Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip (Printable Version)

Rich creamy cheese with crispy bacon and tangy ranch baked until golden and bubbly.

# What You Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - ½ cup sour cream

→ Meat

04 - 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

→ Seasonings

05 - 1 oz ranch seasoning mix
06 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

07 - 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
08 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a small baking dish approximately 1 quart in capacity.
02 - In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch seasoning mix until smooth and homogeneous.
03 - Fold shredded cheddar cheese, most of the crumbled bacon (reserve some for topping), and black pepper into the creamy mixture.
04 - Spoon the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the surface evenly.
05 - Evenly sprinkle the reserved bacon pieces over the top of the mixture.
06 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the dip is hot, bubbly, and lightly golden around the edges.
07 - Remove from oven and garnish with sliced green onions and chopped parsley as desired. Serve warm with chips, crackers, or vegetable dippers.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can literally make this while guests are on their way over.
  • One bowl, minimal cleanup, maximum compliments—the holy trinity of entertaining.
  • It tastes way fancier than the effort you actually put in, and nobody has to know how simple it really is.
02 -
  • Softening your cream cheese first isn't optional—trying to mix it cold leads to lumps and a frustrating experience.
  • Don't skip the reserved bacon on top; it keeps its crispness in the oven better than if you mix it all in, and it's your visual cue that this is restaurant-quality good.
  • Serve this dip while it's hot; as it cools, it will still taste good but lose that luxurious, almost fondue-like texture that makes people come back for more.
03 -
  • Have all your ingredients at room temperature (especially the cream cheese) before you start mixing—cold ingredients create a fight and lumps.
  • Resist the urge to overcook; the dip continues to cook slightly after you pull it from the oven, so bubbly at the edges but barely set in the center is actually perfect.
  • Use a small baking dish rather than a large shallow one; it keeps the dip in that ideal temperature zone and creates that gorgeous bubbly-center presentation that makes people's eyes light up.
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