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Parmesan Basil Dip — Creamy, Tangy, and Irresistible

Looking for a versatile, crowd-pleasing dip that’s as delicious with veggies as it is with chips, crackers, or grilled meats? This Parmesan Basil Dip is exactly that — rich, creamy, and packed with bright herb flavor that elevates nearly anything you serve it with. It’s great as a snack, appetizer, sandwich spread, baked potato topper, or even thinned into a flavorful salad dressing.

The magic of this recipe comes from the combination of sour cream and mayonnaise, which gives it a smooth, creamy base with just the right tang, and the fresh basil and Parmesan cheese, which deliver aromatic freshness and savory depth in every bite.

Why This Dip Works So Well

Creamy & tangy: The blend of sour cream and mayo creates a silky texture with balanced flavor.
Bold basil brightness: Fresh basil adds a fragrant, garden-fresh note that pairs beautifully with savory Parmesan.
Versatile dipping: Perfect for chips, veggies, crackers, and more — or use as a spread on sandwiches and wraps.
Easy & no-cook: Just mix and chill — no cooking required!

Ingredients

¾ cup sour cream
¾ cup mayonnaise
¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
½ cup chopped fresh basil, loosely packed
1 clove garlic, crushed or minced (or ½ tsp jarred minced garlic)
½ tsp lemon pepper seasoning (or salt and black pepper to taste)

Tip: If you don’t have lemon pepper seasoning on hand, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice plus salt and pepper works great too.

Sour Cream and Mayonnaise

Using a combination of both sour cream and mayonnaise makes this dip creamy and smooth, and gives it a slight tang. You can substitute low-fat versions of both if you like. You could also substitute plain Greek yogurt for sour cream.

Parmesan

Shredded Parmesan is perfect for this recipe. Grated Parmesan will also work. Asiago and Romano cheese also make great substitutes for Parmesan.

Basil

Basil is my favorite herb; it is so aromatic and flavorful. Growing Basil at home is extremely easy; it can be grown in pots indoors. Or outside in containers, raised beds, or directly in your garden. Having access to fresh herbs makes meal prep a cinch. Chopped fresh basil is a must for this dip. It should also be readily available in your local grocery store year-round or at farmers’ markets in the summer.

Garlic

One clove of crushed or minced garlic is my go-to amount for this dip; you can use more or less to suit your tastes.

Lemon Pepper

Lemon & Pepper Seasoning Salt adds flavors of coarse ground black pepper, salt, onion, garlic, and freshly zested lemon peel in seasoning form. You could add a little lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste if you don’t have Lemon Pepper on hand.

Lawry's Lemon Pepper with Zest of Lemon, 2.25 Oz

Classic and versatile seasoning blend
Not too sweet, not too spicy
No MSG Added
Includes flavorful lemon zest
USAGE TIP: This seasoning goes great alongside Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

How to Make It

In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and mayonnaise until smooth.
Stir in the shredded Parmesan, chopped fresh basil, minced garlic, and lemon pepper.
Mix until everything is well blended.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld.

This dip holds well in the fridge for up to 10 days, though it rarely lasts that long once people start dipping!

Serving Suggestions

Serve with vegetable sticks (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, green onions, etc.)
Pair with crackers or pita chips
Use as a sandwich spread or wrap sauce
Thin with a bit of milk or olive oil and use as a salad dressing

This Parmesan Basil Dip is creamy, bright, and full of fresh flavor — the kind of recipe that becomes a staple in your snack rotation.

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