- Ina Garten’s Baked Fontina is the perfect appetizer for game day or weekend parties.
- Fontina, sliced garlic, olive oil and fresh herbs are baked to gooey perfection.
- Add more nutrition by dipping with carrot or celery sticks or whole-grain crackers.
When it comes to weekend recipe planning, we can always count on Ina Garten to come to the rescue. And just in time for the big game, the Barefoot Contessa shared a few party appetizer recipes that are just irresistible.
“When I think about Super Bowl parties, I think of dips and easy-to-assemble snacks, everyone talking at once and having a fabulous time, whether they’re watching the game or not,” Garten writes in her recent Instagram post.
While her app table will feature pigs in a blanket, a cheese board, roasted shrimp cocktail and crudités, the main recipe that caught our attention was her simply gorgeous Baked Fontina. It seems like fans love it too, as one commented that they “make it all the time.” And since it only takes four key ingredients to make, it’s clear why people love this easy, cheesy dip that’s perfect for game day, Valentine’s Day and cozy gatherings to come.
Dip Assembly is Easy
All you need to make this dip is 1½ pounds of cubed fontina cheese, 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of minced rosemary leaves, 1 tablespoon of minced thyme leaves and ¼ cup of olive oil with a teaspoon each of salt and pepper. In a cast-iron pan, distribute the ingredients evenly and place the pan under the broiler for 6 minutes. When the cheese starts to brown, it’s time to serve!
It takes less than 10 minutes to whip up this dip, and serving it with crusty bread is the way to go, according to Garten.
“Who doesn’t love hot melted cheese with crusty French bread for dipping?” she writes. “My Baked Fontina is always a big hit and perfect for a Super Bowl party. I actually take the skillet out of the oven and just serve it right in the pan!”
More Dip Inspiration
We also think this dip would be amazing with veggies, crackers or whatever food can be dipped, honestly! And if you are looking for more dip inspo, we recommend some of our favorites:
- For a quick touchdown appetizer, our Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip will be a hit on your game-day spread.
- If you’d rather snack on seven-layer dip but aren’t up to making it yourself, our Loaded Black Bean Dip is a delicious simplified version.
- Dessert can be in dip form, and this Brownie Batter Dip proves that—it tastes like brownie batter.
Our Expert Take
Ina’s Baked Fontina is sure to be a crowd pleaser, but it also has some nutrition benefits. Extra-virgin olive oil contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and polyphenols to help fight inflammation. Garlic is rich in antioxidants, and slicing it like Ina suggests, releases the health-promoting benefits, and fontina cheese provides bone-strengthening calcium. Pack in even more nutrition by dipping with carrot or celery sticks or radish slices. Enjoy this for the big game or anytime you need a delicious appetizer.
