A Creamy, Nutty Carrot Dip to Brighten Up Snacktime
Cream cheese and mayo make this carrot dip recipe ultra creamy—and not entirely healthy, but maybe not entirely unhealthy, either—while a super secret ingredient ensures that it positively bursts with flavor. What’s our secret? The powder from a store-bought packet of ranch dip! Oh yes, we are not ashamed to admit that these little packets of tangy, herby, salty powder are just the punch that our nutty carrot dip needed. Carrots have such a bright, fresh sweetness, but they’re pretty one-note, so we tossed pecans in the mix to give the carrot dip a lovely richness and, slightly toasty, warm nuttiness that we adore, not to mention a little textural boost. Carrot dip! Try it, love it, surprise your friends with it!
Simple Carrot Dip in Just 6 Ingredients
Sunset-hued and richly delicious with a subtle sweet-herby kick, our carrot dip recipe is a real sneaker hit. It’s got a great sturdiness that means it pairs well with seedy crackers and fresh veggies—it’s the kind of dip you can (and just might) eat with a spoon. And with just a few ingredients, it’s super easy to make, too. Here’s what you’ll need:
Carrots
Pecans
Cream cheese
Mayo
Ranch seasoning packet
Garlic powder
Cayenne
How To Make Carrot Dip
This dip happens entirely in a food processor, which means it’s super quick! Also pretty darn fool proof. Here’s how to make it:
Grate your carrots. Use the food processor’s grating attachment to make this step speedy and super fun. If you have kids in the house, enlist their help! If they’re anything like our kids, they’ll think that grating stuff in the food processor feels like magic. Which it does!
Chop the pecans in the food processor. Swap the grater for the regular old blade and pulse the pecans until they’re finely chopped (but not paste-y).
Dump everything into the food processor and blend until the carrot dip has a texture that you like! Try a few pulses first, taste it and see if you’re happy with it. If you want it smoother, you can always pulse it a few more times.
What To Serve With This Nutty Carrot Dip
Sweet, nutty, creamy and savory all at the same time, carrot dip is surprisingly versatile. Anything you like to dip in hummus will work with it, but you can really get creative here. As you can see, we like to lean into the brilliant orange color of this dip and surround it with equally colorful dippable nibbles! There’s really no wrong way to serve it—you can even spread it on sandwiches to make them extra yummy—but here are a few of our very favorite springtime pairings:
Radicchio or endive leaves
Seedy crackers
Radishes
Snap peas
Carrots (is it weird to dip carrots in carrots? We think not!)
Cucumber spears
Blanched asparagus
Boiled new potatoes
Tools You’ll Need
More Dip Recipes to Try
Dip Dip Dip It Up!
When in doubt—dip! Surrounded by hearty dippables like seedy crackers, blanched veggies and potatoes, this carrot dip recipe can make a light dinner for two, or it can simply be a healthy and inviting spring appetizer to enjoy before a big feast. Either way, it’s an easy breezy breath of fresh air! When you make it, we’d love to hear about it! If you make it, let us know how you like it! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!
