Cilantro and Lime Chicken Dip (Printer-Friendly)

Zesty chicken dip with cilantro, lime, and melted cheese. Perfect for parties with tortilla scoops.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
05 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Citrus

06 - Zest and juice of 2 limes

→ Dairy

07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
09 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ To Serve

15 - 1 bag tortilla scoops
16 - Additional cilantro and lime wedges for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, red onion, garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro.
03 - Add the lime zest and juice, sour cream, cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
04 - Transfer the mixture to a greased 1-quart baking dish and spread evenly.
05 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
06 - Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with extra cilantro and lime wedges.
07 - Serve warm with tortilla scoops.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, even if you're starting from scratch with the chicken.
  • The lime and cilantro punch through all that creamy cheese in the best way, so it never feels heavy.
  • You can adjust the heat without ruining the balance, whether you want mild or mouth-on-fire.
  • It reheats beautifully, which means leftovers (if there are any) make great quesadilla filling the next day.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese isn't fully softened, you'll end up with lumps no amount of stirring will fix, nuke it for 10 seconds if you're in a rush.
  • Taste the mixture before baking, it's your only chance to adjust salt or lime, once it's in the oven it's committed.
  • Tortilla scoops are sturdier than regular chips and won't shatter under the weight of a loaded dip.
03 -
  • Use a microplane for the lime zest so you get the flavorful oils without any bitter white pith.
  • If you're making this ahead, assemble everything and refrigerate unbaked, then add 5 extra minutes to the bake time.
  • A sprinkle of extra Monterey Jack on top in the last 5 minutes of baking gives you a golden, cheesy crust that looks impressive.
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