Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip (Print View)

Rich and creamy warm dip with crispy bacon, cheddar, mozzarella, and bold seasonings.

# Components:

→ Dairy

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup sour cream
03 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Meats

06 - 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

→ Seasonings

07 - 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix, gluten-free
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Fresh

09 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions, for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Set oven temperature to 350°F.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth.
03 - Stir ranch seasoning, black pepper, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and most of the bacon into the dairy mixture, reserving some bacon for topping.
04 - Spread the mixture evenly into a medium baking dish or ovenproof skillet and smooth the surface.
05 - Bake for 20 minutes until hot, bubbly, and cheese has melted.
06 - Remove from oven, top with reserved bacon and chopped chives or green onions, and serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under thirty minutes, most of that hands off in the oven.
  • The bacon gets crispy, the cheese gets gooey, and the ranch ties it all together in a way that makes people hover near the table.
  • You can make it ahead and bake it right before people arrive, so you're not stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip softening the cream cheese, cold cream cheese will never blend smoothly no matter how hard you stir.
  • Reserve some bacon for the top, if you mix it all in, it gets soft and you lose that crispy contrast.
  • Taste the ranch seasoning before you add it, some brands are saltier than others and you might want to hold back a little.
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat beautifully and you can serve it right from the pan.
  • If the top isn't golden enough after twenty minutes, switch the oven to broil for one or two minutes, but watch it closely so it doesn't burn.
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