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How to turn a plain dip into a patriotic appetizer for the 4th of July

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Turn a hot chicken dip into a festive Patriotic Appetizer for your 4th of July party using red and blue colored crackers. Watch the video tutorial to see how easy it is to make this fun Red, White, and Blue Dip.

Last week I discovered just how easy it is to add color to crumbs. After I created a blue cookie crust for my Red, White and Blue Cheesecakes, I decided to try coloring other crumbs and creating festive ways to use them. My first experiment included Town House Crackers which are very pale in color and were easy to color.

With the 4th of July coming up next week, I decided to create something patriotic, so I colored my crumbs red and blue and sprinkled them into star-shaped cookie cutters over a cream-colored dip.

I made my favorite chicken dip to use as the background for my stars but thought these colorful stars would look great on top of homemade macaroni and cheese or even potato salad if you want to decorate some picnic food.

This project took me about 15 minutes of prep time so it’s perfect if you are short on time but want something that will really wow your party guests.  It tastes great served cold too so it’s a great dish to take along to a party.

Watch the video tutorial to see how you can make this hot chicken Patriotic Dip as an Appetizer for your 4th of July party.

 

Red, white, and blue chicken dip topped with stars makes a fun 4th of July appetizer.

4th of July Decorated Dip with Red and Blue Cracker Crumb Stars

5 from 1 vote
4th of July Appetizer - red, white, and blue appetizer recipe.
Print
Patriotic Dip - 4th of July Appetizer
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Hot chicken dip topped with red and blue colored cracker stars makes a fun appetizer for the 4th of July.

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 4th of July appetizer, chicken dip
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Beth
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 can (12 ounces) chunk chicken breast
  • 6 crackers (Town House or something pale in color), plus more for serving
  • red and blue food coloring
Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

  2. Beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy.

  3. Beat in Miracle Whip, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and chicken until well combined. 

  4. Spread into a shallow 8 or 9 inch round baking dish.

  5. Crush crackers into crumbs.

  6. Divide into two small zip top bags.

  7. Add 5 drops of red coloring into one bag and shake the bake and knead the color into the crumbs, adding more color until you get a nice vibrant red. 

  8. Repeat with the blue.

  9. Arrange a variety of star shaped cookies cutters on top of the chicken dip.

  10. Sprinkle the colored cookie crumbs inside the walls of each cookie cutter, making some blue and some red.

  11. Bake for about 15 minutes, just until the dip is hot. 

  12. Remove and serve immediately with crackers.

Recipe Notes
  • If you want to make the dip ahead of time, refrigerate the decorated dip for up to several hours.
  • Heat in the oven just before serving.
  • You can alternatively heat the chicken dip in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes until hot. 

Instructions for Making this Patriotic Dip

How to Color Crackers Red and Blue

  • Use about 6 pale-colored crackers like Town House or Club Crackers.
  • Crush them either using a small food processor or by placing them in a zip-top bag and rolling over them with a rolling pin.
  • Equally divide the crackers into two small zip-top bags.
  • Add some red liquid food coloring into one bag and blue into the other.
  • Shake the bag a few times then use your fingers on the outside of the bag to knead the color into the crackers.

How to make red and blue cracker crumb stars to decorate a Patriotic Dip

  • Set assorted star-shaped cookie cutters over the dip.
  • Snip a small opening at the end of the zip-top bag that is filled with the red crumbs.
  • Shake crumbs into the center of the star cutter.
  • Use something like the handle of a spoon to spread the crumbs in a very thin and even layer in the star.
    • If you overfill your cutter, once you remove it your stars will lose their shape.
  • Fill some stars with red and others with blue colored crumbs.
  • Refrigerate until needed.
    • You can decorate this dip up to a few hours before your party then bake it once your party guests arrive.
  • Bake just to heat the dip through.
    • You can microwave the dip, but you won’t be able to stir it, so it may heat a bit unevenly.
    • You can also serve this dip cold if you prefer. It’s great that way too.

Hot chicken dip decorated for the 4th of July with red and blue stars is served with crackers.

I hope you and your 4th of July party guests enjoy this festive Red, White, and Blue appetizer. If you like this recipe you might also enjoy making other fun foods for your July fourth celebration.

Click this link to see more 4th of July Recipes.

Make fun 4th of July recipes for your party or picnic. These red, white and blue desserts and appetizers will make your guests

This post was originally published on June 25, 2012

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terese

    This is a wonderful, creative way to add a festive touch to any dip. I used a mini food processor for my crumbs and added the food coloring. It made the cracker crumbs very fine, almost like a decorative sugar. It was easy to sprinkle in the star cookie cutters, and the food color was uniform throughout the crumbs. I am gong to try this a Christmas and Halloween. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Beth

      I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe and decorating technique. It is such an easy way to add a fun design to any savory dip. Have fun using the technique for other holidays. I hope you had a great 4th of July.

      Reply

  3. Michelle Clausen

    love the red/blue stars! I've added color to crushed graham crackers and it works great, will have to try with other crushed stuff! So neat 🙂

    Reply

  9. The Better Baker

    You are just brilliant! I never ever would have thought to do this, but I will now. Thanks so much for sharing your creative genius ideas! =)

    Reply

  10. Sarah

    Seriously awesome idea – and so tasty! And, what's awesome is you could totally make this for any occasion with different shapes – perfect!

    Reply

  13. Anonymous

    Awesome idea! Do you think for the chicken dip you could substitute salmon? Love it, thanks for the idea!

    Reply

    • Beth Jackson Klosterboer

      Absolutely. Crab would work too. Just adjust the other ingredients according to your taste.

      Reply

    • Beth Jackson Klosterboer

      Thanks so much Danielle! I appreciate the feature and will grab a button to add to my Featured On page.

      Reply

  19. Trish - Sweetology101

    you are really talented…this is something that anyone can pull off and that is what makes you so awesome!!

    Reply

    • Beth Jackson Klosterboer

      Thanks Jill. I've used blue corn tortilla chips for some Halloween recipes. They look black, but if you can find red and blue chips for the 4th, I'm betting the blue will be colored blue and should look blue when crushed. I haven't seen any this year at my grocery stores.

      Reply

  23. Lindsay Ann

    Love it Beth, who knew cracker crumbs could be colored so easily… I had an idea to add food coloring to graham cracker crumbs for a colored pie/cheesecake crust, but never thought of crackers! Very clever!

    Reply

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