2-Ingredient Creamy Bruschetta Dip

Bruschetta is the ultimate Italian appetizer. Chopped summer tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil get spooned over crusty bread for a delicious two-bite serving. In my easy, very shareable recipe, I load the flavorful chopped tomato mixture over whipped cream cheese as a dip. 

Homemade bruschetta makes the very best of tomatoes; just a few seasonings magically make them taste like the best version of themselves. It’s not difficult to make, but there is a decent amount of chopping involved. So when I’m looking for a quicker solution that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, I rely on a ready-made bruschetta topping. 

• It’s about as lazy as you can get. But you won’t sacrifice any flavor! It’s a zero-effort potluck dish that’s guaranteed to win over a crowd. 
• Store-bought bruschetta is the ingredient you didn’t know you needed. It has all of the flavor of the best tomatoes of the season. When it’s spooned onto light and spreadable whipped cream cheese, it makes a dip that’s perfect for summer.
• Leftovers are pretty amazing. In the unlikely event of leftovers, it makes an excellent sauce tossed with hot pasta or schmear for toasted bagels.  

• Bruschetta topping: You can find shelf-stable bruschetta near the pasta sauces, but for the freshest flavor look in the deli section or near the chilled dips. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chopped topping onto the cream cheese, leaving most of the liquid behind.
• Cream cheese: Whip blocks of softened cream cheese to make it easier to scoop onto toasted baguette slices or crostini.
• Optional toppings: A drizzle of balsamic glaze and fresh basil leaves makes this dip party-ready. It’s easy to make a batch of homemade balsamic glaze for the summer season, but store-bought is fine here too.