This creamy Cheese Bacon Dip makes the perfect warm dip for bread, tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables! It's full of crispy bacon and plenty of cheesy goodness! It's a bacon cream cheese dip recipe loved by all!
I love making this bacon and cream cheese dip and then sitting down with my husband to watch a game or a movie. After most of the warm cheese and bacon dip is gone, breaking apart the bread bowl is my favorite part of making this dip.
I just love the way the crust or outside of the bread tastes with the cheesy mixture baked right into it. Boy oh boy each bite is so tasty!
My buffalo chicken spinach dip and fried pickle and ranch dip inspired this easy dip recipe! They all pair well with any dishes from this amazing collection of our best appetizers.
Why You Will Love Cheese Bacon Dip Recipe
- Goes With So Many Dippers. Serve this creamy, cheesy dip with anything from crackers to bread to veggies.
- Customizable Recipe. You can easily add additional ingredients or seasonings to suit your personal tastes.
- Tastes So Good. Packed with rich, savory flavors, this simple bacon cheese dip is a popular crowd-pleaser, perfect for any gathering.
Ingredients
Here's a look at the simple ingredients that go into making this bacon cream cheese dip.
- Round Bread: Your favorite kind. We have used everything including sourdough, pumpernickel, rye, or white.
- Cream Cheese: Adds creamy texture and some tang to the bacon dip.
- Sour Cream: Offers more tanginess and mixes with the cream cheese creating a smooth and creamy consistency. Feel free to use Greek yogurt instead though it has a slightly different flavor profile.
- Shredded Cheese: We usually use mild or sharp cheddar for its flavor and melting properties. However, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Colby jack cheese, and Pepper Jack are other favorites. Swiss cheese or parmesan cheese are great for a nutty note while you can mix in some blue cheese for a bold taste. Experimenting with different cheeses can significantly alter the profile of your dip.
- Worcestershire Sauce: For a little smokey and savory flavor.
- Bacon: Bacon adds a wonderful smoky depth and crunch that sets this cheese dip apart. For the best results, use thick-cut bacon cooked until it's crispy and then crumbled. Regular-cut bacon or even turkey bacon will also work well too.
- Green Onions: Add a nice, mild onion flavor and pretty color but any onion will work and work well.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Variations
- Individual Bread Bowls. Use smaller bread rounds to make individual dipping bacon cheese dips.
- Add More Flavor: Add Ranch seasoning, garlic powder, mustard powder, black pepper, fresh parsley, or chives.
- Add Vegetables: For a change add diced celery, diced sweet peppers, diced tomatoes, spinach artichoke dip, salsa, or Rotel tomatoes and green chilies.
- Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, homemade hot pepper sauce, hot sauce, sriracha, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the cheese mixture for a bit of heat.
- Skip the Bread Bowl: Instead, place the dip in a baking dish lightly coated in cooking spray and bake covered for about 30 minutes.
How to Make Bacon Cheese Dip
Here's a quick look at the main steps for making this easy cheese bacon dip.
Step 1: Cut the top a quarter inch off the top of the bread round. Carefully hollow out the bread leaving about a 1-inch shell.
Step 2: Cut the removed bread into bite-sized cubes and the bread top.
Step 3: Beat the cream cheese using a handheld or stand mixer. Add the sour cream, cheddar cheese, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix the ingredients together.
Step 4: Add the bacon and onions.
Step 5: Stir until all the ingredients are as evenly distributed as possible. Refrigerate covered until ready to use.
Step 6: Spoon the dip mixture into the hollow bread shell.
Step 7: Wrap the bread bowl with dip in heavy foil or 2 layers of original, and bake for 1 hour or until just heated through. Broil the top for a minute or two right at the end for a brown and crisp top.
Step 8: Serve with bread cubes and crackers. Enjoy!
⭐️ Hint: Short on time? You can heat the dip in a microwave-safe dish and heat it on high, in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring in between each until heated through.
If you love recipes like this dip, you may also enjoy our creamy bleu cheese dip, bacon spinach artichoke dip, Hot Corn Dip or my Cream Cheese Salsa Dip recipe.
Storage
- Storing: Store the dip in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Freezing is not recommended as it can affect the texture and consistency upon thawing. Do not store or reheat dip in the bread bowl.
- Make Ahead: This dip can be prepared 24 hours in advance. Make the dip mixture in advance and place it in the fridge. When ready to heat, prep the bread bowl, add the dip, and bake it as directed.
- Reheat: In the microwave or on the stove using gentle and slow heat. You can also return it to a baking dish and heat it in a covered until warm throughout
What to Serve With Cheesy Bacon Dip
- Bread Bowl: Baking the dip in a bread bowl makes for a stunning presentation and then you can serve it with the bread cubes removed from inside the bread bowl
- Other Bread Dippers: Baked Pita Chips, Air Fryer Pita Chips, toasted baguette slices, Air Fryer Flatbread, Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread, Goat Cheese Dip with Bacon, and Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread all work well.
- Chips and Crackers: Try it with tortilla or corn chips, thick-cut potato chips, and an assortment of sturdy crackers.
- Veggies: For a healthier option, serve crisp veggies like carrots, celery, and bell peppers for dipping.
- Garnish: Sprinkle the dip with extra cheese, bacon bits, green onions, parsley, or chives just before serving.
- Other Appetizers: Pair the dip with stuffed mushrooms or other appetizers to offer an array of flavors.
Tips
- Adjust the Seasonings: Taste before you bake or chill, and adjust seasonings and ingredients to make sure the dip tastes as you desire.
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese. Shred your own cheese for best results as freshly shredded cheese melts better than store-bought pre-packaged varieties.
- Crisp Bacon. Cook bacon until crisp to add texture to your dip as it contrasts nicely with the creamy base.
- Serving for a Party. Consider keeping it warm in a cast-iron skillet or small slow cooker to keep your dip warmer than a standard serving dish for a longer period of time.
- Drain Grease. Make sure you drain very well or pat your cooked bacon dry with a paper towel to prevent excess grease from making your dip greasy.
Recipe FAQs
Bacon cheese dip is a creamy and savory appetizer consisting of melted cheeses, cooked bacon, and various seasonings. It can be served hot or cold. Baking is not necessary for all recipes. Some dips are no-bake and can be enjoyed chilled, bringing out the flavors more effectively, though some prefer a baked version for a hot dip experience.
Absolutely, you're encouraged to experiment with various cheeses to find your preferred flavor combination.
Endless! You can add elements like hot sauce for a spicy kick, toss in some Ranch seasoning, incorporate different toppings such as tomatoes and green chilies for added texture and flavor ad so much more.
More Delicious Dips
Do you like dips? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Recipe Video
Our video is below! I hope you will have a moment to take a look!
So the next time you are looking for an easy snack or appetizer to make, that everyone will love, look no further! This Cheesy Bacon Dip is definitely the dip for you!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Bacon Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 1 round bread, your favorite variety
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 2 cups cheese, shredded cheddar or your favorite
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled thick cut is ideal but regular cut will work well too
- ⅔ cup green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut the top ¼ off of the bread round and carefully hollow out the bread leaving about a 1 inch shell. Cut the removed bread into bite sized cubes and the sliced off bread top, if desired, and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer, beat cream cheese and then add sour cream, cheddar cheese and Worcestershire sauce. Beat until totally incorporated.
- Add bacon and onions. Stir until as evenly distributed as possible.
- Spoon inside of hollow bread shell. Wrap in heavy foil or 2 layers of original, and bake for 1 hour or until just heated through.
- You can also broil the top for a minute or two to brown it if you would like. I usually don't. Serve with bread cubes and crackers.
Notes
- Adjust the Seasonings: Taste before you bake or chill, and adjust seasonings and ingredients to make sure the dip tastes as you desire.
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese. Shred your own cheese for best results as freshly shredded cheese melts better than store-bought pre-packaged varieties.
- Crisp Bacon. Cook bacon until crisp to add texture to your dip as it contrasts nicely with the creamy base.
- Serving for a Party. Consider keeping it warm in a cast-iron skillet or small slow cooker to keep your dip warmer than a standard serving dish for a longer period of time.
- Drain Grease. Make sure you drain very well or pat your cooked bacon dry with a paper towel to prevent excess grease from making your dip greasy.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in February 2017. It has been updated with new content and new images.
Karly says
Holy drool. Can't get over how stinking good this looks- and LOVE the presentation!!
Karin and Ken says
Thank you so much. That means a lot. Take care and all the best. Karin