Baked Triple Cheese and Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip

PinSaveJUMP to RECIPE

This post may contain affiliate links.

Baked Triple Cheese and Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip — This easy chip dip recipe is made with corn tortilla chips, salsa, and three types of cheese. It can be assembled in advance and baked just before guests arrive!

This post is sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company. 

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

The Best Chip Dip Recipe

For a dip lover like me, there was no need for dinner after having my way with this chip dip. I can happily make a meal out of dips, and that’s exactly what happened here. I couldn’t resist.

This cream cheese salsa dip is serious comfort food. It’s like amped up nachos meets Mexican-inspired lasagna, and it’s finger-lickin’ good stuff.

Below is a photo of my 6-year old hand model. It’s the first time I’ve ever recruited her for blog work. I paid her in warm, cheesy, gooey chip dip.

There are three types of cheese used in this easy chip dip (shredded cheese, cream cheese, cheddar soup), and with salsa and tortilla chips baked right in, there’s bold flavors and a variety of textures.

It’s an extremely easy dip to make by simply layering 6 ingredients together in a baking dish.

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

The slightly crunchy texture from the baked-in tortilla chips, along with the gooey browned cheese, reminds me the nachos I used to eat after some late nights out in college. Oh, the memories.

The smooth cream cheese contrasted with the chunky salsa gives the dip richness with contrasting textures.

It’s a perfect tailgating or party dip. Super Bowl anyone? Or make it as a just because it’s Thursday dip that everyone will love.

The leftovers re-heat nicely if you don’t devour it all at once. I served it the next night as a Mexican-themed lasagna.

Even your pickiest recipe critics won’t be able to say no.

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

What’s in Chip Dip? 

I remember my mom using Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup in casseroles, and the Cheddar Cheese Soup is a great pairing with the other cheeses in this chip dip recipe.

Here’s what else I used in this easy chip dip recipe: 

  • Corn tortilla chips
  • Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup
  • Fajita seasoning
  • Shredded cheese
  • Cream cheese
  • Salsa

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

How to Make Chip Dip

Begin by adding a flat layer of corn tortilla chips into a pie dish. Allow them to overlap slightly to close up major gaps. This prevents the next layer, the soup, from seeping through.

Add one can of Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup. It’s considered a “cooking” soup rather than “eating” soup. It adds cheesy flavor, and as the dip bakes, the soup turns creamier and gives the dip more pizazz.

Sprinkle on one packet of fajita seasoning mix. If you can’t find ‘fajita’ mix, most any kind of taco seasoning mix in a packet will work.

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

Then sprinkle on not quite half of one 8-ounce bag of shredded cheese, before topping with cream cheese.

Top with your favorite salsa and the remaining cheese. I used mild salsa because my hand model was partaking, and she’s not a fan of four alarm fires, but use whatever heat level you prefer.

Bake until it’s golden, bubbly, and your house smells like a Mexican restaurant.

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

Can I Add Meat to This Chip Dip?

I’m sure you could, although I haven’t tried it myself. If you decide to add ground meat, I think you’d want to spoon it over the tortilla chip layer so that the cheese on top can still become melted and golden in the oven. 

Can I Bacon to This Chip Dip? 

Again, I bet you could. You’d want to cook the bacon until crispy and then crumble it up before sprinkling it into this cream cheese salsa dip. 

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

What Type of Shredded Cheese Should I Use? 

Any shredded cheese will work in this chip dip recipe, just use whichever is your favorite. Personally, I like using a shredded Mexican cheese blend because I like how it pairs with the salsa and fajita seasoning. 

Is There a Cream Cheese Substitute I Can Use? 

Not that I’m aware of. If you can’t find cream cheese where you live, I recommend making another one of my easy dip recipes instead. 

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

What Type of Salsa Should I Use? 

You can use any store-bought salsa you’d like. You could even use a canned salsa verde if desired. Whatever you normally buy will work! 

Can I Use Pico de Gallo Instead of Salsa? 

I’m not sure. I recommend using canned salsa to be safe since I know for sure that works well in this chip dip recipe. 

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

Can I Prep This Chip Dip in Advance? 

Yes, you can assemble this cream cheese salsa dip up to 12 hours in advance and keep it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to bake, which is what I did, and my step shots were taken at night.

Can I Make This Chip Dip in a Slow Cooker? 

I’m not sure how well that’d work since this chip dip has tortilla chips layered on the bottom. I think they’d become soggy if you warmed this chip dip in a slow cooker to serve it. 

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

What to Serve with Baked Chip Dip

This cheesy baked chip dip pairs well with anything savory and crunchy. A few of my favorite things to dip into this cream cheese salsa dip are: 

  • Bell pepper wedges
  • Zucchini sticks
  • Pita chips
  • Tortilla chips
  • Kettle chips 
  • Pretzel chips

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

Tips for Making the Best Chip Dip

It’s a little tricky to spread the cream cheese evenly over the shredded cheese without disturbing it, so it’s important your cream cheese be very well softened to room temp, which makes this easier. 

Also, make sure you’re using brick-style cream cheese and not the whipped kind that comes in a tub. Brick-style cream cheese is much thicker and creamier and makes for a super hearty dip that’s easy to scoop up onto a chip. 

A few readers have said they used flavored tortilla chips to make this chip dip (like lime tortilla chips). I used plain corn tortilla chips to make my cream cheese salsa dip, but flavored chips are a great idea too! 

Baked Triple Cheese & Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip - Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection! Always a hit at parties & great for Superbowl! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

Baked Triple Cheese and Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip — This easy chip dip recipe is made with corn tortilla chips, salsa, and three types of cheese. It can be assembled in advance and baked just before guests arrive!

Pin This Recipe

4.70 from 10 votes

Baked Triple Cheese and Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip

By Averie Sunshine
This easy chip dip recipe is made with corn tortilla chips, salsa, and three types of cheese. It can be assembled in advance and baked before guests come!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Save this recipe to your email
Enter your email and we’ll send it to you!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients  

  • 10 to 15 corn tortilla chips, round or triangle
  • one 10.75-ounce can Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup
  • one 1.25-ounce packet fajita seasoning mix
  • one 8-ounce bag shredded cheese, divided (Mexican blend, Pepper Jack blend, etc.)
  • 8 ounces brick-style cream cheese, very well softened to room temp
  • 8 ounces salsa

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a 9-inch pie dish (or similar-sized oven-safe baking dish) with cooking spray.
  • Place tortilla chips in dish so they cover the majority of the bottom, slightly overlapping. This prevents soup from seeping through.
  • Add the soup and lightly spread it evenly over the chips with a spatula or knife.
  • Evenly sprinkle the fajita mix over the top.
  • Evenly sprinkle not quite half the cheese over the top (I used about 40% of the bag); set aside remainder.
  • Add the cream cheese in about 1/4 cup blobs and with a spatula or knife, do your best to carefully distribute it evenly over the pan without disturbing the other layers. Some small bald patches are okay because it bakes together. Tip – the softer your cream cheese is, the easier this step is.
  • Evenly pour the salsa over the top, spreading it lightly with a spatula or knife if necessary.
  • Evenly sprinkle reserved cheese over the top.
  • Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until top is golden browned, bubbly, and dip is done to your liking. Allow dip to cool momentarily before serving.

Notes

  • Serving Suggestions: tortilla chips, bread, crackers, bagel chips, pita chips, mini toast crackers, carrot/celery/zucchni/cucumber sticks, bell pepper wedges, or eat by the spoonful.
  • Dip is best warm and fresh, but extra will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Gently re-heat in microwave before serving leftover portion. We ate the leftover portion in squares like lasagna.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 211kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 44mg, Sodium: 837mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Dip Recipes:

Creamy Baked Double Cheese and Onion Dip — One of my favorite dips and I used to think I hated onions. Stir it together in one bowl in minutes and bake for cheesy comfort food.

Creamy Baked Double Cheese and Sweet Onion Dip - Cheesy, comforting & easy dip that everyone loves! Recipe at averiecooks.com

Loaded Baked BLT Dip — This cheesy BLT dip is loaded with two types of cheese, bacon, fresh tomatoes, and more! It’s perfect for holiday parties and tailgating and is SO easy to make! 

Loaded Baked BLT Dip

Hot Cheesy Corn Dip — This easy dip literally takes five minutes to stir together. It’s a great for parties, football, and tailgating.

Hot Cheesy Corn Dip

5-Minute Chili Cheese Dip — EASY, ready in 5 minutes, just 3 main ingredients, and made in the microwave!! The CHEESE is irresistible! The perfect game day or easy party appetizer that everyone LOVES!!

5-Minute Chili Cheese Dip 

Layered Beef Taco Dip – A FAST and EASY layered dip with taco-seasoned cream cheese, sour cream, ground beef, black beans, cheese, tomatoes, and more!! Perfect for your next FIESTA and a guaranteed WINNER with everyone!!

Layered Beef Taco Dip

3-2-1 Dip {Instant Pot, Stovetop, or Slow Cooker} – An EASY dip with just 3 different ingredients!! With 3 different choices how to make it! Creamy, cheesy comfort food that’s great for game day parties or TV nights on the couch!!

3-2-1 Dip {Instant Pot, Stovetop, or Slow Cooker}

Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip – Same great flavor as bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, minus the work!! Creamy, CHEESY, loaded with bacon, and topped with CRISPY jalapeños! Fast, EASY, perfect for parties!!

Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip

16 Cheesy Dips To Make Now – Fast, EASY, foolproof, and nothing compares to gooey, heavenly, melted CHEESE!! Perfect for holiday parties, game day parties, or your next cozy night on the couch!!

16 Cheesy Dips To Make Now - Fast, EASY, foolproof, and nothing compares to gooey, heavenly, melted CHEESE!! Perfect for holiday parties, game day parties, or your next cozy night on the couch!!

For more than 144 years, Campbell Soup Company has been making meals fun and delicious. From fresh twists on classic faves to totally new recipes, Campbell gives you inspiration through their recipe destination, www.campbellskitchen.com.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

Get the latest recipes via email!

Leave a Comment

Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. I’ve made this recipe a few times now and have added some seasoned (Tex mex style) ground turkey or chicken into it and it has been really good! I make it easier by just mixing the cheese soup/cream cheese/fajita season all together in one bowl, putting that on top of the taco chip base and then just layering cheese, salsa then more cheese on top. One of my favourites!

  2. Omg! I made this for our housewarming party last wknd and it was a total hit!!! People think I can cook!!! And well! Lol
    I went full fat on everything and used the “Hint of Lime” Tostitos soooo good!
    Next time I might try user lower fat products, hopefully it’ll be just as good and I can have it twice as often!

    1. Hint of Lime Tostitos would be so perfect here! Great thinking! Glad to hear you made it for a party and ppl think you can cook :) For parties, I always use full fat products b/c well, it’s a party! Thanks for the glowing report!

  3. This is possible the most delicious looking dip ever! And I love cheese. Definitely must try this out sometime! I’m sure my friend (who loves cheese even more than I do) will appreciate this recipe as well!

  4. I’m like you. I could fill up on a great dip like this and skip dinner. This looks delicious, Averie! Pinned. Have a great weekend and a lovely holiday!

  5. Uh, yes! This looks absolutely delicious. And dip totally counts as a meal, regardless of if it’s a Thursday or if it’s breakfast. ;) And I was thinking the same thing as Dorothy… those hands don’t look like 6-year-old hands! This is definitely getting pinned!