This Baked Cheese Dip is creamy, warm, and full of flavor. Loaded with bacon, it’s creamy and extra flavorful. Enjoy it with pretzels, crackers, bread bowls, or baguettes for a game day or party appetizer.
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What’s the Best Cheese for Baked Cheese Dip?
While this baked cheese dip is made gruyere and mozzarella cheese, you can make dips with lots of different kinds of cheeses. However, cheese comes in a wide variety of flavors, and some are better for melting than others.
Depending on what kind of dip you make, you may want to add different varieties of cheese. For instance, Swiss cheese is soft and mild, making it good for fondue, while Monterey Jack cheese is rich and flavorful, perfect for spicy dips and queso.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a topping of fresh grated cheese – such as parmesan.
Why This Homemade Cheese Dip Recipe is a Keeper
You won’t want to wait to try this delicious hot and bubbly baked bacon cheese dip! This party food is one of our favorite dips, perfect for game days and all your party needs. Here are some reasons why we love making it:
- 40 Minute Appetizer: Make this cheesy appetizer in just 40 minutes or less.
- Easy Recipe: Baked Cheese Dip is an effort-free recipe, made with just a couple steps.
- Party Friendly: This tasty dip is the perfect appetizer for parties and get togethers. It has loads of bacon and uses three types of cheese. This family loved dip is so popular they can’t wait to try this hot dip it has tons of flavor.
If you’re looking for more appetizer recipes, try these: Spinach Artichoke Dip, Italian Hoagie Dip, and Queso Blanco Dip.
What is Oven Bake Dip?
This creamy bacon and cheese hot dip is baked in the oven after it’s prepared, giving it a crispy surface atop warm melted cheese, perfect for dipping breadsticks or crackers.
Ingredient Notes for Baked Cheese and Bacon Dip
- Gruyere: Gruyere cheese melts easily, making the dip soft and creamy.
- Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella is best over pre-shredded mozzarella.
- Cream Cheese: Use softened cream cheese at room temperature.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Cheesy Dip
Adjust this easy cream cheese dip recipe with mayonnaise so that it is your favorite dip for parties or game day.
- Spices: Add a kick to your cheese dip with smoked paprika, thyme, or chili powder.
- Salsa: For an even spicier cheese dip, mix in some salsa, Mexican cheese, taco seasoning, hot sauce, or pepper jack cheese.
How to Make Homemade Baked Cheese Dip
This dip can be made and ready to bake to get ahead. It can be ready to serve whenever you need it,
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These are the basic steps for making baked cheese dip. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions and nutritional information. We love reader interactions so let us know if you make this super tasty dip.
Step 1: Prep
Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F. Then, cut up the green onions at an angle and chop up the bacon.
Step 2: Combine Ingredients
Next, in a medium sized bowl, combine the mayo, sour cream, cream cheese, mozzarella, gruyere, salt, black pepper, and bacon. Then mix all of the ingredients until fully combined, then transfer the cheese mixture to a baking dish.
Step 3: Bake Time
Finally, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes. To get a crispy, bubbly top, remove the foil and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until it starts to bubble.
Step 4: Serve
Remove from the oven and garnish with additional bacon and green onions. Serve warm with breadsticks, veggies, or chips.
Baked Cheese Dip FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Hot Cheese Dip
- Bread Bowl: Bake this cheese dip in a bread bowl instead of a baking dish.
- Other Cheeses: Make this dip with parmesan cheese, white cheddar cheese, or Monterey jack cheese.
- Chive Cream Cheese: For added onion flavor, use chive or veggie cream cheese in place of plain cream cheese.
What to Serve with Baked Cheese Dip
Bacon and Cheese Dip
Equipment
- 9 x 9-inch baking dish
- Medium mixing bowl
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces gruyere cheese, shredded
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and chopped, divided
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Set the cream cheese out until it softens to room temperature.
- Cook the bacon until crisp, then let it cool completely.
- Chop the cooled bacon into small pieces.
- Wash and dry the green onions, then slice them thinly on an angle.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, mozzarella, gruyere and most of the bacon in a medium bowl, reserving some bacon for topping.
- Stir the mixture with a spoon until it is fully combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9 x 9 inch baking dish.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 35 minutes, until the dip is hot and melted through.
- Remove the foil and top the dip with the reserved bacon and sliced green onions.
- Serve the dip warm.
Christina’s Notes
- Soften the Cream Cheese: Cold cream cheese leaves lumps that will not smooth out during baking.
- Grate Cheese Fresh: Pre-shredded cheese is coated and melts grainy instead of smooth.
- Bake Covered: Foil keeps the surface from drying out before the center is melted.
- Broil for Color: Two to three minutes uncovered gives you a browned, bubbly top.
- Refrigerate Leftovers: Store in an airtight container for four to five days and never freeze it.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Made this dip last night. It is delicious and easy to make.