Description
This Hot Cheddar Bacon Dip is a warm, cheesy crowd-pleaser perfect for parties and gatherings. Featuring crispy bacon, sautéed onions, and a blend of cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan, it delivers a rich and flavorful dip that’s baked to bubbly perfection and broiled for a golden, crispy top.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 (12 ounce) package bacon, cut into small pieces
Produce
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
Dairy
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Soften Cream Cheese and Preheat Oven: Take the cream cheese out of the fridge at least 30 minutes prior or microwave it for 20-30 seconds to soften. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and position the oven rack in the middle.
- Cook Bacon: Cut the bacon into small pieces using kitchen shears or a knife. Add the bacon pieces to a skillet and fry over medium-high heat until crispy, about 10-15 minutes.
- Prep Cheeses: While the bacon cooks, grate your cheddar and parmesan cheeses (freshly grated gives best flavor). Shred the mozzarella as well.
- Drain Bacon: When bacon is crispy, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Leave approximately one tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet and discard the rest.
- Sauté Onions: Add the chopped onions to the skillet with the bacon fat and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and lightly browned, scrapping the browned bits from the skillet bottom.
- Add Cream Cheese and Sour Cream: Remove skillet from heat. Add the softened cream cheese and sour cream to the skillet. Use a spoon to begin mixing and melting the cream cheese.
- Melt Cheeses and Mix in Bacon: Return the skillet to low heat. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts. Add most of the grated cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, and cooked bacon (reserve some cheese and bacon for topping). Continue stirring until all cheese melts and the mixture is smooth.
- Bake and Broil: Smooth out the dip in the skillet, then top with the remaining cheese and bacon pieces. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Then broil for about 5 minutes or until the top is nicely browned and bubbly. Allow to cool slightly before serving hot.
Notes
- Softening the cream cheese properly is key to achieving a smooth dip texture.
- You can adjust the cheese quantities to your taste; a sharper cheddar will add more flavor.
- This dip can be served with crackers, bread slices, or vegetable sticks.
- Use freshly grated cheese for better melt and flavor over pre-shredded options.
- Be careful when broiling to avoid burning the cheese; watch closely during the final minutes.
