This tuna dip with cream cheese blends oil-packed tuna and anchovies into a smooth, savory spread. It takes five minutes and only three ingredients, making it useful when I need a quick appetizer.

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3 ingredient tuna dip with cream cheese served on toasted bread with chopped black olives and chives.

Why You'll Love This Tuna Dip

Three core ingredients: Tuna, anchovies, and cream cheese create the complete dip without mayonnaise or additional seasonings.
No cooking required: The dip comes together entirely in a food processor before the optional bread is toasted.
Smooth, spreadable texture: Blending removes the tuna flakes and produces an even consistency for toast or crackers.
Flexible serving: It can be presented as a dip or spread over toast with simple garnishes.

I make this tuna dip when I need a quick appetizer with very little preparation. Its smooth texture gives me an easy alternative to my whipped ricotta dip. My Greek spicy feta dip has heat, while this tuna dip brings a deeper savory character. Because everything blends together quickly, I can serve this dip without a complicated appetizer setup.

I keep this recipe focused on three ingredients so the tuna remains recognizable. The anchovies deepen the savory flavor, while cream cheese softens the fish and creates a smooth texture. Blending everything in a food processor removes the flakes and turns the mixture into an even spread. Unlike my Mediterranean tuna salad, this dip combines every ingredient into one creamy consistency. That smoothness makes it easy to spread across crisp toast without loose pieces falling away.

Key Ingredients for Tuna Dip with Cream Cheese

Each ingredient has a distinct purpose in this simple dip.

Tuna chunks: I drain the sunflower oil before blending, keeping the tuna as the main flavor.
Anchovy fillets: For me, these bring concentrated savory flavor without requiring additional seasonings.
Cream cheese: I blend this with both fish ingredients to create the smooth, spreadable texture.

How to Make Tuna Dip with Cream Cheese

The dip comes together in the food processor before the optional toast is prepared.

1. Drain the fish: Remove the sunflower oil from the tuna and the excess oil from the anchovies.

2. Load the processor: Add the drained tuna and anchovy fillets to a food processor.

3. Blend until smooth: Add the cream cheese and process everything into an even, creamy spread.

4. Toast and serve: Toast the bread on both sides, spread the dip over it, and add olives and chives if desired.

Close-up of creamy 3 ingredient tuna dip with cream cheese spread over toast and topped with black olives and chives.

Tips for Tuna Dip with Cream Cheese

Use a compact processor: This small quantity stays closer to the blade and blends into a more consistent spread.
Keep the toppings optional: Black olives and chives are serving additions, so the core dip remains a three-ingredient recipe.
Choose sturdy bread: Toasted baguette slices provide a firm base for the thick, creamy spread.

Storage

I keep leftover tuna dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

What to Serve with Tuna Dip with Cream Cheese

I serve this dip over toasted bread with chopped black olives and chives. For a stronger garlic base, I would pair it with my garlic sourdough toast and keep the toppings simple.

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Recipe

3 ingredient Tuna Dip

This tuna dip with cream cheese blends oil-packed tuna and anchovies into a smooth, savory appetizer. It requires only three ingredients and approximately five minutes of preparation.

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: International

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: 6

Calories: 136

Author: Estefania

Ingredients

Tuna Dip

▢ 180 g tuna chunks packed in oil - 2 cans, drained
▢ 7 anchovy fillets packed in oil - drained
▢ 115 g cream cheese

Optional for Serving

▢ Bread - sliced
▢ Black olives - chopped
▢ Fresh chives - chopped

Instructions

Drain the oil from 180 g tuna chunks packed in oil and the oil from 7 anchovy fillets packed in oil.
Add the drained tuna, anchovy fillets, and 115 g cream cheese to a food processor. Blend until the tuna dip is smooth and evenly combined.
If using bread, toast the slices, then spread with the tuna dip and finish with chopped black olives and fresh chopped chives, if desired.

Notes

Drain the oils: Removing excess oil prevents the finished dip from becoming loose or greasy.

Adjust the anchovies: Use 5 fillets for a milder savory flavor or up to 7 for a stronger anchovy presence.

Check before seasoning: Tuna and anchovies already contain salt, so taste the dip before adding any additional seasoning.

Assemble before serving: Spread the dip over the toast shortly before serving to help the bread retain its texture.

Nutrition

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

3-Ingredient Tuna Dip with Cream Cheese