Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip is the perfect appetizer for your next party! This loaded ranch dip is perfect for a party or game day spread. It's easy to make and sure to be a hit with your guests!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Cheesy dips are always a hit at parties, and this bacon cheddar ranch dip is no exception. It's easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients, and it's incredibly delicious. Give this recipe a try next time you're hosting or attending a gathering.
For more appetizers to serve at your next gathering, see our Savory Puff Pastry Tarts, Cherry Tomato Bruschetta, and Bacon Wrapped Asparagus recipes.
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Ingredients
This cream cheese dip with bacon is easy to make. Simply chop, mix, spread in a casserole dish, and bake. You can easily whip this up and have your hands free to make other dishes for your holiday or party.
- Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature.
- Mayonnaise
- Sour Cream
- Mozzarella cheese, grated
- Cheddar cheese, grated
- Cooked bacon, chopped (or use real bacon bits)
- Green onions, sliced thin
- Ranch dressing, powdered - 1 envelope.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make a Loaded Ranch Dip
This cream cheese dip with bacon is easy to make. Simply chop, mix, spread in a casserole dish, and bake. You can easily whip this up and have your hands free to make other dishes for your holiday or party.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F and spray a 8 x 8 inch casserole dish with non stick spray. Set aside until ready to fill.
Chop and Grate
- Slice the green onions into thin slices. Chop the cooked bacon into small bits. If you are using raw bacon to start, see our Air Fried Bacon recipe for quick, crispy bacon.
Use a box grater or a food processor to grate the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
Mix Ingredients
- In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, ranch dressing powder, sour cream, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and bacon.
Bake & Garnish
- Combine with a spatula until everything is blended.
- Spread in the prepared casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and let brown for 10 additional minutes.
- Remove the bacon dip from the oven and let cool down for 15 minutes. Top with additional chopped bacon and green onions.
- Serve warm with baked pita chips.
Serving Suggestions
This bacon cheddar ranch dip can be served with practically anything - tortilla chips, breadsticks, crackers, even vegetables.
Serve with a meat and cheese platter, a platter of Brie with Cranberries, Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, or any number or appetizers for a light menu.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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Substitutions
You can use a thick Ranch Salad dressing in place of the mayonnaise. Turkey bacon can be air fried also, and is a lighter option to regular bacon.
Serve as an appetizer before your next Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham or Dutch Oven Turkey Breast holiday meal.
Variations
You can make all sorts of variations on this basic hot bacon cheese dip. Here are a few interesting cheesy ideas:
- Spicy - Use Pepper Jack cheese instead of Cheddar cheese. Keep the mozzarella, and that is where the 'stretch' or stringy cheese comes from.
- Ham & Gruyere- Use Gruyere instead of Cheddar, and minced ham instead of bacon.
- Caramelized Onion - Skip the meat completely, and use two of your favorite cheeses, gruyere and cheddar go really well together. So does smoked Gouda an mozzarella. Stir in onion soup mix and top with caramelized or fried onions.
Equipment
A small baking casserole is perfect for this hot bacon cheese dip. Here are a few options:
- Staub Mini Casserole (this is what I used)
- 8 x 8 Casserole baker
- Oval Au Gratin Dish
Storage
Cover and store any leftover bacon dip in the refrigerator.
Tips for Success
- Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature so it blends well with the other ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
When bacteria are added to milk, they go to work converting natural sugars in the milk (lactose) into lactic acid. That lactic acid is part of what gives cheese its distinctive tang. Other bacteria contribute to the formation of complex flavor proteins.
Because cheese makers add orange coloring during the cheesemaking process. It's the result of hundreds of years of tradition, dating back to the time when cheddar cheese in England was made with milk from cows whose beta-carotene-rich diet produced an orange tint in the milk.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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📖 Recipe
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
Equipment
- Staub Mini Casserole 7.5 x 6
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese grated
- 4 oz cheddar cheese grated
- 8 slices bacon cooked and divided, save some for garnish
- 3 green onions sliced
- 1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. Spray a small casserole dish with non stick spray. Set the cream cheese out to soften. Cook the bacon ahead of time, or use real bacon bits. Chop the bacon into small pieces. Wash and slice the green onions.
- In a medium sized bowl, add the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, Hidden Valley ranch dressing packet, and chopped bacon.8 oz cream cheese, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup sour cream, 8 oz mozzarella cheese, 4 oz cheddar cheese, 8 slices bacon, 1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
- Combine well and then pour into the prepared oven safe casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
- Remove aluminum foil cover and back another 10 minutes until golden brown. Remove and cool 15 minutes, then garnish with remaining chopped bacon and the sliced green onions. Serve warm.3 green onions
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature so it blends well with the other ingredients.
- You can also bake this in a bread bowl: Carve out the center of a round loaf of rustic bread. Surround the bread with aluminum foil, except for the opening at the top. Fill with the bacon cheese dip. Bake 25 minutes, remove the foil from the bread and back another 10 minutes until bread is crusty and dip golden. Remove and garnish with bacon and green onions.
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