This easy hot cheese garlic dip recipe takes just 10 minute start to finish! This classic baked cheese dip is simple, flavorful and memorable with just a few minutes hands-on time. Cheesy and garlicky, it makes the most perfect appetizer for sharing.

Filled with fragrant, chopped fresh herbs and creamy and rich fontina cheese, this is a dip you’re going to love! It’s perfect for the holidays or any time you’re entertaining guests.

A white bowl of baked fontina cheese dip surrounded by crostini
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I’m a big fan of dips. Have you noticed? They’re a crowd pleaser and often fairly quick to prepare. One of my favorite cheese dip recipes is the Barefoot Contessa’s baked Fontina that she shared years ago.

I’ve adapted it to suit our tastes over time, and it’s always just as delicious all these years later!

Hot garlic cheese dip stretching out of a white bowl

With only five minutes hands on time, this recipe tastes anything but last minute. Fresh ingredients yield a flavorful dip that goes straight from oven to table. Unless there are more than four of us, I cut this recipe in half.

It takes no time at all to prep it, but if you wish, you can prep all of the ingredients before your guests arrive and then just pop it into the oven before you want to serve it. It’s decadent and delicious!

Are you ready? I know I am!

Hot cheese dip with garlic stretching out of a white bowl

Why You’ll Love this Garlic Dip

  • So Easy to Make
  • Fresh Ingredients
  • Crowd Pleaser

Ingredients and Substitutions

Start with fresh ingredients. The freshest ingredients offer fullest flavors.

Hot cheese dip ingredients laid out on a marble surface
  • Fontina cheese – You can substitute with provolone, gruyere, and gouda if you’d prefer.
  • Olive oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil.
  • Garlic cloves – Minced. You can find a complete list of Garlic Conversions here, and get the simplest techniques for how to peel and mince garlic here.
  • Thyme and rosemary: Fresh off of the stem.
  • Salt and pepper: Freshly cracked

Variations

Chopped fontina cheese in a white bowl topped with fresh herbs

How To Make This Hot Cheese Dip Recipe

It really doesn’t take long to make this crowd pleasing appetizer.

  1. Preheat broiler & place rack 5″ from the top.
  2. Remove the rind & cube fontina. Place in your baking dish. Chopped fontina cheese in a white bowl topped with fresh herbs
  3. Pour oil over fontina. Add remaining ingredients.
  4. Broil 6 minutes, watching closely until it bubbles.
A white bowl of baked fontina cheese dip surrounded by crostini

What To Serve With Hot Cheese Dip

This dip is meant for a crowd and I love serving it with a variety of ‘dippers’:

A white bowl of baked fontina cheese dip

Frequently Asked Questions

What does fontina cheese taste like?

It is creamy and mild with a touch of sweetness and nuttiness to it, and when melted it is so perfectly gooey and perfect for dipping.

Is fontina cheese good for melting?

Fontina cheese melts incredibly well so it is ideal for this appetizer. If you can’t find fontina, provolone and gruyere are good substitutes.

Hot cheese dip with garlic stretching out of a white bowl
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Tips

  • Use the freshest and best quality ingredients you can for this recipe.
  • Be sure to remove the rind from the cheese.
  • Watch it closely while you are baking it so you don’t over cook it.
  • Serve to the table immediately.

Shortcuts

  • Cube your cheese the day prior to serving.
  • Bring your cheese to room temperature prior to broiling and melting.

Nutritional Considerations

  • Nut Free
  • Gluten Free
  • Vegetarian
Hot garlic cheese dip stretching out of a white bowl

How to Store

  • Room Temperature – This garlic dip can sit out for up to two hours while serving.
  • Refrigerate – In an airtight container for up to four days after serving.
  • Freezer – Don’t freeze this cheesy garlic dip. It will separate after freezing.

More About Garlic

Hot garlic cheese dip stretching out of a white bowl
5 from 4 votes
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Hot Cheesy Garlic Dip

This easy hot cheese dip recipe takes just 11 minute start to finish! This classic recipe is simple, flavorful and memorable, with just a few minutes hands-on time. Cheesy and garlicky and perfect for sharing.
Prep: 4 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients  

  • 10 ounces fontina cubed
  • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
  • 3 garlic cloves minced, or 1 tablespoon
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme off the stem
  • 2 sprigs rosemary off the stem
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste, thick flakes preferred
  • black pepper to taste, thick flakes preferred

Instructions 

  • Place oven rack 5" from the top. Preheat broiler.
  • Add fontina to baking dish.
  • Pour oil over cheese and add remaining ingredients.
  • Broil 6 minutes, watching closely until it bubbles.
  • Remove from oven and serve bubbling hot.

Julie’s Tips

  • Since there are just a few ingredients, use fresh, high quality ingredient. 
  • Remove rind from cheese.
  • Watch it closely while you are broiling so you don’t over cook it.
  • Serve immediately.
  • Serve with crostini, vegetables or water crackers.
Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 357mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 336IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 198mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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9 Comments

  1. Julie What type of white dish did you use to prepare this cheese dip. I have a small white crock but I think I need something bigger. Yours looks perfect !