A dip spread solves more of Labor Day hosting than people give it credit for — something guests reach for all afternoon, no plate required. These eight from Target are the ones I’d pick this weekend.
1. Spinach Artichoke Dip – 12oz – Good & Gather™ – $4.89
Chunky artichoke pieces and baby spinach folded into a creamy, cheese-rich base — this is the dip that makes guests think you planned ahead even when you grabbed it off the shelf an hour before everyone arrived. Serve it straight from the fridge or warm it right before guests dig in for the full melty, gooey effect.
Taste: Rich and savory with real body from generous artichoke chunks — it’s not a smooth purée, and that’s what makes it interesting. The cheese blend keeps it tangy and indulgent, with the spinach lending just enough freshness to keep it from going heavy.
Make It Better: Transfer it to a small oven-safe dish and warm it before guests arrive; serve with crostini or thick crackers and it reads like something you made yourself.
Parting Thoughts: A reliable crowd-pleaser that earns its spot every time — bring this, and the spread is halfway done.
2. Buffalo-Style Chicken Dip – 10oz – Good & Gather™ – $4.89
I keep one of these in the back of the fridge from Memorial Day straight through Labor Day — it’s that reliable. Bold buffalo heat with chicken throughout, ready to serve cold with chips and celery or warmed up for something more substantial at a cookout.
Taste: Creamy and assertive with a genuine buffalo kick — ranch and blue cheese notes weave through without one overpowering the other. The chicken gives it enough substance that it barely feels like just a dip.
Make It Better: Warm it gently and serve alongside celery sticks and thick kettle chips — it functions as a proper appetizer even at a casual backyard cookout.
Parting Thoughts: Spice lovers will go back for seconds; if your crowd runs mild, set something cooler alongside it.
3. Mexican-Style Street Corn Dip – 10oz – Good & Gather™ – $4.89
Summer cookouts called for something beyond the usual salsa rotation, and this elote-inspired dip delivered. Green chiles, cheddar, and cotija-style cheese layered into a creamy corn base — it’s festive, a little unexpected, and consistently the first bowl to empty.
Taste: Sweet corn up front, then a creamy chile heat that builds gradually — cheddar and cotija give it savory, slightly tangy depth with actual corn texture throughout, not just a smooth cream.
Make It Better: Set it alongside a mild salsa so guests can mix and match heat levels; blue corn tortilla chips make the whole setup feel intentional.
Parting Thoughts: The sleeper hit of the dip table — people reach for it expecting something basic and then keep going back.
4. Good Foods Chunky Traditional Guacamole – 13oz – $6.49
Most store-bought guacamole tastes like it sat in a warehouse for a week — this one doesn’t. Small avocado chunks with cilantro and tomato notes that read genuinely fresh; it’s won taste tests against pricier options for exactly that reason.
Taste: Light and fresh, well-salted with bright citrus and herb balance — the avocado is the star rather than being buried under filler. Small chunks mean texture in every scoop rather than a uniform mash.
Make It Better: Pull it from the fridge about 10 minutes before serving so it softens slightly; pair it with a medium salsa on the side for contrast.
Parting Thoughts: Worth the $6.49 when the alternative is guac that tastes like nothing.
5. Queso Blanco 15oz – Good & Gather™ – $3.19
Smooth, pale, and dotted with chile flecks — this mild white queso has a creamy pull that works especially well on nacho bars where the salsas are already doing the heavy lifting on heat. It’s shelf-stable, so it can live in the pantry until the hour you actually need it.
Taste: Mild and milky-smooth with gentle warmth from red and green chiles and jalapeños — a crowd-friendly queso that won’t alarm the heat-averse. It stays consistently dippable without going thin or gluey.
Make It Better: Set it out in a small bowl next to blue corn chips and let it anchor the nacho station; its mild base plays beautifully against a spicier salsa on the same table.
Parting Thoughts: At $3.19 for 15 ounces, it’s the easiest yes on this entire list.
6. Dean’s French Onion Dip – 16oz – $2.99
There’s a whole generation of adults who associate a bag of potato chips and a tub of French onion dip with every backyard party they’ve ever been to — and Dean’s is exactly the version they’re picturing. Classic, no-frills, and honestly more satisfying than making it yourself from a seasoning packet.
Taste: Rich, savory onion flavor with a sour cream backbone that’s smooth and faintly tangy — it coats a chip without feeling heavy. Not subtle, but that’s precisely the point.
Make It Better: Thick-cut ripple chips or kettle chips hold up better than thin ones; it also pulls double duty as a quick dip for carrots and celery on the veggie tray.
Parting Thoughts: The one dip nobody questions and everybody finishes — pure nostalgia, and that’s not a criticism.
7. Tzatziki Yogurt Dip – 9oz – Good & Gather™ – $4.89
When the table is already heavy on the hot and cheesy side, this is what I set out to give people somewhere lighter to land. Cool, cucumber-bright, and garlicky — it’s the dip that makes a veggie tray feel intentional rather than obligatory.
Taste: Creamy with a mild yogurt tang, cucumber freshness, and a light dill note that doesn’t overpower — garlic adds warmth without heat. Thick enough to cling to a chip but loose enough to scoop easily.
Make It Better: Anchor a small mezze corner of the spread with pita triangles and sliced cucumbers; it also works tucked into a pita alongside anything coming off the grill.
Parting Thoughts: An honest, lighter option that holds its own next to the richer dips — guests who want a break from the heavy stuff will quietly reach for it most.
8. Pimento Cheese Dip – 10oz – Good & Gather™ – $4.79
Southern pimento cheese has been a party staple long before “charcuterie board” became a sentence anyone said — and this one brings that tradition to the Labor Day table without requiring you to grate a single thing. Spread it on crackers, tuck it alongside cured meats, or let it hold its own corner of the snack spread.
Taste: Sharp cheddar flavor with a slight pimento sweetness and a hot-sauce kick underneath — it’s bolder than it looks. The texture is dense and spreadable, closer to a thick cheese spread than a loose dip.
Make It Better: Pair it with buttery crackers or thick cucumber slices for a lighter vehicle; leftovers make an excellent sandwich spread on Monday.
Parting Thoughts: Pimento cheese skeptics exist, but they tend to quietly finish the container — worth setting out just to see.
