I’m that person who hovers near the snack table at family parties and potlucks. I love a good charcuterie platter, fruit salad, and any kind of meat on a stick. But my favorite thing is always the dip. The addictive hand-to-mouth motion paired with the dunking and the delectable crunch of a chip, cracker, or vegetable is irresistible to me. I could float around the snack table and munch on dip all day. Calories be damned.
There are thousands of delicious dip recipes, but it’s always good to have a buy-at-the-last-minute option, particularly if you’re a busy mom, and especially during a heat wave when the idea of spending time in the kitchen sounds like torture.
For that reason, I have kept a keen eye out for interesting dips while shopping at the grocery store. From deli classics to the surprising mixes tucked away in the grab-and-go fridge, Giant Eagle has a pretty impressive dip game. Whether you’re stocking up for a holiday get-together, or whether, like me, you enjoy sitting on the couch watching HBO Max while stuffing your face, Giant Eagle’s dips are clutch.
But which dips at Giant Eagle are the best? That’s a loaded question. Any dip can be a good dip, whether it’s creamy, tangy, cheesy, or spicy, depending on your tastes. That’s why I’ve done the research for you by trying every single dip available — aside from salsa and ranch — from my local Giant Eagle.
Just so you’re aware, I don’t give a fig about marketing hype or packaging appeal. This list is all about taste. And I’ve brought in the big guns — namely, my kids and my partner — to assist me with the taste testing and rating scale for Giant Eagle’s dips. So, here is my (un)official power ranking of Giant Eagle dips.
Creamy Spinach Dip: 4/10
This one is just not for me, nor does it appeal to my kiddos or my partner. It’s not a bad option for a quick spinach dip for a party, don’t get me wrong. But it reminds me of my mom’s Knorr vegetable mix and Miracle Whip spinach dip, and I can’t get past the sour-tangy background flavor. Plus, it’s not thick enough for my liking. My partner gave this a lower score than I did. But the saving grace of this is both the amount of spinach (not at all skimpy) and the fact that some people, including my mom, love that warm Miracle Whip-like flavor.
Guacamole: 5/10
Please don’t take this lower score the wrong way. It’s not bad at all for store-bought guacamole. But that’s the thing: it’s store-bought guacamole. It will do the trick on your tacos or in a Tex-Mex salad. But I’ve been spoiled by my partner’s killer homemade guac recipe and the tableside guac at Emilianos, and I wouldn’t dare bring any store-bought guacamole to a family picnic with my Mexican cousins.
Jarlsberg cheese spread: 6/10
I’m aware that this is technically a spread and not a dip, but I’ve always used it as a dip. Historically, this has been one of my favorite go-tos for a party. The flavor of Giant Eagle’s Jarlsberg spread was on point, and I liked it on a Triscuit. However, I find this version a little greasy.
Buffalo Chicken Dip: 6.5/10
Is it as good as homemade? Once again, no. My partner is an amazing cook and loves his protein, so I’m used to eating buffalo chicken dip that is mostly chicken, ultra-thick, and slow-cooked. That said, I wouldn’t hate this at a picnic. The buffalo flavor is prominent, and I could definitely taste some ranch. It pairs well with celery sticks, tortilla chips, carrots, and even Ritz crackers.
Tzatziki: 7/10
The Giant Eagle tzatziki is pretty damn good for store-bought. Does it compare to tzatziki from the best Greek restaurants? Nope. But is it better than other grocery store tzatziki I’ve tried? Heck yes. I don’t make a good tzatziki at home — I’ve tried and failed. So this inexpensive store-bought dip can be my go-to. It pairs well with the Giant Eagle hummus trio, veggies, and pita chips.
Nacho cheese dip and pretzel platter: 7.5/10
I’m never sad when I see this at a party. As long as the little pretzel balls are warm, this is a lovely little handheld snack. Is the cheese made out of cheese? Who knows. My partner insists it’s made of lies and melted-down Kraft singles. All I know is that this nostalgic dish makes me smile and gain five pounds because I generally eat about half the platter.
Hummus Trio: 8/10
Like the guacamole, I enjoy homemade hummus more than store-bought every time. I’ve been making my own for a few years now, and it’s always creamier and denser than deli hummus. That said, this trio offered a wonderful variety of flavors: standard, cilantro, and roasted red pepper. It pairs nicely with the vegetables, naan, and Pitaland pita chips. Compared with more expensive, bougie store-bought versions, this was a great value — and great flavor — for the money.
Creamy Dill Dip: 9/10
The creamy dill dip gets one of my highest scores. Initially, I gave this an 8/10, but it really grew on me the more I ate it. Do I detect a hint of garlic? Well done, Giant Eagle! This dip pairs wonderfully with some Herr’s Kettle Cooked potato chips, crinkle-cut carrots, broccoli, or cut peppers.
Sun Dried Tomato Feta Dip: 9.5/10
This dip has tons of flavor. The sun dried tomatoes are sweet and balance beautifully with the tangy feta cheese. I dipped carrots shaped like potato chips, broccoli, and cauliflower in it, and also tried it with some naan dippers. I’d recommend this with fancy olive and herb crackers as well. It would get a 10/10 if it were just a little bit thicker. I love a thick dip!
Queso Dip: 10/10
This queso dip is everything I want in a queso dip. At first, I wasn’t convinced that this thick, cheesy dip had much flavor. The jalapeño punch doesn’t hit the palate right away; it creeps up on you. But once the flavor hits, it’s like, dang — that’s the sexy cowboy of party dips. Overall, especially since cheese is my number one favorite food, this dip is my hands-down favorite. I highly recommend pairing this with high-quality tortilla chips because this thick dip will continually break crummy, cheap chips and ruin your day.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad Dessert Dip: 10/10
Who doesn’t love dessert dip, especially one with nostalgic Pittsburgh flavor that’s spot-on? The strawberry pretzel salad dip is a limited-time offering at Giant Eagle, so you’d better run and get it while you can. It may be nothing but a bucket of sugar, according to my partner, but it tastes exactly like the Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad I made with YaJagoff. So I’m giving it my highest score for accuracy. Pair this one with pretzels, obviously.
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2025.
