Crack Dip
This crowd pleasing dip is loaded with cheese, bacon, and ranch, making it a favorite for party guests. Dip veggies, crackers, or chips. Seriously easy to make, serious flavor, and seriously addicting.
This easy, no fuss recipe is so addicting and good, it has the been fondly called “crack dip”. I did not name it, and won’t claim it, but that is what it is known as, and despite the name, I make it on the regular. It is perfect for tailgating, game nights, get togethers, and more.
Serve with Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs and Jalapeno Poppers for a fun game day spread.
I have been on a dip kick lately, starting with Loaded Potato Dip, and Loaded Ranch Dip.
Like many good dips, crack dip starts with cream cheese. But like this BBQ Chicken Ranch Dip or Spinach Dip, there is so much more to this dip than the cream cheese. It is seriously loaded with flavor, you get the cheddar cheese, the salty bacon, the ranch, and let’s face it, these combined together make something magical. But here is why we love it:
- Five Minutes to Throw Together: While you want to chill this dip for about an hour to get the right consistency, it is super duper eazy peazy to toss together, making it a favorite for a busy day.
- Great for Game Day: This is one of those dips that just goes hand and hand with football at my house. You won’t catch a game here without this dip. Why? Because it is the perfect game day food.
- Crowd Favorite: Everyone loves it. I mean, what is not to love. Bacon. Check. Cheese. Check. Creamy goodness. Check.
- Leftovers are Versatile: Hear me out, the chances of having leftovers is slim, but if you do, try stuffing it inside of a chicken breast and air frying the chicken or baking it. LIFE CHANGING. So good.
What You Need to Make Crack Dip
This is one of those recipes that is so easy to make, and starts with a few simple ingredients you can get at just about every store:
- Cream cheese: I used full fat, but a low fat version works too.
- Sour cream: Again I used a full fat sour cream, but you do you!
- Mayonnaise: You want a good brand like Hellman’s.
- Ranch dressing mix: Pick your favorite, I like Hidden Valley.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cheddar cheese: I like a good sharp cheddar, but you can adjust this to your preference.
- Bacon bits or cooked and crumbled bacon: Pick your favorite kind of bacon, just make sure it is nice and crispy so it holds up in the cheeses etc.
- Green onions: Fresh and sliced thin.
Recommended Equipment
Variations
While this dip is well known, and soooo delicious as it is, you can mix it up some or add your own twist to it. Here are a few ideas for variations:
- Add Some Heat: Some like it hot, so mix in some hot sauce, sriracha, or cayenne pepper (adjust to your preference, but start with 1/2 a teaspoon of hot sauce), into the cream cheese, or add in 1/2 cup diced jalapeños or pickled jalapeños.
- Add Some Meat: I prefer this dip sans meat because I like pairing it with Dr Pepper BBQ Little Smokies or Mongolian Beef Meatballs but it is the perfect base to add in some ground meat, shredded chicken, or crumbled sausage.
How to Make Crack Cheese Dip
This recipe is as simple as 1. 2. 3.
- Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise ranch mix and onion and garlic powder with a mixer on medium speed.
- Fold in remaining ingredients.
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Recommended Dippers
One of the beauties of this dip is the versatile nature of it. You can literally dip just about anything in and be happy. So let’s take a look at some of my favorites.
- Crackers: The buttery ones are the best, ritz or club house are recommended. But Triscuits, Wheat Thins, and other crackers work well too.
- Bread: Toasted baguettes, crostini, or even slices of rustic breads work great here.
- Chips: Tortilla and potato alike work well with this dip. Use what you’ve got.
- Veggies: My favorite option is cucumber slices, but celery sticks, carrot stick, broccoli, cauliflower, or even mini peppers work great. You can even use this dip in mushrooms, and bake them for a stuffed mushroom.
Tips and Tricks
Making this recipe is Eazy Peazy…
- Room Temp Cream Cheese: To get a smoother mixture for your dip, it helps if your cream cheese comes up to room temp. I like to simply pull it out and put it on the counter a half hour before mixing things up, that way it mixes well. Then you refrigerate to get it back to a great consistency.
- Give Yourself Time: This mixes up in 5 minutes, but to get the best texture you want time to let it chill, so plan a little ahead. The beauty of this dip is it works great made ahead. Just stir the green onions in the day you plan to serve so they don’t wilt etc. ahead of time.
- Use Quality Ingredients: This is one of those recipes where you want to like everything separately. Use good bacon, your favorite ranch mix, and a mayo you like, and you will love this dip.
Make Ahead and Storage
How to make this recipe ahead of time:
- Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise ranch mix, onion and garlic powder with a mixer on medium speed. Then put in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- The day you plan to serve, fold the other ingredients.
- Refrigerate until serving.
Do not make ahead and freeze, as the ingredients will often separate and it won’t be as good.
I like to serve this dip with other appetizers, so making it ahead is always a good idea. I love it with Cheese Bites, Taco Bites, and Spicy Jamaican Crockpot Wings!
Other Great Dip Recipes:
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Crack dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ounce package ranch dressing mix
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- ⅓ cup bacon bits or 6 slices cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions
Instructions
- Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise ranch mix and onion and garlic powder with a mixer on medium speed.
- Fold in remaining ingredients.
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Marysa says
Sounds like the perfect appetizer for a get together. I think my teens would love this! Every time they have friends over, we go through a lot of dip.