Labor Day is a great time to gather with friends and family, and no gathering is complete without a spread of delicious dips. These five easy-to-make dips are sure to be crowd-pleasers, offering a variety of flavors that everyone will enjoy. Each dip comes with suggested dippers, making your party prep even more uncomplicated. For those who don’t have time to make a dip or prefer to pick up a dip from a local restaurant, we’ve included a list of local places where you can find delicious dips.

Classic Guacamole

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe avocados, peeled and mashed
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine mashed avocados, lime juice, red onion, cilantro, and garlic in a medium bowl.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Mix until well combined and serve immediately.

Best Dippers:

• Tortilla chips
• Fresh vegetable sticks (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers)
• Pita bread

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 cup canned artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Mix a large bowl of spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, and garlic.
3. Transfer to a baking dish and oven-bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
4. Serve warm.

Best Dippers:

• Tortilla chips
• Sliced baguette
• Crackers

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Combine shredded chicken, half of the shredded cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, cream cheese, and buffalo sauce in a large bowl.
3. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese.
4. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly.
5. Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles on top, if desired, and serve hot.

Best Dippers:

• Celery sticks
• Tortilla chips
• Sliced bell peppers

Hummus

Ingredients:

• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Paprika and olive oil for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Transfer to a serving dish then drizzle olive oil and sprinkle paprika on top.
4. Serve at room temperature.

Best Dippers:

• Pita chips
• Carrot sticks
• Cucumber slices

Mango Salsa

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine mangoes, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice in a large bowl.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Mix well and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together.

Best Dippers:

• Tortilla chips
• Jicama sticks
• Grilled shrimp

Local Restaurants for Labor Day Dips

If you’re short on time or want to try something new, these local restaurants offer delicious dips that you can pick up for your Labor Day celebration:

• Grand Forks, ND: Blue Moose Bar & Grill
  • Recommended Dip: Spinach Con Queso – “Our signature starter! Creamy pepper jack cheese, spinach, and other spicy delights served hot with tortilla chips. An addicting experience! Make it low-carb with veggies.” Visit Blue Moose Bar & Grill
• St. Cloud, MN: Jules’ Bistro
  • Recommended Dip: Greek Hummus Platter – “Garlic lemon hummus, topped with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives & feta, drizzled with olive oil & served with Artisan Naan Bakery naan.” Visit Jules’ Bistro
• Detroit Lakes, MN: Zorbaz
  • Recommended Dip: Colorado Hatch Green Chili – “A traditional Verde zauce made with pork, green chiliez & zecret ingredientz. Each batch variez from muy caliente to en Fuego. 6 oz. dip-like zerving. Take a chance with your chipz & zalza.” Visit Zorbaz
• Winona, MN: Bub’s Brewing Co
  • Recommended Dip: Queso Con Carne Dip – Classic queso with meat served with tortilla chips. Visit Bub’s Brewing Co.
• Alexandria, MN: D Mike’s Resort Bar & Grill
  • Recommended Dip: Crab Dip – “A creamy blend of herbs, spices, crab meat, and cheeses. Served with toasted focaccia.” Visit D Mike’s Resort Bar & Grill
• Fergus Falls, MN: Fiesta Brava.
  • Recommended Dip: Choriqueso – A flavorful cheese dip with Mexican sausage (chorizo). Served with tortilla chips. Visit Fiesta Brava

Final Thoughts

These Labor Day dips will surely be a hit at your gathering, offering something for everyone. Whether you make them at home or pick one up from a local restaurant, your guests will be delighted with these delicious, crowd-pleasing options.

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