Creamy and loaded with bacon and smoked gouda, this warm dip is destined to be the star of your next party.
What if I told you I had a foolproof party appetizer that is made by combining everything in a bowl and then baking ’til gooey perfection? Oh, and that lots of bacon was involved? If you answer “Hell Yes!” and felt all fuzzy and warm inside, you are one step closer into breezing through your next party preparation like a queen/king!
If you are team bacon, like me, you will be happy to find out that this dip has a whole pound of it. Because, why not? It’s for a party, after all. But the thing is, this dip will feed 8+ people, so the whole pound of bacon isn’t actually as insane as it sounds, I promise! Just don’t eat the whole thing by yourself and you will be just fine.
Jokes aside, this dip is indeed really hard to resist. Not only is it creamy and gooey, but the smoked gouda paired with the bacon is one of those flavor combinations that you won’t be able to forget. Once your bacon dip is out of the oven – all hot and perfectly bubbly – all you’ll need to do is pop open a good bottle of wine and get that party started.
Step by Step Guide to Making Smoked Gouda and Bacon Dip
Preparation:
-
Prep Ingredients:
- Shred the smoked gouda.
- Cook the bacon using your preferred method until crispy, then chop it. If you’re unsure about how to cook a large quantity of bacon, try baking it in an oven set to 400F for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Chop the scallions.
Cooking Process:
1. Preheat Your Oven:
- Set your oven to preheat at 400F degrees.
2. Soften the Cream Cheese:
- Place the cream cheese into a large bowl.
- Microwave it for approximately 30 seconds or until it softens, making it easier to stir.
3. Create the Base:
- To the softened cream cheese, add both the mayo and sour cream.
- Whisk these ingredients together until they become smooth. The resulting texture should be creamy but slightly runny.
4. Incorporate Main Ingredients:
- Before you add everything to the mix, set aside the following for garnish: 1/3 cup of the shredded smoked gouda, ¼ cup of the chopped bacon, and 2 tablespoons of the chopped scallions.
- Introduce the remaining cheese, bacon, scallions, and freshly ground black pepper to the creamy base. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly combined.
5. Transfer and Bake:
- Pour the dip mixture into an oven-proof dish.
- Sprinkle the top with the cheese and bacon that you had reserved earlier.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven, allowing it to bake for roughly 30 minutes. The goal is for the dip to turn a golden brown and bubble up.
6. Garnish and Serve:
- Once out of the oven, garnish the dip with the remaining chopped scallions that you had set aside.
- Serve immediately for the best experience!
Additional Notes and Tips:
- For those who enjoy a spicy kick, consider enhancing the dip with a teaspoon of chili powder, ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, or a few dashes of Tabasco sauce.
- If you’re in the mood for something different, try serving the dip inside a hollowed-out loaf of crusty bread.
Party Food: Smoked Gouda and Bacon Dip
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 + servings 1x
Description
Creamy and loaded with bacon and smoked gouda, this warm dip is destined to be the star of your next party.
Ingredients
- 2 8 ounces packages of cream cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 16 ounces smoked gouda (shredded, divided)
- 1 pound bacon (cooked and chopped (see notes), divided)
- 3 scallions (chopped, divided)
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preparation:
- Prep Ingredients:
- Shred the smoked gouda.
- Cook the bacon using your preferred method until crispy, then chop it. If you’re unsure about how to cook a large quantity of bacon, try baking it in an oven set to 400F for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Chop the scallions.
Cooking Process:
1. Preheat Your Oven:
- Set your oven to preheat at 400F degrees.
2. Soften the Cream Cheese:
- Place the cream cheese into a large bowl.
- Microwave it for approximately 30 seconds or until it softens, making it easier to stir.
3. Create the Creamy Base:
- To the softened cream cheese, add both the mayo and sour cream.
- Whisk these ingredients together until they become smooth. The resulting texture should be creamy but slightly runny.
4. Incorporate Main Ingredients:
- Before you add everything to the mix, set aside the following for garnish: 1/3 cup of the shredded smoked gouda, ¼ cup of the chopped bacon, and 2 tablespoons of the chopped scallions.
- Introduce the remaining cheese, bacon, scallions, and freshly ground black pepper to the creamy base. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly combined.
5. Transfer and Bake:
- Pour the dip mixture into an oven-proof dish.
- Sprinkle the top with the cheese and bacon that you had reserved earlier.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven, allowing it to bake for roughly 30 minutes. The goal is for the dip to turn a golden brown and bubble up.
6. Garnish and Serve:
-
- Once out of the oven, garnish the dip with the remaining chopped scallions that you had set aside.
- Serve immediately for the best experience!
Notes
– My favorite method of cooking a large quantity of bacon is by baking it at a 400F degree oven for 10 o 20 minutes or until crispy.
– For a spicy version of this dip, you could add a teaspoon of chili powder OR ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper OR a few dashes of Tabasco sauce.
– This dip is also great served inside a hollowed crusty bread!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
