Whipped feta dip is rich, creamy and refreshing. It’s the perfect appetizer for backyard summer gatherings and wine parties. It’s also a great addition to a holiday charcuterie board. Assemble this easy recipe in 20 minutes. Or with a jar of store-bought red peppers make it in 5!
This luscious whipped feta dip is deep savory and delicious. It boasts salty feta cheese, smashed garlic, smoky roasted red pepper, and a hint of citrus. Take this rich-tasting mixture to picnics and tailgating in an insulated tote. Bring it to summer potlucks and church socials. Make it for Game Day.
Enjoy Greek feta dip with flatbread crackers, pita chips, toasted baguette, or crisp buttered pieces of sourdough bread. Serve it with long strips of veggies, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives.
Like hummus, whipped feta dip is super versatile. It’s more than just an appetizer. Enjoy it as a spread for toast. Drizzle it over a meatball gyro sandwich. Stir it into scrambled eggs. Use it for stuffed chicken breasts. Serve it with steamed artichokes. Fold it into baked mac and cheese.
INGREDIENTS
- Red Bell Pepper: I prefer roasting a fresh bell pepper over an open flame, then rubbing off the charred skin. But you can buy a jar of roasted red bell peppers at the market and use those instead.
- Block Feta Cheese: For a beautiful creamy texture, rather than using crumbled feta, it’s best to use a block of feta cheese and cube it up. But if you only have crumbled feta on hand, you can use that instead.
- Whipped Cream Cheese: Adds extra creaminess to the recipe.
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and depth of flavor to whipped feta dip.
- Garlic Clove: Contributes a warm rustic taste. If you have some roasted garlic on hand, you can use that instead of fresh garlic. The sweet caramelized taste will really enhance this Greek feta dip recipe.
- Lemon: Citrus adds freshness and tanginess to the mixture. It pairs well with the garlic, red pepper and thyme.
- Dried Thyme: This spice has an earthy, slightly lemony flavor with hints of mint. It really complements this roasted red pepper feta dip.
- Sea Salt: This seasoning balances the flavors of the other ingredients. But when adding salt to the dip, keep in mind the type of dippers you’ll be serving it with. If they’re crackers and chips that already have a lot of salt, then use less of this seasoning in the whipped feta dip.
- Green Onion: This is an optional garnish. A sprinkling of green onion over the surface of the mixture offsets the light-orange color of the dip. It also adds a touch of freshness with a mild-onion flavor.
RECIPE STEPS
Fire-Roasted Red Bell Pepper
- STEP 1: GAS STOVE METHOD. No gas stove? See “oven broiler method” below. Place the red pepper directly on top of the stovetop grate. Turn the flame to medium heat. With metal tongs, rotate the pepper until the skin has blistered and charred on all sides (about 2 minutes per side).
- STEP 2: Transfer charred pepper to a heat-safe bowl. Wrap the top of the bowl tightly with plastic wrap to trap the heat inside. Let the peppers steam for 10 minutes to loosen up the skins.
- STEP 3: When the charred pepper is cool to the touch, use a paper towel to rub off the blackened skin (or use a knife to scrape it off). Discard the scrapings. Remove and discard the stem and seeds.
- STEP 4: With a sharp knife, chop the pepper’s soft red flesh into small pieces. Set them aside until ready to use.
OVEN BROILER METHOD: Adjust the oven rack so the pepper will sit about 6 inches away from the broiler. Place the red pepper on the oven rack. Turn broiler on high. Char each side until blackened (about 3 minutes per side.)
Whipped Feta Dip Recipe
RECIPE YIELD: 1 1/4 cups
- STEP 1: Add cubed feta, cream cheese, olive oil, smashed garlic, lemon juice and dried thyme to the bowl of a food processor.
- STEP 2: Process the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes). If needed, occasionally stop the machine to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- STEP 3: Add the chopped roasted peppers to the bowl. Pulse until desired size is reached. Turn off the machine. Sample the mixture. Add salt to taste.
- STEP 4: With a rubber spatula, transfer whipped feta dip to a small bowl. If desired, garnish the surface with sliced green onion. Serve the dip with crackers and/or veggies. If not immediately enjoying it, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until serving time.
RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions when making Greek whipped feta dip, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
Check your pantry for a jar of roasted red peppers or sun dried tomatoes. Both are great options. If using sun dried tomatoes, you can skip the virgin olive oil in the recipe and substitute with the savory spiced oil from the jar. This will really amp up the flavor.
Yes, for whipped feta dip you can use traditional block cream cheese that’s been softened to room temperature. For ease of measuring, substitute block cream cheese for whipped cream cheese 1:1.
Common add-ins include either white pepper (for an earthier taste), freshly-cracked black pepper, or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Garnish whipped feta dip with fresh dill or fresh (or dried) parsley. For extra texture, sprinkle the top with everything bagel seasoning. Or garnish the dip with pine nuts or (crushed) roasted pistachios.
Serve feta dip with crunchy sturdy dippers like pita chips, bagel chips, bruschetta toasts, or thick crinkle-cut potato chips. For veggies, try strips of zucchini, carrots or celery. Include some grape tomatoes. For Mediterranean flair, serve with a small bowl of Greek Kalamata olives.
Yes. Whipped feta dip is an ideal make-ahead appetizer. Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to enjoy, just stir, garnish and serve.
Pair feta dip with a light-bodied red wine like pinot noir, or a crisp fragrant white wine like sauvignon blanc.
more EASY CHEESY dip recipes
If you enjoy savory cheese dips that are quick and simple to make, try these family favorites. Like whipped feta dip, you can easily upscale the recipes to feed a crowd. Print your favorites for later, or pin them to Pinterest.
- Mexican Street Corn Dip
- Loaded Cream Cheese Dip
- Caprese Queso Dip
- Margarita Fruit Dip
- Cheesy Rotel Bean Dip
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip
RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Party guests rated this the BEST whipped feta dip recipe! They loved the creamy texture of this appetizer, with bits of red pepper throughout. They enjoyed the flavor of garlic with a tangy splash of citrus.
If you agree this red pepper feta dip is irresistibly delicious, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with a friend.
Whipped Feta Dip
- Total Time: 20 Minutes
- Yield: 1 1/4 Cups 1x
Description
Assemble creamy whipped feta dip in a food processor or high-speed blender. Enjoy this savory dip and spread with crackers, pita chips and a variety of fresh veggies. It’s easy to make and so delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1 (8-ounce) block feta cheese, cubed
- 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese (not block cream cheese)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, smashed and peeled
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pinch sea salt, or to taste
- 1 green onion, sliced (optional garnish)
Instructions
FIRE ROAST THE RED BELL PEPPER
- GAS STOVE METHOD: If no gas stove, see “oven broiler method” below. Place the red pepper directly on top of the stovetop grate. Turn the flame to medium heat. With metal tongs, rotate the pepper until the skin has blistered and charred on all sides (about 2 minutes per side).
- Transfer charred pepper to a heat-safe bowl. Wrap the top of the bowl tightly with plastic wrap to trap the heat inside. Let the peppers steam for 10 minutes to loosen up the skins.When the charred pepper is cool to the touch, use a paper towel to rub off the blackened skin (or use a knife to scrape it off). Discard the scrapings. Remove and discard the stem and seeds.
- With a sharp knife, chop the pepper’s soft red flesh into small pieces. Set them aside until ready to use.
OVEN BROILER METHOD: Adjust the oven rack so the pepper will sit about 6 inches away from the broiler. Place the red pepper on the oven rack. Turn broiler on high. Char each side until blackened (about 3 minutes per side.)
WHIPPED FETA DIP RECIPE
- Add cubed feta, cream cheese, olive oil, smashed garlic, lemon juice and dried thyme to the bowl of a food processor. Process the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes). If needed, occasionally stop the machine to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add chopped peppers to the bowl. Pulse until desired size is reached. Turn off machine. Sample the mixture. Add salt to taste.
- Transfer whipped feta dip to a small bowl. If desired, garnish the surface with sliced green onions. Serve with pita, crackers and/or veggies.
Notes
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE FASTER: Instead of charring and peeling a fresh red pepper at home, use a store-bought jar of “fire-roasted red bell peppers”.
STORAGE: Store feta dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Stir before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Keywords: Whipped Feta Dip, Feta Dip, Feta Dip Recipe, Greek Feta Dip, Red Pepper Feta Dip
WHIPPED FETA DIP > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
For parties do you reach for store-bought dips and spreads, or do enjoy making your own at home? What do you think of this whipped feta dip recipe? Share your thoughts on this appetizer in the comments below.
This was a last-minute add-on to the party menu. So glad I made it! A huge hit on the charcuterie board. Guests were raving about it. The bowl was scraped clean.
★★★★★