For elegant entertaining or just a delicious afternoon snack, warm feta cheese dip is a winner. It’s creamy and flavorful, but without the richness of a traditional cheese dip. To make it even more delicious, we created a topping from olives and fresh arugula. We opted for this topping because all the flavors meld together so well with the Mediterranean feta cheese dip vibes we were going for right down to the Lemon Pepper OMG! Pretzels we used for dipping.
You’ll be saying “OMG!” because…
- This dip is so simple to make but looks so impressive!
- If cheese dip is a go-to appetizer, you’ll love this lighter twist on a classic.
- The Mediterranean flavors are complex, which will satisfy your snacking cravings.
Premium Ingredients = Recipes that WOW
We know that when you are feeding the people you love, you want to give them the best. That’s why using the best ingredients in our recipes is so important to us. The things to focus on when making warm feta cheese dip are:
The feta cheese should be full fat and a whole block. You can crumble it yourself when it’s time to make the dip, but pre-crumbled feta can often be too dry and not as flavorful. If you can find it, buy feta that is packed in brine. This will be a richer, more authentic feta cheese.
The pesto provides the flavor for this Mediterranean feta cheese recipe, so either make it yourself or if you buy it from the store, opt for one in the refrigerated section. These typically have cleaner ingredients and a brighter taste.
The pretzels used for dipping should be crunchy to offset the creamy dip. Our authentically-aged seasoned sourdough pretzel nuggets are the perfect dipper for this warm feta cheese dip because they are bite sized, have a light, airy crunch and add bold flavor to the snacking experience.
How to Make Warm Feta Cheese Dip
Make the cheese mixture. This is the base of the warm feta cheese dip. Once you crumble the feta cheese, stir in the sour cream and pesto (or other mix-ins) until well combined. Then, transfer to the baking dish.
PRO TIP: If you are making this ahead of time for a party, at this point, you can cover the mixture with foil and put in the fridge for a few hours. Once you are ready to bake it, remove the foil before putting the warm feta cheese dip in the oven.
Make the Topping: The olives, arugula and lemon zest lighten up this Mediterranean feta cheese dip while adding additional flavor and freshness. Once made, we like to store the topping in the refrigerator while the cheese mixture bakes so that you get the cool bite of the veggies on top when you eat this cheese dip for pretzels.
Pretzel-tastic Warm Feta Cheese Dip Variations
Since this cheese dip for pretzels recipe is simple, you can make it in a few steps with just a handful of ingredients. You can also switch up the flavors inside the dip to match your menu. A few of our favorite warm feta cheese dip variations are:
- Make it spicy and fold chopped pepperoncini into the warm feta cheese dip before you bake it. If you go this route, we suggest using Garlic OMG! Pretzels for the dippers.
- Top it with sundried tomatoes for earthy sweetness and color. This is an easy change to the Mediterranean feta cheese recipe and is a good option if your crew doesn’t like olives.
- Add sweetness and texture by mixing in diced roasted red peppers to the cheese mixture before you put it in the oven. This will allow the peppers to warm through and help flavor the warm feta cheese dip as it bakes. Chesapeake OMG! Pretzels are a tasty option for this cheese dip for pretzels.
Warm Feta Cheese Dip Recipe
Warm Feta Cheese Dip Recipe
Ingredients
For the Dip:
- 1.5 cups feta, crumbled
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3 tbsp pesto, fresh or store-bought
For the Topping:
- ½ cup arugula, chopped
- ⅓ cup mixed olives, chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Drizzle of olive oil
- 1 bag of Lemon Pepper OMG! Pretzels
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Mix together the olive topping (arugula, chopped olives, lemon zest, olive oil) and set aside in the refrigerator.
- Grease a small baking dish with a drizzle of olive oil.
- In a medium bowl stir together crumbled feta, sour cream, and pesto until well combined.
- Add the cheese mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread across evenly.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the warm feta dip is bubbling. Then broil on low for 3-5 minutes until a little golden.
- Let the dip sit for 5 minutes to cool slightly and then top with the olive mixture.
- Serve with OMG! Lemon Pepper Pretzels for dipping and enjoy!
