Rich Baked BLT Dip

You know what’s funny? I used to think BLTs were strictly sandwich territory until my neighbor brought this warm, cheesy dip to our block party last summer. It was like someone took everything great about a BLT and turned it into the perfect party appetizer.

The best part? It’s basically impossible to mess up. While making the perfect BLT sandwich can be tricky (nobody wants soggy bread or burnt bacon), this dip is way more forgiving. Just layer the ingredients, pop it in the oven, and watch as it becomes everyone’s new favorite way to enjoy those classic BLT flavors.

What Kind of Bacon Should I Use?

Regular sliced bacon is perfect for this dip, but you’ve got options depending on how bacon-forward you want the flavor to be. Standard-cut bacon provides a good balance, while thick-cut bacon will give you bigger, meatier pieces and a more pronounced bacon flavor. If you’re cooking for a crowd that loves smoky flavors, go for applewood or hickory-smoked bacon – just keep in mind that these stronger flavors will definitely stand out in your dip. When cooking your bacon, make sure to get it nice and crispy since it’ll soften slightly once it’s mixed into the creamy dip ingredients. And here’s a time-saving tip: you can cook your bacon up to a day ahead and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to make the dip.

Options for Substitutions

This creamy dip recipe is pretty adaptable – here’s what you can switch up:

• Bacon: While real bacon gives the best flavor, you can use turkey bacon for a lighter option. Pre-cooked bacon bits work too, but use about 3/4 cup instead of a pound.
• Mayo and Sour Cream: For a lighter version, try Greek yogurt in place of either the mayo or sour cream. You can also use light versions of both. Just don’t replace both with yogurt as it might make the dip too tangy.
• Cream Cheese: Light cream cheese works fine here. You can also try Neufchâtel cheese, which has less fat but still keeps that creamy texture.
• Cheddar Cheese: Feel free to mix up the cheese – Monterey Jack, Colby, or a Mexican cheese blend all work great. Just make sure to use a good melting cheese.
• Green Onions: No green onions? Finely chopped red onion or chives make good substitutes. Use about 2-3 tablespoons of either.
• Fresh Tomatoes: If tomatoes aren’t in season, you can use well-drained canned diced tomatoes. Just pat them really dry first to prevent the dip from getting watery.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making BLT dip is dealing with excess moisture, which can make your dip watery and unappetizing – be sure to thoroughly drain your bacon on paper towels and remove all seeds from the tomatoes before adding them to the mix.

Temperature control is crucial: cold cream cheese will leave you with lumpy dip, so make sure it’s properly softened at room temperature for at least an hour before mixing (but never try to soften it in the microwave, which can lead to hot spots and uneven texture).

When baking the dip, keep an eye on the top – you want it golden and bubbly, not brown and crusty, so consider covering it with foil if it starts browning too quickly.

For the crispiest bacon results, chop it after cooking rather than before, and save some of the crispy pieces for topping the dip just before serving to maintain their crunch.

What to Serve With BLT Dip?

This creamy, bacon-loaded dip needs some sturdy dippers that can handle its rich texture! Toasted baguette slices or crostini are perfect since they mirror the toast in a classic BLT sandwich. I like to put out a variety of options, including thick-cut potato chips, crisp cucumber rounds, and butter crackers. For a fresh contrast to the rich dip, serve some crunchy celery sticks and carrot strips on the side – they’ll give your guests a lighter option while still being sturdy enough to scoop up all that bacon-y goodness. If you’re serving this at a party, consider adding some cherry tomatoes and lettuce leaves on the side so people can get the full BLT experience.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover BLT dip? Pop it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors actually get even better after a day as everything melds together! Just keep in mind that the tomatoes might release a bit of liquid over time.

Make Ahead: You can prep this dip a day before your party! Mix all ingredients except the tomatoes and garnishes, store in the fridge, then fold in the fresh tomatoes and add toppings just before baking. This way, everything stays fresh and your dip will be perfectly party-ready.

Warm Up: If you’re working with leftover dip from the fridge, just pop it in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes until it’s heated through. Add some fresh toppings like crispy bacon bits and diced tomatoes to give it that just-made feel.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	20-25 minutes
Total Time	30-40 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 3200-3500
• Protein: 60-75 g
• Fat: 280-300 g
• Carbohydrates: 20-30 g

Ingredients

• 1 pound cooked bacon
• 1 cup mayo
• 1 cup sour cream
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 tomato, seeded and diced
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• Extra green onions, bacon, tomato, and lettuce for garnish if desired

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).

This ensures that the oven will be at the perfect temperature when you’re ready to bake your dish.

Step 2: Prepare the Creamy Base

In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese.

Mix together until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is smooth.

This forms the creamy base for your dip.

Step 3: Add Flavorful Ingredients

Crumble your bacon and stir it into the creamy base.

Then add shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, and diced tomato.

Mix well so all ingredients are evenly distributed within the creamy base, infusing it with flavor.

Step 4: Bake the Dip

Pour the mixture into a shallow dish or pie pan, spreading it out evenly.

Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbling and heated through.

The surface should be lightly browned and the cheese melted.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

After removing the dish from the oven, let it cool slightly.

Garnish with additional green onions, diced tomato, and crumbled bacon for extra flavor and presentation.

Serve the bubbling dip alongside corn chips for dipping.

Enjoy your deliciously creamy and cheesy bacon dip!