18 Frugal Dips for Outdoor Parties

I love going to outdoor parties.  Laughing with friends, sunshine on my arms, the smell of grill, Frisbee in the grass and sand volleyball (even though I don’t have a single athletic bone in my body)…

What I don’t love:  Trying to figure out what dish to bring that is…

1. healthy
2. budget friendly
3. doesn’t require refrigeration (or warming)
4. possible to make with what I already have in the kitchen

If I only had to deal with one of those issues, that would be totally do-able.  I’ve got PAGES of healthy recipes right here on the blog, several that don’t require refrigeration (hint: avoid dairy) and 90% of them can be made with everyday regular foods found in most pantries.

However, when it comes to meeting all of the above, I get stuck.  Big time.

And it’s taken me YEARS to figure out the simple solution that was staring me in the face the whole time.  Just bring a dip!

Instead of racking my brain, trying to let loose some creative idea that’s jammed in a crevice, I can just take stock of the fruits and veggies already in my kitchen (since it’s usually well stocked with both), find a dip recipe that uses what I have in the pantry, and call it done!

I figured that I wasn’t the only one in this boat, so I came up with a list of 18 frugal dips for outdoor parties this summer – perfect for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day or any other day in between when your friends feel like firing up the grill and offer you a last minute invite.

These dips meet all of the above requirements:  Healthy, frugal, room-temperature and simple ingredients.  Really, what else can we ask for?

How about grain-free and gluten-free crackers?  I shared my own homemade cracker recipe that uses only three ingredients, but it’s not gluten-free and it’s definitely not grain-free.  Find six more recipes, especially tailored to the allergy folks, along with the huge list of frugal dips at The Nourishing Home today.  Now everyone can have fun crunchy dippers – and cheese and crackers too!

What’s your go-to dish for outdoor parties?  I’d love to hear your ideas!