A delicious dip is always amazing. It leaves your taste buds going crazy! The combination of the ingredients and flavor is what makes this the best Bacon and Cheese Dip recipe. You and your guests will love this dip!
This bacon and cheese dip uses a combination of different cheeses which gives the recipe a sharp taste and smooth texture. The topping, inspired by the traditional Pico de Gallo, adds a delicious and refreshing effect to the bacon cheese dip making it amazingly delicious. There isn’t much that can go wrong when bacon and cheese are mixed, it’s like a match made in heaven, but adding freshness to the dip creates a nice balance in the flavor profile.
Choosing the Right Cheese
When choosing your cheeses, go for a flavor variety from different types of cheese that combines well. It’s also advisable to go for cheeses made from different milk. The cheeses must melt well but still have a sharp taste.
Cheddar cheese, for example, has a pungent, sharp, smell that melts well. On the other hand, Monterey Jack cheese has a very mild, buttery, taste which makes it perfect to blend with another sharp cheese, like Cheddar.
Cheese Substitutes
We may be biased but the fact that we used Cheddar and Monteray Jack in this dip is what makes it the best Bacon and Cheese Dip recipe ever. They’re both easily accessible and a perfect flavor combination. However, if for some mysterious reason you’ll like to make this dip with other types of cheese, we collected a few suggestions for you. There are some cheese substitutes:
- Mozzarella: Mozzarella melts perfectly, but the flavor tends to be mild. Some may even argue that the taste is quite bland and milky. When used in a dip it’s best to combine with at least 2 other types of sharp cheeses.
- Gruyere: This is a hard yellow cheese classified as Alpine of Swiss cheese. It is sweet but also salty, and has a flavor that changes with age. In its younger age, the flavor is more nutty and creamy but becomes more complex as its ages. Its flavor profile and the fact that it melts easily make it a good cheese for a dip.
- Provolone: Provolone is an Italian cheese that is soft smoked and made from cow’s milk. It has a softer taste but due to its ability to melt fast, it can be great for this bacon cheese dip recipe. Provolone could be mixed with for example a Gruyere. A sharper cheese but combines well with Provolone.
- Fontina: Fontina is a cow’s milk cheese that was first produced in Italy. It has a smooth texture and a tangy flavor which makes it great for this dip. It’s a great cheese to combine with mozzarella for your cheese dip.
- Raclette: Raclette needs no introduction as this cheese is a typical cheese used for cheese fondue. Needless to say, it’s the perfect cheese for any dish that requires melting cheese.
Step-by-Step Guide For Making This Bacon and Cheese Dip Recipe
Step 1: Cook the bacon
Place the bacon in a large non-stick pan. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain the fat on a plate lined with a paper towel and set it aside.
Step 2: Make the topping
In a small bowl, add the cut veggies and herb. Mix them all and add lemon juice. Store in the fridge until serving.
Step 3: Make the cheese sauce
Place the butter in a large saucepan and heat it on low heat until it’s melted. Add flour and whisk until it forms a smooth mixture. Add milk to the mixture and keep whisking until it’s you get a smooth texture and no lumps. If necessary you can increase the heat to medium at this point. Then add the cheese mix everything into a thick cream. Make sure the cheese sauce doesn’t stick to the bottom. If you find it difficult to whisk the cheese sauce and manage the heat at the same time, just remove the pan from the pit for a few seconds every time.
Step 4: Plate and serve
To serve, pour the sauce in a serving bowl and 2-3 tablespoons of the topping on top. You can save the rest of the topping in the fridge or add some to a smaller bowl so people can serve themselves. Serve it with your favorite type of bread.
How to Serve a Cheese Dip
The number one pick to serve with cheese dip is bread, specifically crusty bread. This is because of its ability to soak up all the cheesy goodness from the cheese dip. But, if you want to go a little different then pita bread is a good choice. Cheese dip can also be served with a cheese board as we did with our Spanish Cheese & Charcuterie Board with Manchego Dip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Queso is a Mexican-inspired dip (emphasis on inspired as it’s not the authentic Queso Fundido) that uses mostly cheddar cheese. A cheese dip is a general term for any melted cheese/dip that can use different types of cheeses.
Cheese dips are meant to be eaten immediately. You don’t want to store it first or let it sit around too long. While there are some tricks to keep it smooth and creamy, they all tend to alter the flavor. Thus, just serve it immediately.
Bacon and Cheese Dip Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 oz. (285 gr) bacon (cut into pieces)
- 3 tbsp. (50 gr) unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp. flour
- 2 cups (500 ml) whole milk
- 1½ cups (125 gr) Cheddar grated
- 1½ cups (125 gr) Monterey Jack grated
Topping
- ½ onion (chopped)
- 1 tomato (chopped)
- 3 tbsp. coriander (chopped)
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Pita bread/Baguette (in slices or chunks)
Instructions
- In a non-stick pan add the bacon and cook for about 5 minutes on medium-high heat. Set aside.
- To make the topping/salad, add all the ingredients to a bowl. Stir to mix and set aside.
- In a saucepan over low heat add the butter and let it melt. When melted add immediately the flour and whisk everything until smooth. Add the whole milk and keep whisking until there are no lumps left. Add the cheese blend gradually and keep whisking until you get a nice thick cream. Add the bacon to the sauce and mix to combine.
- Pour the dip into a serving bowl and spoon a bit of the topping on top. Serve with any type of bread.
