enjoy store-bought Philadelphia Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread, you’re going to love the homemade version!
Ingredients
Breaking It Down
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
- Cream cheese – Soften the cream cheese slightly so that it blends well without lumps. However, be careful not to heat it, or you’ll need to chill the dip for quite a while to thicken it. You can use regular cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese here.
- Sour cream – Adding sour cream thins out this dip a bit so it’s the perfect consistency for dipping pretzels, chips, or vegetable sticks. You can omit it or reduce it by half or a thicker dip or spread. Also note that the consistency will stiffen after being chilled; the photos in this post show the consistency before chilling.
- Garlic – Garlic adds great depth of flavor here, and it’s mellowed a lot by the cream cheese. Without it, I find this dip a bit bland! However, if you prefer, you can use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder instead of raw garlic.
- Scallion – This adds a mild onion flavor.
- Dill – Fresh dill really takes this to the next level. The combination of garlic and dill paired with tangy sour cream in this rich dip is irresistible. However, if you don’t have fresh dill on hand, you can use 1/2 teaspoon of dried dill, or use another fresh herb, such as oregano, marjoram, basil, etc.
- Red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper – I like to use three different colors of bell pepper mostly for aesthetics (but they do add different flavors as well). You can use whatever color bell pepper you like or have on hand.
- Carrot – Shredded carrot will stain the color of this dip to a light orange color. If you finely chop the carrot (instead of shredding it) or if you use store-bought pre-shredded carrot, it won’t stain the dip yellow as much. Another option is to pat the shredded carrot dry after shredding to remove as much of the carrot juice as possible.
- Salt and black pepper – These pantry-staple ingredients add just the right amount of seasoning to elevate the flavor.
Instructions
Prep all the veggies. Add everything to a large bowl and stir well to combine.
If you have the time, cover the bowl and pop it into the fridge to chill for 2 hours before serving so the dip can stiffen and the flavors can blend.
Storage
Store this dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Cook’s Tips
- For umami flavor notes in the background, skip the salt and add 1 teaspoon of soy sauce or 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce (or 1/2 teaspoon of each).
- You aren’t limited to the vegetables I used in this recipe. Feel free to swap out the veggies for your favorites, just make sure they aren’t too watery. Additional vegetables that work well here include: broccoli, celery, red onion, etc.
- You can serve this a number of ways. It’s great as a dip for chips, pretzels, or raw vegetables, or as a spread for sandwiches, wraps, or bagels. And I’ve also made leftover veggie cream cheese dip into a cheesy chicken casserole! To do so, combine leftover chicken, steamed rice or boiled noodles, blanched broccoli or cauliflower, and this dip in a casserole dish. Top with a sprinkling of shredded cheddar and bake in a 350F oven until warm.
Vegetable Cream Cheese Dip FAQs
That depends entirely on what’s healthy to you, as we all have a unique medical history. But this dip is naturally gluten free, low carb, and keto friendly, so it’s easy to fit into a variety of different ways of eating.
Also, because we add fresh vegetables to our cream cheese dip, they provide a bump in nutrients thanks to their vitamins, minerals, and fiber content.
There are a couple different ways you can thicken cream cheese dip. For starters, omit the sour cream. Additionally, be mindful not to add vegetables that give off a lot of water.
If you want to make the dip thicker after you make it, try chilling it for a couple hours. Cream cheese-based dips naturally thicken when they’re cold. (And bonus, this also gives the flavors the chance to blend!)
However, if you still want your dip thicker after chilling, you can mix in more cream cheese one ounce at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
If you want your dip thinner so it’s easier for dipping, mix in additional sour cream 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
It’s a mixture of 8 ounces regular cream cheese, 1 cup of sour cream or mayo (or a mixture of half of each), and 1 packet of dried soup mix, such as Knorr Vegetable Recipe Mix or Lipton Onion Soup and Dip Mix.
This is a quick and easy dip for chips, so it’s a popular snack or appetizer for potlucks, game nights, tailgating, holiday parties, etc.
More Cream Cheese Dips to Try
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Vegetable Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese slightly softened but not warm
- 1/4 cup sour cream optional; see Notes
- 1 large clove garlic crushed
- 1/4 cup minced scallion
- 2 tablespoons minced dill
- 3 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
- 3 tablespoons minced green bell pepper
- 3 tablespoons minced yellow bell pepper
- 1/4 cup finely shredded carrot see Notes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add everything to a large bowl and stir well to combine.
- If you have the time, cover the bowl and pop it into the fridge to chill for 2 hours before serving so the dip can stiffen and the flavors can blend.
Notes
- Storage: Store this dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Recipe Servings: This recipe makes about 4 to 6 servings if you’re using this as a dip, and about 8 to 12 servings if you’re using this as a spread (on bagels, sandwiches, etc.).
- Nutrition Information: The nutritional information for this recipe was based on it making 8 servings.
- Net Carbs: 2.6g per serving (based on this recipe making 8 servings)
- Sour Cream: Adding sour cream thins out this dip a bit so it’s the perfect consistency for dipping pretzels, chips, or vegetable sticks. You can omit it or reduce it by half or a thicker dip or spread. Also note that the consistency will stiffen after being chilled; the photos show the consistency before chilling.
- Carrots: Shredded carrot will stain the color of this dip to a light orange color. If you finely chop the carrot (instead of shredding it) or if you use store-bought pre-shredded carrot, it won’t stain the dip yellow as much. Another option is to pat the shredded carrot dry after shredding to remove as much of the carrot juice as possible.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
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This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on January 14, 2011 and updated on June 21, 2024. To show the evolution of my food photography, I kept one of the original photos below.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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I’ve been searching and looking and oh my GOSH! (lol) for a veggie cream cheese (I got addicted at a great bagel company in Canada). I’m also learning to make bread, and I’m just going to have to try this cheese, and see if I can make bread balls stuffed with it (for church) ^_^ yummy! thanks so much for posting this!
Finally someone posted a great recipe for vegie cream cheese. The bagel shop at my campus made their own, and I have wanted to since. I’m going to make this for the whole week. Thanks.
I have a huge weakness when it comes to delicious dips like this one.
I have to control myself not to overdo it. Great recipe Faith. Thanks.
Ciao for now,
Claudia
I love dips…a bit too much really :)
This sounds and look delicious!
Yum! A homemade dip! I usually use the soup mix and sour cream. This sounds way, way better and will be amazing with your homemade crackers:)
This looks amazing! I would gladly eat this with your crackers or on a bagel. Yum!
What a simple and lovely dip Faith! I love dips that you can easily whip up and adding in the vegetables makes this lovely and healthy too! :)
This dip looks fantastic! I am sure you have noticed I make a lot of dips… this looks like something my friends would enjoy!
The dip is pretty beside, I am sure, delicious.
Do you know someone is having a dip contest, this month? If you are interested, I have the email and I can look it up, for you.
This dip looks so good! Can’t wait to read your cracker recipe too!
How have i missed out on veggie cream cheese all my life? Usually I’m a smoked salmon cream cheese or strawberry cream cheese LOVER but my heart could totally be stolen by this.
Mmm, that dip would go great with crunchy pita bread. These cream cheese dips are so good I just can’t stop diving until everything is gone.
This looks really good. I love easy n healthy treats like this:)
Mmmm. That’s the kind of dip I could easily eat an entire bowl of. You always have the best recipes Faith! Looking forward to hearing about your homemade crackers!
What a great dip Faith! I love all the veggies in it – bet it’s really delicious with your homemade crackers!
That’s such a healthy dip with all the vegetables added. I like it.
Ahh ,now i know why u loveee bagels so muc, with so wonderful a creamy cheesy dip , im taken too:-)
Love the addition of veggies in here!
This looks really awesome….veggies and cream cheese sounds great together. And what’s not to love about dipping things? Your recipes are always so tempting :)
This looks delicious! I am going to make it for my next gathering! Thanks!
Oh nice dip, very nice with the veggies inside. I imagine a bit of smoked salmon in there too would be great.
Faith, the Super Bowl is coming up. This is definitely on the lineup!
A vegetable dip like this would make my carrot sticks and celeries much more tolerable. A vegetable dip for my vegetables! YUM!
Bagels: I first ate them in Australia, with crispy bacon, mayonnaise sauce and lettuce. Your dip makes mouths water.
I love your blog, recipes are delicious and simple to make.
My blog now has a new story in English, if you have time go and have a taste :-)
This looks delicious and healthy! Can’t wait to see the cracker recipe. Yum.
These sure look good, I love cheesy dips too.
I’m not a bagel person, but I still love cream cheese. And I bet the veggie cream cheese dip is excellent with veggies :)
Love the healthy veggie dip out there! My dinning table is all set with the bread and this lovely dip.
YUM. It almost looks nutritious… but, really – it is nutritious… just a little high in fat – but with that yummy cheese – cannot get it here – but had it in Paris this summer – deadly – and veggies? With whole wheat crackers. YUM! Or, just give me a spoon. I have usually seen this made with a dried vegetable soup mix.
:)
Valerie
Faith, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: raw brownie batter, baked apple fritters, roasted corn chowder, the fishbowl I still daydream about, chicken and dumplings, oooooooooh the French onion soup with all the fabulous tips, and among many others, vegetable cream cheese dip!! Oh girl, I so have to make this b/c like you, I’m an everything bagel girl. Love it. And I’ve never had a spread like this–it makes my mouth water to think of the flavor! Thank you so much for the recipe. Those crackers are calling me too.
Love the creamy cheesy stuff…this would be the dip for me too.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Angie
This cream cheese dip will be good with so many things. The crackers look wonderful too! Can’t wait for the recipe.
Oooh, that’s how I want to get my daily dose of veggies. Is that bad of me? LOL
These rich and creamy dip Faith, love it.
This looks and sounds delicious. I made a dip similar to this when my children were all at home. Yours is much healthier. The base of ours was a dehydrated soup mix that had enough sodium to meet the needs of the immediate world. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
We share a love of Everything bagels and a homemade veggie cream cheese is the perfect schmear! Also, a great appetizer/party dip – thanks, Faith.
What a fun idea! I love veggie cream cheese as well, and this is such a fun idea for an appetizer :)
Big cream cheese lover right here. This recipe is singing sweet melodies in my ears, looks so yummy. Love your addition of the veggies. By the way, is it weird to compliment you on how perfect your nails are? Anyways, hope you have a great weekend!
I was looking for a dip to make for football weekends or any weekend for that matter and this will be perfect! I’ll have to try it on bagels too.
Yum! This looks delicious and I cannot wait for the everything crackers recipe–they look amazing!
owww I just made my first batch of crackers a little while back and I can’t wait to try your everything version! The dip looks amazing too. Veggie cream cheese is heavenly, so I’m sure the dip is even better. Beautiful work- as always!
My husband would be in heaven if I whipped this up for him. He loves everything bagels with veggie cream cheese, so I know that this would definately appeal to his taste buds. Thank you for sharing such a great recipe. I hope your weekend overflows with good food, good friends, and love!
I love cream cheese in any form whatsoever and this recipe looks right up my alley. Love it! Also, this is weird but I have to say I noticed how perfect your nails are – I’d be too scared to have a closeup of my scraggily nails!
Love vegetable cream cheese, so good on a bagel!
How yummy faith! A great way to sneak in extra veggies :)
Mmmm looks yummy! I normally love dipping naan bread or carrot sticks in humous or tzatziki but this looks really good! I’ll have to try this sometime. And by the way, your fingernails are so perfectly manicured! Very pretty :)
What a yummy dip!
Cheers,
Rosa