How to Host Your Own Dip Party

We’ve all been to dinner parties. Lunchtime potlucks are pretty common. A themed cocktail event is also a frequent occurrence.

Now, how many dip parties have you been too? Probably not very many. But wouldn’t you like to go to a dip party? I know I do.

At a dip party I don’t have to commit to an entire entree. I get to taste all kinds of new foods. I learn about different recipes and cooking styles, too.  There are many good things to say about dip parties, and that is exactly why I’m encouraging you to host your own.

When hosting a dip party you have choices. You can prepare all the food yourself or you can ask each guest to bring their own dip. I guess we could call that be BYOD —  bring your own dip, get it?

I recommend the BYOD version and not because I’m lazy. Most people want to bring something. When it’s a potluck-style dip party the recipe sharing and the food conversation really help to kick things off. There’s no better ice breaker.

Well, maybe there is one better ice breaker. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be necessary to get your dip party started. If you have a guest who doesn’t like to cook or doesn’t have the time, ask him or her to bring a bottle of wine and a liter of lemonade instead.

Tips for Hosting Your Own Dip Party

1. Use Facebook or eVite to send the invitation. Your guests will have questions, and you will need a way to decide who is bringing what. Guests can comment on these websites and that will make things easier to manage.

2. You don’t want six homemade salsas and four sour cream-based dips. Too much of the same is just boring, and it could lead to a competition among guests. It’s not a contest…unless you want it to be, but I’ll save that for another post.

3. Make sure there is a dip for every special kind of diet. Take into account your friends who have allergies and who are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

4. Prepare the men for what it means to eat at a dip party. I don’t know about you, but the men in my life expect a big hunk of meat and a heaping portion of carbs for dinner. They aren’t tapas kind of guys. You should consider ordering a pizza once the party winds down.

5. Coordinate who will need the stove, oven, microwave, blender, grill, etc. Some dips are best made on the spot and others require heating up, so make sure everyone can get their dips made in time and that guests have plenty to eat while they wait around for the oven to heat up!

6. Don’t forget the dippers! It’s easy to get caught up in the dip making and forget about the bread necessary to eat the dip. Stock up on both starchy dippers and fresh fruit and veggies. Read 50 Ways to Dip Your Dip for more ideas.

7. Unlike a traditional dinner party, the guests of your dip party may not sit around the table together. Make sure you have plenty of chairs both inside and outside. Consider keeping some background music on and set out a few decks of cards to keep things going.

8. Prepare to wash many dishes or recycle many paper plates. Dips are gooey. They run all over the plate. Be prepared.

9. Guests of a dip party are an inquisitive bunch. Ask each guest to write down their name and the name of their dip on a folded piece of card stock.

10. Presentation matters. To make the trip, many of your guests will bring their dips in Tupperware. They probably won’t bring a dish for the dippers either. Have several pretty bowls, plates, platters, and serving spoons ready to go.

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The Saucy Dipper regularly coordinates an online and offline dip event called Dipstock. If hosting a dip party sounds fun to you, then you should consider dipping along with us. We share pictures and recipes, and there are prizes!

11 comments

  1. I love the idea of dip parties and Dipstock Summer ’10 was great fun! Honestly, I’d be happy dipping for dinner multiple times per week!

    1. Every now and again Jason and I have appetizer-for-dinner night, which almost always includes dipping. I highly recommend it. The tricky party is keeping the calorie count down.

  2. This is a great idea. I’ve been to parties that ended up being a little dippy, but that was always accidental.

    1. Hahaha. Tara, you’re funny. Dip parties may be a little bit of work, but they’re definitely fun. You should consider hosting one of your own this October. I’ll be holding another “Dipstock” then.

  3. I would love to go to a dip party! Lots of little tastes are my favorite way to eat. I’m actually hosting a baby shower soon and this would be a fun idea. But wonder if it would be uncouth to ask guests to bring dip to a baby shower? Will probably have to keep the dip party in mind for next time!

  4. A dip party and you’re talking about food huh? I thought it was for some of my neighbors…they are dips. 🙂

    I too love the tub though admit I didn’t notice so I also love the first comment; it did bring a chuckle. After a day of Google hrecipe ‘stuff’ that was a nice change!

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