What Is Crack Dip?
Crack dip is a hot dip that combines bacon, cheddar, cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch dressing. It gets its name because it’s so irresistible and addictive! This easy dip recipe has some similarities to crack chicken and chicken bacon ranch casserole, but without the chicken and veggies.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for crack dip, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Cream Cheese -The basic crack dip recipe uses plain cream cheese, but you can even use a flavored one. Sour cream & chives or fresh herb both sound good. Ranch Dressing – I used my favorite homemade ranch dressing recipe, but if you prefer to use a store bought ranch dressing, you can. Get one that’s a little on the thicker side. You can also make dressing from ranch mix packets (or make your own ranch seasonings), if desired. Sour Cream – Using both sour cream and cream cheese create the creamy and tangy base for this irresistible ranch dip recipe. You can substitute this with mayonnaise if you prefer. Cheddar Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese works best for this recipe, but you could use any cheese you prefer. Bacon Bits – I used pre-cooked real bacon bits for convenience, but if you have time, the result is even better if you make your own crumbled bacon. Cook bacon in the oven, bacon in the air fryer, or using your favorite method until crispy, then crumble before using in the crack dip recipe. Green Onions – Chop green onions into small pieces so that the bites aren’t overwhelmed with onion. You can substitute chives instead if you like. Cayenne Pepper – The cayenne pepper is optional for homemade crack dip. I think it’s delicious with a little kick, but feel free to omit it, especially if you’re serving it with kids around. You could also use a dash of your favorite hot sauce.
How To Make Crack Dip With Cream Cheese
This section shows how to make crack dip with bacon and cream cheese, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. For a protein packed dip, add cooked shredded chicken or cooked crumbled sausage before baking. You’ll need about 2 cups of meat.
Storage Instructions
Store: Cool dip completely, then transfer to an airtight container in the fridge. Meal prep: What’s great about this ranch dip with bacon and cream cheese is that it can be made a week in advance. Just store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. Additionally, you can make the dip and store it in the refrigerator or freezer and bake it right before you serve it. Reheat: Warm ranch crack dip can reheat in the microwave, or in the oven at 350 degrees F, until warm. However, you can also enjoy this dip cold. Freeze: Make the dip ahead of time, but don’t bake it. Then, transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight and give it a stir before reheating.
What To Serve With Crack Dip
Serve this recipe for crack dip with your favorite dippers! Here are some ideas:
Chips – Potato chips or corn tortilla chips are the traditional chip for dipping. For a healthier appetizer, try zucchini chips, low carb tortilla chips, or baked kale chips. Crackers – Creamy hot dips pair perfectly with almost any cracker. Almond flour crackers are my favorite. Veggies – Serve with celery sticks, carrot sticks, broccoli, bell peppers, or cucumber slices.
More Hot Dip Recipes
Looking for another easy hot dip recipe for a healthy appetizer? Here are some others you’ll love: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. Don’t get it scalding hot, just warm. If it’s too hot, wait for it to cool to be just warm before the next step, to avoid curdling the ranch and sour cream.
Recipe yield: My entire crack dip recipe makes about 4 cups. You can easily cut it in half for a smaller batch, or even double it if you want a really big batch for a crowd!
