This Hot Honey Feta Dip recipe is the perfect appetizer ready in just 5 minutes! It has a creamy texture and the perfect combination of spicy, salty, and sweet flavors - it's such a crowd please and sure to be a big hit at your next gathering!
As a dietitian, I'm on a mission to serve up nutrient-rich recipes that taste delicious. Bonus points if it's quick and easy. 😊 And this creamy feta dip has quickly become one of my favorite flavorful appetizers and go-to recipes. I made it for friends last night and put it on a serving platter with veggies and my favorite crackers. Everyone agreed it was the perfect dip!
Serve it with crispy pita bread, fresh veggies, pita chips, or crackers at your next party during the holiday season. Or prep a big bowlful with warm pita bread to have ready on game day! The great thing is that this easy appetizer can also be used as a sandwich spread or topping for crostini. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
This was inspired by my Whipped Ricotta Dip which is another creamy dip ready in about 5 minutes. When I saw that feta cheese was trending, I knew I had to make a feta appetizer recipe! If you're looking for more dip recipes try my High Protein Hummus, Mediterranean Hummus, or Yogurt Tahini Dip.
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This Hot Honey Feta Dip is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the ingredient card for the full amounts.
- Feta Cheese - salty feta cheese is the base of this dip. For the best results, use a block of feta cheese and crumble it yourself. Look for a good quality feta. I like to use Athenos or Odyssey. From what I've read, pre-crumbled feta has additives and doesn't blend up as creamy. And don't skip rinsing off the feta to get rid of some of the salty brine. Feta is full of flavor, slightly salty, and a bit tangy. It also provides protein, calcium, a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid, and a probiotic called Lactobacillus plantarum that can help support gut health.
- Plain Greek Yogurt - I suggest using thick, full-fat Greek yogurt for this recipe to make it extra creamy. Be sure to use plain yogurt and not sweetened or flavored. You could substitute with cottage cheese or plain Skyr. You could also do half plain Greek yogurt and half cream cheese, goat cheese, or sour cream.
- Hot Honey - you'll need spicy honey for this. I like to use Mike's Hot Honey but any brand will work. If you want to make your own hot honey at home, heat regular honey with red pepper flakes or hot sauce on the stovetop until just simmering. Then let the flavor infuse for 15 minutes and strain the honey. Add a bit of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to even out the flavor.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - just a bit to give this dip a perfect creamy texture and help everything emulsify. Extra-virgin olive oil is high in heart-healthy fatty acids that support brain health and hormone health. You can use avocado oil if you prefer a more mild flavor.
- Lemon Juice - adds tang and the citric acid acts as a natural preservative.
- Garlic - minced garlic adds a bit of flavor.
- Black Pepper - to tie everything together! Because of the saltiness of the feta, you really don't need salt in this recipe unless you like things very salt.
- For Topping - I use toasted pine nuts, lemon zest, fresh herbs, and another drizzle of hot honey. Other options are fresh basil, fresh rosemary, sesame seeds, chopped walnuts or pistachios, quartered cherry tomatoes, or dried cranberries.
How to Make Hot Honey Feta Dip
Below are the instructions for how to make this easy recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Rinse the block of feta under running water to get rid of some of the salty brine it's packed in. Add the feta cheese, Greek yogurt, hot honey, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and black pepper to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, 3-4 minutes pushing down the sides as needed.
- Step 2: Refrigerate the dip for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. It will thicken as it sits. Add the dip to your favorite serving bowl. I suggest using a shallow bowl for easy dipping. Add your favorite toppings. I use toasted pine nuts for a little crunch and add lemon zest, fresh thyme or fresh basil, and a drizzle of hot honey to the top.
Hint: I suggest rough chopping the garlic clove so it blends in evenly.
Dietitian Tip
Most recipes I've seen for Whipped Feta dip include cream cheese which is higher in calories and saturated fats than Greek yogurt. I like to replace it with Greek yogurt because it honestly tastes just as good (if not better), and it also provides some extra nutrition including protein and calcium.
Variations
The best part about this feta hot honey dip is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative.
- Spicier- add red pepper chili flakes or a dash of cayenne if you want to take the spice level up a notch!
- Deluxe - if you wanna take this great dip to the next level, add in some different spices to the feta mixture. Italian seasoning or Za'atar blend go great with the flavors in this recipe.
- Kid friendly - replace the hot honey with sweet honey if your kids are sensitive to spice. This fluffy dip is a great way to get them to eat a platter of raw veggies!
Equipment
All you need to make this Hot Honey Feta Dip is either a food processor or a high-speed blender. I have a Ninja Blender and love it, but I usually use my handy and beloved KitchenAid food processor for this recipe.
Storage
- Refrigerator - store leftover feta dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
How to Serve Whipped Feta Hot Honey Dip
Once you've made a batch of this creamy whipped feta dip, you can serve it use it in so many different ways.
- As an Accompaniment - Serve it with meat or your favorite plant-protein.Substitutions
- As a Dip with Veggies - make an easy basic crudité platter by cutting up raw vegetables and serving them with this whipped feta dip.
- On Sweet Potato Rounds - add a tablespoon of this dip and some pomegranate arils or chopped pecans on top of these baked sweet potato slices as a beautiful gluten-free appetizer.
- In a Grain Bowl - use it to add sweetness to a Mediterranean Grain Bowl with quinoa salad and roasted chickpeas.
- As an Appetizer - Serve this beautiful dip during as an appetizer in a serving plate topped with halved cherry tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil in the summer or with juicy pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, flaky sea salt, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil at the holidays. Add a side of fresh pita bread.
- With Roasted Vegetables - enjoy this creamy spread with Roasted Carrots and Cauliflower. It goes great with root vegetables or cruciferous veggies including broccoli, roasted cabbage, or brussels sprouts.
- Feta Sandwich Spread or Flatbread - It’s the perfect addition to a sandwich or flatbread. Add a thick layer and then your favorite toppings! I love it with arugula and shredded chicken.
Expert Tips
- Use full-fat feta and full-fat Greek yogurt for the most creamy end result.
- Rinse the block of feta before adding it to the blender or food processor. This helps the dip be less tangy.
- It will take a few minutes to get creamy in the blender or food processor so be patient!
- Give it a taste before adding the toppings and add more hot honey if you want it to be a bit sweeter/spicy or salt as needed.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich option. Feta cheese contains calcium, protein, and vitamin B12. It is also lower in calories and saturated fats than many cheeses. Greek yogurt provides extra protein and calcium.
I highly suggest using for this recipe. It is creamier and fluffs up a bit better than part skim cheese. With that said, you absolutely can use a reduced fat version of ricotta - it just won't be as creamy!
I suggest using full-fat Greek yogurt for this recipe. The fats can keep you full for longer and they lend to a more creamy and thicker dip.
I like using either Athenos or Odyssey brand of feta.
Yes, this is a gluten-free recipe!
Related
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Perfect for Pairing
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I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Creamy Hot Honey Whipped Feta Dip - Crowd-Pleaser!
Equipment
- 1 food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 (8 oz) block feta cheese full fat
- ¾ cups Greek yogurt (whole milk)
- 3 tablespoon hot honey more for topping
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- ⅙ teaspoon black pepper
Optional for topping
- 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, removed from stem
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Rinse the block of feta under running water to get rid of some of the salty brine it's packed in. Add the feta cheese, Greek yogurt, hot honey, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and black pepper to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, 3-4 minutes pushing down the sides as needed.
- Refrigerate the dip for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. It will thicken as it sits. Add the dip to your favorite serving bowl. I suggest using a shallow bowl for easy dipping. Add your favorite toppings. I use toasted pine nuts, fresh thyme, lemon zest, and an extra drizzle of hot honey.
Notes
- Use full-fat feta and full-fat Greek yogurt for the most creamy end result.
- Rinse the block of feta and blot it dry before adding it to the blender or food processor.
- It will take a few minutes to get creamy in the blender or food processor so be patient!
- Give it a taste before adding the toppings and add more hot honey if you want it to be a bit sweeter/spicy or salt as needed.
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