A quick and easy loaded Baked Potato Dip. Imagine: all the fillings you'd load into a baked potato, channeled into a fun dip that you can scoop up with potato chips, veggies, or pretzels. What's not to love?!
5stripscenter-cut bacon(or already cooked bacon for quick prep time!)
1small jalapeño pepperfinely chopped, optional
1package (8 ounces)full-fat cream cheese
1cup (240g)sour cream
1package (1 ounce)ranch seasoning and dressing mix,dry (do not prepare)
1 and 1/2cups (137g)extra sharp Cheddar cheese,freshly grated
1/4cup (9g)green onionsthinly sliced
1/2teaspoonfreshly cracked pepper
What to dip in it:
Thick potato chips with ridges and/or pretzel crisps
Celery sticks
Instructions
BACON: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon strips until crispy. Alternatively, use pre-cooked bacon and follow package directions to heat. Another option is to bake the bacon. Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate and dab off any additional grease. Coarsely chop and set aside.
JALAPENO: Remove the seeds and finely chop the jalapeño.
CREAM CHEESE: If cream cheese isn't already softened, place unwrapped cream cheese block on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 15 to 20 seconds and then remove, flip it over and microwave for another 10 seconds if needed.
BEAT: Using an electric hand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the sour cream and the DRY ranch mix (do not prepare the mix.) Gently stir in the grated Cheddar cheese, green onions, diced jalapeño, and freshly cracked pepper. You can also stir in the bacon here (it will soften) or top the dip with it if you'd like it to remain crisp.
CHILL: If you have time, chill the dip for an hour or so before serving. It's great right away and even better after being chilled.
SERVE: Place dip in a bowl and serve with your favorite sturdy potato chips. Serve dip with a table knife by the side; since the dip is thick and breaks the chips easily, it's easier to scoop from the bowl with a knife. Pretzel crisps and celery sticks are also great in this dip.
STORAGE: Refrigerate any leftovers, tightly covered, for up to 1 week. This dip shouldn't stand at room temperature for more than 2 hours because of all the dairy in it.
Notes
This dip is fairly salty. Between the ranch dip, bacon, and potato chips, there is a good amount of salt -- just a heads up if you are sensitive to salt or watching sodium intake.Nutrition information is calculated for the dip only. Potato chips, pretzels or other dippers are not included in the numbers.