A delicious and easy dill pickle cheese spread with ham made with creamy cream cheese and salty pickles…the perfect appetizer! A must-try if you are a pickle lover. The combo of creamy cream cheese and crunchy, salt pickles makes it oh so good!

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dill pickle dip with ham in a bowl with crackers

You know those pickle ham wraps that are always a hit at partys? This is a pickle wrap cheese spread ;). It mimics the pickle roll-ups but just a bit classier. Serve it with crackers or bread and you’ll have an even BIGGER hit on your hands then those dill pickle wraps.

The ingredients:

Dill Pickles. Use whatever brand of dill pickle spears you prefer and chop them as small as you would like. I like my pickles fairly chunky but my kids like them quite small. If you like them small you could try using a dill relish to make this recipe even faster.
Ranch Dressing Mix. Using ranch dressing mix is the fastest and easiest way to add all your spices at one time. I always keep a packet of mix on hand for all sorts of tasty uses!
Cream Cheese. You can try to sub sour cream or yogurt and it WILL work but you will get a different sort of dip altogether. Cream cheese is need for the creamy and tangy flavor.
Green Onions. Green onions provide a nice flavor and color to this dip. You can leave them out if you are looking for additional speed.
Chopped Ham. Ham is totally optional, the dip is good without it. BUT…adding ham gives this dip the same flavor as your favorite ham roll-up appetizers. SOO GOOD! This recipe is a great way to use up leftover ham!

ingredients for dill pickle dip in a bowl

To Make Dill Pickle cheese Spread:

Prep: Chop your pickles, ham, and green onions into small pieces. In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the ranch dressing mix being sure to give yourself enough room for the chopped ham & veggies.

Combine: Stir together the chopped ham & veggies and the cream cheese mixture, stir well.

Chill: For the best flavor, chill this dip overnight to give the ingredients a chance to meld and mix together. You CAN eat it right away, if needed or you forgot to make it ahead of time. It will still be tasty but you’ll find the flavors meld and mellow if you let it hang out.

How long does it last?

This spread will last about 3-4 days in the fridge if you store it in an airtight container. Just make sure it’s well-sealed to keep it fresh and prevent it from picking up other odors in the fridge. While it’s best when eaten fresh, it should hold up fine for a few days.

Can I freeze it?

Freezing isn’t recommended because the texture might change once thawed, especially with the cream cheese and ham. So, enjoy it within a few days for the best flavor and consistency!

Can I use relish instead of diced pickles?

Yes, you can definitely use relish instead of pickles! Relish will give the spread a similar tangy, sweet flavor, but it will be a bit sweeter and have a different texture since it’s finely chopped and usually a bit juicier. If you use relish, you might want to adjust the amount of ranch seasoning to balance out the sweetness, and you could even drain the relish a bit to avoid extra liquid in the dip. Overall, it should still work great as a substitute!