I like to think of fall as “snack food season.” I’m not into football much, but I do love finger foods, and the two often go together. Football season just raises the bar for crowd-pleasing snacks, so one afternoon when my guys settled in to watch the Buffalo Bills, I got creative in the kitchen. I cooked and chopped bacon, folded it into sour cream with freshly shredded Cheddar, minced chives, and a few spices — and Bacon Cheddar Chive Dip was born.
This dip is ridiculously irresistible: crispy, smoky bacon, finely shredded Cheddar (not pre-shredded — more on that below), and fresh chives all folded into tangy sour cream with a touch of garlic, onion, and celery salt. The first batch vanished almost immediately; my husband left for a business call and returned to find only a tablespoon left. I made a second bowl, and that one disappeared even faster. We went through a lot of sour cream, cheese, and bacon in a short time — and it was worth every bite.
Cook’s Notes
- Use crispy bacon. It will soften slightly in the dip as it absorbs moisture, so start with a sturdy, flavorful crisp. Thick-cut bacon works especially well.
- Avoid fat-free sour cream. Full-fat sour cream gives the rich, tangy base this dip needs. The lighter versions lack the same flavor and texture.
- Shred your own Cheddar. Freshly shredded Cheddar produces fine threads that blend smoothly into the dip so every bite contains a balance of flavors. Pre-shredded cheese is coated to prevent clumping and doesn’t integrate as well.
- Use fresh chives. They add a bright, oniony freshness that dried herbs can’t match.
- Use granulated garlic and onion (or garlic and onion powder). The powdered forms dissolve into the sour cream and provide background flavor without noticeable chunks.
- Leftovers: store in the refrigerator in a covered container. This dip is best eaten within a couple of days.
Bacon Cheddar Chive Dip
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
- 2 cups real sour cream
- 2 cups finely shredded Cheddar cheese about 8 ounces
- 12 strips of crispy cooked bacon finely chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved
- a bunch of fresh chives finely minced, about 1 tablespoon reserved
- 1 teaspoon celery salt or seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder
Instructions
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Combine the sour cream, shredded Cheddar, chopped bacon, minced chives, celery salt, granulated garlic, and granulated onion in a mixing bowl. Stir until evenly blended, then transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with the reserved bacon and chives.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use with your preferred nutrition tool.
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