Your search for the perfect party dip is over! This easy and quick-to-make bacon cheddar ranch dip seems simple, but the magic is in the ingredient ratios! This well-tested recipe combines soft cream cheese, sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, and ranch seasoning with crispy, chopped bacon. Serve cold, or bake the dip in the oven until hot and bubbly. Ready in 35 minutes or less!
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
When searching for gluten-free appetizer ideas, it’s best to appeal to the whole crowd. With a recipe for bacon cheddar ranch dip, you are guaranteed to hit the mark! Who can resist a creamy bacon dip with cream cheese, sour cream, cheese, and ranch seasoning? It’s a snack hard to ignore!
Luckily if you find the dip bowl empty, whip up more in minutes! Combine a handful of simple ingredients and serve with potato chips, crackers, veggie crudités, or crostini.
Just like warm spinach and artichoke dip, this sour cream ranch dip can heated and served as gooey, cheese hot dip. Bake and serve immediately or place in a mini slow cooker to stay warm while guests are grazing.
Modify cream cheese ranch dip for a variety of flavors. There are many possibilities, such as adding jalapeños for a spicy quick, cooked chicken to make a hearty, filling dip, or swapping out the cheddar cheese for other types, such as blue cheese or a mixture.
Below I expand on more variations, the best serving options for a hot dip or cold dip, and how to make cheddar bacon ranch dip with optimal flavor – not too salty or under seasoned. This easy, 2-step recipe can be your new signature party appetizer!
Ingredient Notes
While there are only a handful of ingredients, the suggested options below yield the best outcome.
- Ranch seasoning mix – For a gluten-free appetizer be sure to read the label because some ingredients may not be safe for a GF diet. Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Mix (sold in an envelope by salad dressings) is safe. An important note – using the whole packet makes the dip a little too salty, so remove 1 teaspoon before adding to the sour cream and cream cheese.
- Cheese – Freshly grated cheese is best, especially if you are making a hot dip. I like to use sharp cheddar for more pronounced flavor.
- Cream cheese – Use full-fat cream cheese for rich flavor, but swapping out with lighter neufchatel also works. Either type should be softened to room temperature before mixing.
- Sour cream – Same as above, for best flavor use full fat for the base of the dip. However, light sour cream or even plain greek yogurt could be used.
- Bacon – You will need 9 slices of cooked bacon for this recipe, with 8 in the dip and 1 reserved for the garnish. Fry the bacon in a skillet or bake in the oven. For a shortcut use precooked bacon, although I recommend using fresh cooked for best results.
How to Make Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip Recipe
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
- In a medium bowl beat cream cheese until light and fluffy using a handheld mixer. Add sour cream to mix and beat again.
- Stir in ranch seasoning mix, chopped bacon, green onions, and cheddar cheese. Serve with crackers, chips, or sliced french bread.
- If serving warm, preheat oven to 375ºF and grease a small baking dish. Spread into prepared baking dish, sprinkling additional cheese and bacon on top, if desired. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Cold Dip
For cold creamy bacon dip combine all ingredients and serve immediately. Alternatively, cover and chill up to two days, in an airtight container, before serving.
If making ahead of time, wait before serving to garnish with chopped bacon, cheese, or green onions. Refrigerated bacon can look slightly unappealing.
Serve straight from the fridge or let come to room temperature. A sour cream ranch dip can sit out up to two hours.
Hot Dip
If you prefer a softer, melted version, warm the dip in the oven or crock pot. Pour into an ovenproof baking dish and bake at 375ºF for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
To bake, grease a small ovenproof dish. I love my mini cast iron skillet for hot dips, as pictured in Baked Ricotta Dip recipe, because the residual heat keeps it warm longer.
Any small baking dish may be used, though. If your dish is smaller and deeper, add a few minutes to the cooking time. For bigger and more shallow dishes, start checking around 20 minutes.
You may also make a slow cooker version of bacon cheddar ranch chip. Mix the ingredients and pour into a mini crock pot for 3 hours. Stir, top with garnishes, and serve!
More Modifications
Make so many versions out of this one versatile recipe! Keep the bacon, cream cheese, and sour cream the same, but switch out cheeses and spices to make one of these equally delicious bacon dip recipes!
- Bacon Onion Dip – Saute a large sweet onion until golden and caramelized. Omit green onions and substitute freshly grated parmesan or swiss for the cheddar cheese. Use ranch dressing mix or substitute 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Serve warm or cold.
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Dip – Add 2 cups of chopped cooked chicken to the recipe. Serve warm.
- Bacon Blue Cheese Dip – Instead of cheddar cheese use 3/4 cup blue cheese or gorgonzola. Use ranch seasoning mix or replace with 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Serve warm or cold.
- Bacon Swiss Dip – Replace shredded cheddar cheese with swiss or gruyere cheese.
- Bacon Spinach Dip – Thaw a 10 ounce package of frozen chopped spinach, drain, and squeeze until very dry. Instead of cheddar cheese use a combination of mozzarella and shredded parmesan.
- Jalapeno Bacon Dip – Finely chop 1/2 cup jalapeños with seeds removed, or use 4 ounce canned jalapeños, well drained. Use ranch seasoning mix or replace with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and add a couple dashes of hot sauce, if desired. Serve cold or warm.
SErving Suggestions
- Serve in a bread bowl.
- Tortilla Chips (works well for hot dip)
- Crackers
- Potato Chips
- Veggies, such as grape tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, or celery
- Crostini or french bread
Storage and Make-ahead Tips
The dip can be made up to two days ahead of time, stored in an airtight container. If making the appetizer ahead of time, wait before serving to garnish with chopped bacon, cheese, or green onions. Refrigerated bacon can look slightly unappealing.
Serve straight from the fridge or let come to room temperature. A cream cheese cream ranch dip can sit out up to two hours.
If baking, let the dip sit out for 30 minutes before warming in the oven, as directed in the recipe. Leftovers should be refrigerated, after they have cooled. Warm leftover dip in the microwave or reheat in the oven.
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step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!
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Quick 2-Step Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ounce (with 1 teaspoon removed) package Hidden Valley ranch seasoning mix
- 9 slices cooked chopped bacon reserve 1 slice for topping
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions sliced
- Garnishes: additional sliced green onions, chopped bacon, or cheddar cheese
- Serve with: potato chips, crackers, or sliced french bread,
Instructions
Cold Bacon Dip:
- In a medium bowl beat cream cheese until light and fluffy then mix in sour cream. Stir in ranch seasoning mix (with 1 teaspoon removed), chopped bacon (some reserved for topping), cheddar cheese, and green onions.8 ounces cream cheese,1 cup sour cream,1 ounce (with 1 teaspoon removed) package Hidden Valley ranch seasoning mix,9 slices cooked chopped bacon,1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese,2 green onions
- If additional seasoning is desired, add in reserved teaspoon of ranch dressing mix. Garnish with additional sliced green onions, chopped bacon, or cheddar cheese. Serve with potato chips, crackers, or sliced french bread. Cover and refrigerate leftovers.
Warm Bacon Dip:
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Butter a small 1 quart overproof dish and set aside.
- Prepare bacon dip according to directions above. Spread into prepared baking dish, sprinkling additional cheese and bacon on top, if desired. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Alternatively, pour into a mini slow cooker and warm for 2-4 hours. Serve with potato chips, crackers, or sliced french bread.
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