Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip (Printable)

Warm, creamy blend with crispy bacon, cheddar, and ranch seasoning for a savory appetizer.

# What You Need:

→ 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 until crisp and crumbled

→ Seasonings

07 - 2 tbsp ranch seasoning mix (gluten-free if required)
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Fresh

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

# Directions:

01 - Set oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth.
03 - Mix ranch seasoning, black pepper, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and most of the bacon into the dairy mixture, reserving some bacon for topping.
04 - Transfer the mixture to an ovenproof baking dish or skillet and level the surface.
05 - Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes until hot, bubbly, and cheese is melted.
06 - Remove from oven, sprinkle reserved bacon and chopped chives or green onions over the top.
07 - Present warm accompanied by tortilla chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent but comes together in 10 minutes of prep—no complicated techniques or obscure ingredients.
  • The combination of textures (creamy dip, crispy bacon, melted cheese) keeps people coming back for more.
  • You can assemble it hours ahead and just pop it in the oven when guests arrive, which honestly saves you from kitchen stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip the softening step for cream cheese—cold cream cheese will create a grainy, uneven texture that no amount of baking fixes.
  • The dip will bubble at the edges before the center is fully hot; that's when it's ready, not when it stops bubbling entirely.
03 -
  • Shred your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded; the anti-caking agents in store-bought prevent the cheese from melting into a completely smooth, luxurious texture.
  • Cook the bacon the night before and store it in the fridge, so assembly is literally just mixing—you're not standing over a stove the day of the party.
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