scrumptious bacon cheddar pickle dip recipe

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This dip goes together quickly and is a real crowd pleaser. With just a few minutes of prep, this bacon cheddar pickle dip gives a lot of bang for the buck. And speaking of bucks, it’s super affordable to put together. Take it to your next festive get together or put it together for a cozy night in.

bacon cheddar pickle dip served on a cracker

Now let’s get right to the good stuff…

how to make bacon cheddar pickle dip

INGREDIENTS:

Gather your ingredients and get ready to make this amazing dip, so good you’ll want to dip over and over again. This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • 8 oz. package cream cheese-softened
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 bunch fresh dill
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 24 oz jar dill pickles spears (reserve juice)
  • ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 6 slices bacon crumbled
  • ½ small shallot
  • hot sauce (optional)

ingredient information:

  • Cream cheese: We prefer using Philadelphia brand cream cheese for this dip, though any brand will work. If you haven’t had a chance to leave it out to soften, just pop it in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Sour cream: Our favorite brand of sour cream is Daisy for both the flavor and texture. You should use your favorite. This can also be swapped out for Greek yogurt.
  • Fresh dill: Fresh herbs really do make a huge difference in any recipe. However, if you don’t have access to fresh, then feel free to use dried dill. You will only need about 1/3 of the amount.
  • Crumbled bacon: We used 6 strips of thick bacon cooked well to create our crumbled bacon. However, you can take a shortcut by using pre-cooked packed real bacon bits like THIS.
  • Shallot: The mild flavor of a shallot pairs perfectly with this dip, but you can also use sweet onion if it’s diced very finely.

instructions:

Stick around to the end, and I’ll tell you how to make this your own.

  1. Chop the dill finely and add it to a bowl. Reserve a small amount for garnishing.
  2. Finely dice one small shallot and add it to the bowl.
  3. Take about half of the pickles from the jar and pat them dry. Dice them into 1-inch pieces and add them to the bowl.
  4. Then add the cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, 2 Tbsp dill juice, bacon, shredded cheddar and hot sauce (optional) to the bowl.
  5. If desired, also add hot sauce to taste.
  6. Mix the ingredients together until smooth.
  7. Transfer the dip to a small platter or plate and serve with crackers.
  8. Garnish with reserved dill.
bacon cheddar pickle dip served on a cracker

my recipe tips

  • Heat level: If you like things spicy, increase the amount hot sauce by a few splashes, use spicy pickles like these Wickles spears or add some pepper flakes.
  • Don’t make this mistake: This dip was so completely yummy as is, but I felt like if I’d used fresh grated cheddar it would have been even tastier. Also, I used fine grated and feel like a thicker grate would have been better.
  • Make it sweet: Try replacing the dill pickles in this recipe with sweet pickles. You will also want to leave out the fresh dill, shallots and hot sauce.
  • Change up the seasoning: Skip the garlic powder and onion powder and just use some dried Ranch dressing mix instead.

recipe video

🍽️ serving ideas

We tried several things with this yummy pickle dip, and our favorite thing to eat it with were basic Ritz crackers. Wheat thins were a close second. You can also try serving it with bagel chips, toasty bread, pita, pretzel chips, celery sticks or baby carrots.

If you’re having a get together with lots of appetizers, this dip recipe is great alongside this pepperoni pizza dip or this hot chocolate dip. Then there will be a little something for everyone.

do we have a preferred cream cheese brand?

Yes!!! I understand that this is a personal preference, but I always use Philadelphia cream cheese (even though Philly is our sports rival here in Pittsburgh). There’s just something about the taste. That being said, any cream cheese brand will work just fine. So, stick with your favorite brand when making this dip.

bacon cheddar pickle dip served on a cracker

recipe notes

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best results for this super yummy dip.
  • Storage: Keep leftovers (if you even have any) covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing this dip, as it may affect the texture.
  • Dip prep: You can prepare this dip ahead of time. The flavor actually gets even better with some time in the fridge.

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