Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip Recipe

Easy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip Recipe that takes minutes to prepare. The perfect creamy ranch dip for holiday parties, football parties, or a fantastic snack.

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

Appetizer dips are one of my favorite things to make. Everyone loves them, and they are so easy to make.

This dip is one of our favorite bacon party appetizers. Although we have not been throwing many parties in the past few years, we have enjoyed many appetizers.

There is something fun about making quick and easy appetizers and enjoying them for dinner or a snack. This super easy cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch seasoning dip is one of our favorites.

We might have enjoyed this earlier this week while lounging at home watching football, just the two of us. In less than 20 minutes, you can have a delicious flavor-filled dip ready to go.

While I love making Crock Pot slow cooker dips, there is something magical about having a dip ready to go in minutes. This appetizer recipe only requires a little prepping time; toss everything in, mix, and your dip is ready.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make an epic Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Sour Cream
• Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
• Cream Cheese
• Bacon
• Cheddar Cheese 

Optional: Green Onions for Garnish

Dippers - Potato Chips, crackers, tortilla chips, carrots, celery sticks, baguette slices

Equipment Needed

• Hand Mixer - Mix this dip with a manual hand mixer or your electric stand mixer.
• Large Mixing Bowl - We are big fans of this glass batter bowl that has a handle. It makes it easy to mix ingredients and keeps the mixing bowl steady on the counter.
• Serving Bowl

 

How to make Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Add sour cream, cream cheese, and dry ranch dip to a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth using a hand mixer.

Fold in crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese until evenly spread. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Garnish with cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onion before serving.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead + Storage: 

This party dip is easy to whip together before your event or gathering, and the flavor gets better as it melds together in your fridge! Refrigerate it in an airtight container without the toppings until serving, and add them when it’s time to serve. Enjoy this dip within three days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: 

We don’t recommend freezing leftovers of this Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip. It contains sour cream, which separates and turns grainy when thawed.

 

Recipe Variations

Substitutions: 

We use Hidden Valley Ranch Mix because it is available at most grocery stores, but any quality ranch dressing mix or variety works.

For a healthier dip, replace the cream cheese with Neufchatel and the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.

If you don't have time to make fresh bacon, you can always use bacon bits in this recipe. 

Vegetarian Option: 

Replace the bacon with your favorite meatless alternative bacon to make this recipe vegetarian.

Vegan Option:

In addition to the guidance for vegetarians, vegans should replace sour cream, dry ranch mix, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese with plant-based substitutes.

Gluten-Free:

The ingredients in this dip, including Hidden Valley Ranch Mix, are safe for a gluten-free diet. However, if you are highly sensitive and want to avoid cross-contamination, look for a gluten-free label on your bacon, as many bacon varieties contain additional flavorings and preservatives.

Alcohol-Free Option: 

We do not use alcohol in this Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip, but Hidden Valley has a Ranch Beer Cheese Dip with a few more ingredients if you want a boozy version for game day.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: 

The written recipe makes eight servings and scales readily to your desired yield. One packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Mix equals eight teaspoons.

If you are having a party, make a double batch of the first part of this recipe. Combine the sour cream, cream cheese, and ranch mix, and add half to a serving dish. Then, take the second half and continue with this recipe. You can make two dips in one bowl.

Make It Spicy: Swap the ranch mix with Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch Mix for a meaty dip with a kick.

Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 1 gram of sugar per serving. To make it sugar-free, check that all ingredients have no added sugars.

 

Tips for the Best Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

• Sturdy chips work best with this dip so that they can hold the weight of all the delicious goodness.
• Find this featured recipe in our Cream Cheese Recipes collection.

What to Serve with Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

Aside from serving this crowd-pleasing Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip with veggies, corn or tortilla chips, celery, carrot sticks, bell pepper slices, pita chips, toast points, or Frito Scoops, you can pair it with other tailgating and snacktime favorites for a game-day-ready appetizer platter in no time! Here are some menu planning suggestions.

Sides: CrockPot Chipotle Honey Meatballs, CrockPot Swedish Meatballs, CrockPot Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs, CrockPot Spicy Mango Jerk Wings, CrockPot Mexican Chili over Fritos, CrockPot Honey Sriracha Barbecue Wings, CrockPot Beer-Braised Kielbasa

Main Dishes: CrockPot Chili Mac and Cheese, CrockPot Bacon Mac and Cheese, CrockPot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut, CrockPot Beer Chili, CrockPot Cuban Pork Sandwiches, Buffalo Chicken Wontons, CrockPot Bacon Ranch Chicken, CrockPot Buffalo Sloppy Joes

Desserts: Red Velvet Brownies, Chocolate Coconut 5 Layer Bars, CrockPot Mixed Berry Cobbler, Black Bean Brownies, Easy Homemade Banana Bread, Salty & Sweet Ruffles Marshmallow Treats, Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies, Molasses Cookies

Drinks: Coke Slushie, Kool-Aid Slushie, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, Brazilian Lemonade, Sonic Ocean Water, CopyCat McDonald's Sweet Tea, Watermelon Agua Fresca

When to Serve

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Potlucks
• Family and Friends Gatherings
• Game Day

 

Great Recipe Collections

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