Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

By
Derek Jacobson
·

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This bacon cheeseburger dip tastes like a loaded burger in a skillet. Ground beef, crispy bacon, and melty cheddar bake in a creamy base with a little ketchup and mustard. Top it with pickles and tomatoes and it eats like dinner.

It is hearty enough to count as a meal on game day. Everything cooks in one skillet, then it goes straight into the oven. Serve it with chips, pretzel crisps, or toasted slider buns.

Jump to Recipe

Why This Dip Works

Every bite has the flavors of a classic bacon cheeseburger. Browned beef and onion give it a savory base. Ketchup, yellow mustard, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce taste just like burger sauce. Diced pickles, tomato, and green onions on top add the fresh crunch you get from burger toppings.

Cream cheese and sour cream make the dip smooth and scoopable. They hold the beef together so it clings to every chip instead of falling off. Most of the cheddar gets mixed in, and the rest melts on top into a golden, bubbly layer.

Cooking the beef in a little bacon fat is a small step with a big payoff. It adds a smoky flavor all the way through the dip, not just in the bacon bits.

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

  • Bacon: 6 slices. Thick cut bacon gives bigger, meatier pieces. Precooked bacon crumbles save time, but you will need a tablespoon of oil to brown the beef.
  • Lean ground beef: 1 pound. Ground turkey works for a lighter dip.
  • Onion: Half a small yellow onion, finely diced. Use 1/2 teaspoon onion powder in a pinch.
  • Cream cheese and sour cream: Let the cream cheese soften so it mixes in smoothly. Greek yogurt can replace the sour cream.
  • Ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire: These make the burger sauce flavor. Swap the ketchup for barbecue sauce for a smoky twist.
  • Cheddar: 2 cups shredded, divided. American cheese or pepper jack also melt well.
  • Toppings: Dill pickles, tomato, and green onions. Add shredded lettuce if you like.

How to Make It at a Glance

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the bacon in an oven safe skillet until crisp, then crumble it. Leave 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  2. Brown the beef and onion for 7 to 8 minutes, until the beef reaches 160°F. Drain the grease.
  3. In a bowl, stir the beef with the cream cheese, sour cream, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic powder. Mix in 1 1/2 cups cheddar and most of the bacon.
  4. Spread it in the skillet or a 9 inch baking dish and top with the rest of the cheddar.
  5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until bubbly. Add the pickles, tomato, green onions, and remaining bacon.

Tips for the Best Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

  • Add a spoonful of pickle juice to the base for extra burger flavor.
  • Shredded lettuce on top makes it look just like a burger.
  • Mix everything up to a day ahead and bake right before the game. Add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not draining the beef. Extra grease pools on top of the dip and makes it oily.
  • Cold cream cheese. It leaves lumps. Let it sit out for 30 minutes or microwave it for 15 seconds.
  • Adding toppings before baking. Tomatoes and pickles get watery in the oven. Add them right before serving.
  • Using all the bacon inside. Save some for the top so you get a crispy, smoky finish.

Variations

  • Slow cooker: Mix everything in a small slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring once. Keep it on warm for parties.
  • Spicy: Use pepper jack and add diced jalapeños.
  • Mushroom Swiss: Swap the cheddar for Swiss and stir in sautéed mushrooms.

What to Serve With It

Sturdy dippers work best because the dip is thick and meaty. Tortilla chips, pretzel crisps, and toasted slider buns are all great. Kettle chips, celery sticks, and mini sweet peppers are good options too.

Make it a burger night spread with our Sloppy Joe Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls or a pan of Chili Cheese Dog Casserole. You will find more ideas in our game day dinner ideas.

Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

Assemble the dip without the top layer of cheese, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Add the cheese and bake when you are ready, adding 5 to 10 minutes.

Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Scrape off the fresh toppings first if you can. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring between each, until hot all the way through. Freezing is not recommended because the cream cheese and sour cream can turn grainy.

FAQ

Can I make this dip in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the beef and bacon first, then mix everything in the slow cooker and cook on low for about 2 hours.

How many people does it serve?
It makes about 12 appetizer servings. As a main dish with buns, plan on 4 to 6.

Can I use a different pan?
Yes. If your skillet is not oven safe, spread the dip in a 9 inch baking dish or pie plate.

Can I use ground turkey?
Yes. Cook it the same way until it reaches 165°F. Turkey is milder, so add an extra splash of Worcestershire sauce for more savory flavor.

Bacon Cheeseburger Dip
Pin
Print

Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

Recipe by Derek Jacobson
Servings

12

servings
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1/2 small yellow onion, finely diced

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1/2 cup sour cream

  • 2 tablespoons ketchup

  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 2 cups shredded cheddar, divided

  • 1/4 cup diced dill pickles

  • 1/2 cup diced tomato

  • 2 green onions, sliced

  • Tortilla chips, pretzel crisps or toasted slider buns, for serving

Directions

  • Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the bacon in a large oven-safe skillet until crisp. Move it to paper towels and crumble it. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat.
  • Add the beef and onion to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat for 7 to 8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned. Drain the grease and move the beef to a bowl.
  • Stir the cream cheese, sour cream, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire and garlic powder into the beef until creamy. Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar and most of the bacon.
  • Spread the mixture back into the skillet, or into a 9-inch baking dish. Top with the rest of the cheddar.
  • Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until bubbly. Top with pickles, tomato, green onions and the rest of the bacon. Serve hot.
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Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

This bacon cheeseburger dip tastes like a loaded burger in a skillet. Ground beef, crispy bacon, and melty cheddar bake in a creamy base with a little ketchup and mustard. Top it with pickles and tomatoes and it eats like dinner.

It is hearty enough to count as a meal on game day. Everything cooks in one skillet, then it goes straight into the oven. Serve it with chips, pretzel crisps, or toasted slider buns.

Jump to Recipe

Why This Dip Works

Every bite has the flavors of a classic bacon cheeseburger. Browned beef and onion give it a savory base. Ketchup, yellow mustard, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce taste just like burger sauce. Diced pickles, tomato, and green onions on top add the fresh crunch you get from burger toppings.

Cream cheese and sour cream make the dip smooth and scoopable. They hold the beef together so it clings to every chip instead of falling off. Most of the cheddar gets mixed in, and the rest melts on top into a golden, bubbly layer.

Cooking the beef in a little bacon fat is a small step with a big payoff. It adds a smoky flavor all the way through the dip, not just in the bacon bits.

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

  • Bacon: 6 slices. Thick cut bacon gives bigger, meatier pieces. Precooked bacon crumbles save time, but you will need a tablespoon of oil to brown the beef.
  • Lean ground beef: 1 pound. Ground turkey works for a lighter dip.
  • Onion: Half a small yellow onion, finely diced. Use 1/2 teaspoon onion powder in a pinch.
  • Cream cheese and sour cream: Let the cream cheese soften so it mixes in smoothly. Greek yogurt can replace the sour cream.
  • Ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire: These make the burger sauce flavor. Swap the ketchup for barbecue sauce for a smoky twist.
  • Cheddar: 2 cups shredded, divided. American cheese or pepper jack also melt well.
  • Toppings: Dill pickles, tomato, and green onions. Add shredded lettuce if you like.

How to Make It at a Glance

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the bacon in an oven safe skillet until crisp, then crumble it. Leave 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  2. Brown the beef and onion for 7 to 8 minutes, until the beef reaches 160°F. Drain the grease.
  3. In a bowl, stir the beef with the cream cheese, sour cream, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic powder. Mix in 1 1/2 cups cheddar and most of the bacon.
  4. Spread it in the skillet or a 9 inch baking dish and top with the rest of the cheddar.
  5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until bubbly. Add the pickles, tomato, green onions, and remaining bacon.

Tips for the Best Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

  • Add a spoonful of pickle juice to the base for extra burger flavor.
  • Shredded lettuce on top makes it look just like a burger.
  • Mix everything up to a day ahead and bake right before the game. Add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not draining the beef. Extra grease pools on top of the dip and makes it oily.
  • Cold cream cheese. It leaves lumps. Let it sit out for 30 minutes or microwave it for 15 seconds.
  • Adding toppings before baking. Tomatoes and pickles get watery in the oven. Add them right before serving.
  • Using all the bacon inside. Save some for the top so you get a crispy, smoky finish.

Variations

  • Slow cooker: Mix everything in a small slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring once. Keep it on warm for parties.
  • Spicy: Use pepper jack and add diced jalapeños.
  • Mushroom Swiss: Swap the cheddar for Swiss and stir in sautéed mushrooms.

What to Serve With It

Sturdy dippers work best because the dip is thick and meaty. Tortilla chips, pretzel crisps, and toasted slider buns are all great. Kettle chips, celery sticks, and mini sweet peppers are good options too.

Make it a burger night spread with our Sloppy Joe Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls or a pan of Chili Cheese Dog Casserole. You will find more ideas in our game day dinner ideas.

Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

Assemble the dip without the top layer of cheese, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Add the cheese and bake when you are ready, adding 5 to 10 minutes.

Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Scrape off the fresh toppings first if you can. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring between each, until hot all the way through. Freezing is not recommended because the cream cheese and sour cream can turn grainy.

FAQ

Can I make this dip in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the beef and bacon first, then mix everything in the slow cooker and cook on low for about 2 hours.

How many people does it serve?
It makes about 12 appetizer servings. As a main dish with buns, plan on 4 to 6.

Can I use a different pan?
Yes. If your skillet is not oven safe, spread the dip in a 9 inch baking dish or pie plate.

Can I use ground turkey?
Yes. Cook it the same way until it reaches 165°F. Turkey is milder, so add an extra splash of Worcestershire sauce for more savory flavor.

Bacon Cheeseburger Dip
Pin
Print

Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

Recipe by Derek Jacobson
Servings

12

servings
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1/2 small yellow onion, finely diced

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1/2 cup sour cream

  • 2 tablespoons ketchup

  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 2 cups shredded cheddar, divided

  • 1/4 cup diced dill pickles

  • 1/2 cup diced tomato

  • 2 green onions, sliced

  • Tortilla chips, pretzel crisps or toasted slider buns, for serving

Directions

  • Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the bacon in a large oven-safe skillet until crisp. Move it to paper towels and crumble it. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat.
  • Add the beef and onion to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat for 7 to 8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned. Drain the grease and move the beef to a bowl.
  • Stir the cream cheese, sour cream, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire and garlic powder into the beef until creamy. Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar and most of the bacon.
  • Spread the mixture back into the skillet, or into a 9-inch baking dish. Top with the rest of the cheddar.
  • Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until bubbly. Top with pickles, tomato, green onions and the rest of the bacon. Serve hot.
Pinterest

Like this recipe?

Follow @dinnerendeavor on Pinterest