Baked Cheese Dip

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5 from 3 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

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.

A baked cheese dip with bacon and green onions.

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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?

A dish  with crackers next to it.

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

A white table with various bowls of cheese, green onions and cream cheese.
  • 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.

        The steps to make the different cheeses and a baking dish for the appetizer.

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

Freezing cheese dip is not recommended, as the sour cream will separate. Instead, refrigerate the dip in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Breadsticks, veggies, tortilla chips, and pretzels all make great dippers for this cheesy dip.

Pre shredded cheese sometimes is packaged with a coating, which can give it a grainy texture once the cheese has melted. For melty cheese and an extra creamy dip, grate fresh cheese instead.

A person enjoying a delicious cracker with melted cheese and fresh greens.

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.
A baked cheese dip with bacon and green onions.

Baked Cheese Dip

5 from 3 votes
Baked Cheese Dip is creamy, full of flavor, and the fact that it works great with pretzels, crackers, bread bowls, or baguette bread.
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 35 minutes
Total Time : 40 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizers and Dips

Equipment

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Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces Cream cheese, softened to room temperature and any brand
  • 1 cup Mayo, any brand
  • 8 ounces Sour cream, any brand
  • 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces Gruyere cheese
  • 8 slices Bacon, cooked and chopped
  • Green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Lay out the cream cheese so it can soften to room temperature.
  • Cook the bacon in the manner that you normally would, allow to cool, and chop into small pieces.
  • Wash and dry the green onions and thinly slice on an angle.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a medium sized bowl, add in the cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, mozzarella cheese, gruyere cheese, bacon (reserve some for topping the dip), and combine thoroughly with a spoon.
  • Then pour into a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 35 minutes.
  • Remove from oven, top with additional bacon and the green onions and serve warm!
  • Enjoy!

Christina’s Notes

  • Bread Bowl: You could also bake this in a bread bowl. It would be extremely delicious that way as well.  
  • Other Cheeses: If your family prefers other cheeses, you can definitely sub those in. Other cheese you could add in or substitute include parmesan cheese, cheddar, or monterey jack cheese.
  • Chive Cream Cheese: For added oniony flavor you chive or veggie cream cheese in place of plain.
Helpful Tips for All RecipesThese quick tips will help you get perfect results every time.

  • 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 12gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 465mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 320IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 364mgIron: 0.2mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. It is recommended that you verify this information with your own trusted resource.
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