Cheesy Bacon Dip

Meggan Hill

• Updated

4.73 from 11 votes

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Cheesy Bacon Dip has two kinds of melted cheese, a full pound of crispy bacon, and buttery cracker crumbs. A perfect skillet appetizer to whip up for game day or weekend parties.

Cheesy bacon dip in a cast iron skillet.

This baked cheese dip is insanely good, even without the bacon. But then the bacon shows up, and all of a sudden your appetizer is the party MVP.

My advice: Make a double batch, spread it into two pans, and have one waiting in the wings while everyone is inhaling the first. Then eat the second one in the kitchen, all by yourself.

Recipe ingredients:

Cheesy bacon dip ingredients in various bowls.

Ingredient notes:

  • Swiss cheese: Or substitute Havarti or Gruyere.
  • Buttery crackers: I love Townhouse brand, but any golden, buttery cracker will do.
  • Bacon: See my full tutorial on how to fry bacon for an easy oven method.

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and butter a cast iron skillet or 9-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, add Swiss cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and scallions.
    Cheesy bacon dip ingredients in a clear bowl.
  2. Spread into the buttered dish and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the dip is golden brown and bubbling.
    Uncooked cheesy bacon dip in a cast iron skillet.
  3. Remove from oven and top with crushed cracker crumbs, crisp bacon, and if you have them, even more scallions.
    Cheesy bacon dip in a cast iron skillet.

Recipe tips and variations:

  • Double it: Or triple it, even. All I know is that it’s always the first thing to go. It’s super easy to tackle the waves of hunger as guests arrive; just refill the empty pan with more dip, bake, top, and send it out. The crowd cheers. 
  • Freeze the bacon: I find it MUCH easier to freeze bacon first, before cutting and frying. Then I don’t have to futz with greasy bacon sliding around on a cutting board as I wield a large, sharp (also greasy) knife. If you already have bacon in the freezer (thank you, Costco!) you’re one step ahead of the game. Just chop it up while still frozen and cook.
  • Make it spicy: Sure, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the cheese and mayo mixture before baking.
  • Make ahead: Mix up the dip a day or two before, store in the refrigerator, then spread it out in the prepared pans when you’re ready to bake.

Cheesy bacon dip being scooped out of a cast iron skillet.

More delicious appetizers:

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Cheesy bacon dip in a cast iron skillet surrounded by pretzels and crackers.

Cheesy Bacon Dip

By Meggan Hill
Cheesy Bacon Dip has two kinds of melted cheese, a full pound of crispy bacon, and buttery cracker crumbs. A perfect skillet appetizer to whip up for game day or weekend parties.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Calories 399
4.73 from 11 votes
ReviewPrint

Ingredients 

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 ounces Swiss cheese shredded (see note 1)
  • 1/4 cup green scallions sliced, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup buttery crackers crushed (Townhouse preferred, see note 2)
  • 1/2 pound bacon fried and crumbled (see note 3)
  • buttery crackers garlic Melba toasts, or pretzels, for serving

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 9-inch pie plate or 10-inch cast iron skillet.
  • In medium bowl, add cream cheese, mayonnaise, Swiss cheese, and scallions and stir until combined. Spread into baking dish and bake until golden brown and bubbly, 18 to 20 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and top with crushed crackers, bacon, and additional scallions if desired. Serve hot with more crackers, garlic Melba toasts, or pretzels.

Notes

  1. Swiss cheese: Or substitute Havarti or Gruyere. 
  2. Buttery crackers: I love Townhouse brand, but any golden, buttery cracker will do. 
  3. Bacon: See my full tutorial on how to fry bacon for an easy oven method.
  4. Double it: Or triple it, even. All I know is that it's always the first thing to go. It's super easy to tackle the waves of hunger as guests arrive; just refill the empty pan with more dip, bake, top, and send it out. The crowd cheers. 
  5. Freeze the bacon: I find it MUCH easier to freeze bacon first, before cutting and frying. Then I don't have to futz with greasy bacon sliding around on a cutting board as I wield a large, sharp (also greasy) knife. If you already have bacon in the freezer (thank you, Costco!) you're one step ahead of the game. Just chop it up while still frozen and cook.
  6. Make it spicy: Sure, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the cheese and mayo mixture before baking. 
  7. Make ahead: Mix up the dip a day or two before, store in the refrigerator, then spread it out in the prepared pans when you're ready to bake.

Nutrition

Calories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 16gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 727mgPotassium: 206mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 549IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 151mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. Made this dip for two parties in a row. Everyone loved it and wanted the recipe. We even made a batch without bacon for the vegans and it was just as good… Well not really because it was missing the bacon so it was almost as good… LOL Thanks Meggan!5 stars

    Reply

  2. Made exactly as the recipe stated using gruyere cheese. I did mix half the cooked bacon in with the dip. It was hard for the three of us not to eat it all right from the oven. One of the best dips I’ve made. Thanks for the recipe and the substitutions. Will try the hot sauce added in. THANK YOU!!5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Diana! I can’t think of any reason why not. You don’t add the bacon or cracker crumbs until after it’s baked, but the base should be just fine in the fridge overnight! Thanks for the question and please let me know if you need anything else.

  5. Can this be made in the crock pot? I have a baby shower to make a dip for and cannot put it in the oven before hand.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rachel, yes! I need to add directions for that. Just combine the cream cheese, Swiss cheese, mayo, and scallions in a crock pot. I’d heat it on HIGH for 2-3 hours or low for 4 to 5. Once it’s hot, top it with the crumbled bacon and crushed crackers. Done and done! Thanks for the question.

  6. Made this tonight as our last decadent dip before we go to the cardiologist for my husband’s check up tomorrow. It was fantastic.

    Reply

    1. Tina… !!! LOL! I’m so flattered! I am glad you loved it. It’s really good stuff, and a great meal before seeing the ol’ heart doctor. :D Thanks for sharing!!!

  9. OMG Meggan! I’m dyyyyyying over this dip. I thought I had my game day menu planned for this weekend, but this is totally getting added to the list. You are a genius. ;) Pinned!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the pin Justine! At least this is easy enough it won’t throw your whole Game Day menu off. :) I hope you enjoy it! It’s definitely a big hit in our house.

    1. Thank you Mira, When all the ingredients are things like cheese and mayonnaise and bacon, you really can’t go wrong! :)

  11. I really want that cracker loaded with dip right now — just one bite! Everything is better with bacon, and one pound…WOW. Looks delicious!

    Reply

    1. Marcie if you can do just one bite, you are a better woman than I am. I admire your courage and strength! The pound of bacon kind of puts the whole thing over the top.

    1. Pamela the only way to stop eating it is to run out. Therefore I recommend not making it when you are alone because you’ll run the risk of eating it all yourself! :) I am only half-joking… I ate the one pictured above over the course of 2 days all by myself. Not a good idea! ;)

  13. She kicks, she scores!! This looks amazing with a capital A! I actually have a block of cream cheese in the fridge because I’m having friends around this weekend so your timing couldn’t be better. Dips is one of those things I don’t “get”, if you know what I mean? I can make up a stir fry on the fly, but I have no idea about dips. So thank you!5 stars

    Reply

    1. You are so nice, Nagi! I am probably better with dips than stir fries, but I’d rather be better at stir fries ha ha! At least you have a shot at eating vegetables that way! :) Oh wait… I have a scattering of green onions in here. :)

    1. That happens to me with bacon recipes all the time – I get to the word bacon and I just stop reading. Which is why I listed the “Hot Swiss Cheese” part first! ;)

  16. I’ll take that entire dish Meggan! This looks like the perfect way to pass the time while watching the game :) Pinned!5 stars

    Reply

    1. I could eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Thank you so much for the pin! :)