This warm crockpot cheese dip is a tasty combo of bacon, cheddar, and ranch. This queso appetizer is one of our favorite party take-alongs!
Why this recipe works
Using a 2.5-quart slow cooker you can easily make this crockpot cheese dip with bacon, cheddar, and ranch. It’s the perfect size for hot dips and side dishes, like our popular buffalo chicken dip!
With football season right around the corner, now is the best time to make this cheese dip. It’s super simple yet full of flavor and is delicious with all sorts of dippers. Just add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and let it do the rest of the work for you!
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
CHEESE – We recommend you shred your own cheese from a block. The pre-shredded bags are convenient, of course, but they don’t taste as fresh nor do they melt as well since they’re coated in anti-caking powders. You can use white cheddar if you prefer a white queso dip or feel free to substitute the cheeses to your liking. Our readers have mentioned using pepper jack cheese with success as well!
RANCH – There were several options available at the grocery store and they’re pretty similar. There was one titled “dressing and seasoning mix” and one labeled for dips. Opt for the one with less sodium as the bacon adds enough sodium in itself. I also recommend starting with half a pack and adding more after the dip is melted if it needs more seasoning.
How to Make Crockpot Cheese Dip
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Place the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon and 1/2 packet of ranch mix into a small 3 qt slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours, or until hot and bubbly. Stir to combine. Taste and add additional ranch seasoning if necessary.
- Serve with chips, crackers or veggies for dipping.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Absolutely! If you’re looking to feed a crowd, feel free to double the ingredients needed and make it in a larger slow cooker. The dip can be made in a normal size crock pot as is, but will be more shallow along the bottom if you’re serving it straight from the pot.
Yes, you can easily make cheese dip on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and cook until bubbly and all cheese is thoroughly melted.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a variety of dipping options, some great options for cheese dip include tortilla chips, ruffled potato chips, sliced baguette, butter crackers, and broccoli florets. You really can’t go wrong with any dippers!
More Dip Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Hot Spinach Dip
- Pizza Dip
- Queso Fresco Dip
- Caramel Apple Dip
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Beer Cheese Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- 7 Layer Taco Dip
- Reuben Dip
- Million Dollar Dip
- Smoked Salmon Dip
- Jalapeno Popper Dip
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Crockpot Cheese Dip
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 8 oz cream cheese 1 package, cubed
- 2 cups sour cream 16 oz sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 8 oz
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 packet ranch dip or seasoning mix 1 oz packet
- Crackers, chips or veggies for dipping
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Shred your own cheese from a block. The pre-shredded bags don’t melt as well since they’re coated in anti-caking powders. You can use white cheddar if you prefer a white queso dip.
- Second, I prefer this dip with low-sodium bacon if you can get it. It’s not essential, but if you’re sensitive to salty food I recommend it since the ranch seasoning is quite salty enough. Not to mention salted chips if that’s what you’re using as a dipper…all that salt adds up!
- Finally, a note about the ranch packet. There were several options available at the grocery store and they’re pretty similar. There was one titled “dressing and seasoning mix” and one labeled for dips. I opted for the one with lesser sodium. I also recommend starting with half a pack and adding more after the dip is melted if it needs more seasoning.
Instructions
- Place the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon and 1/2 packet of ranch mix into a small slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours, or until hot and bubbly. Stir to combine. Taste and add additional ranch seasoning if necessary.
- Serve with chips, crackers or veggies for dipping.
Nutrition
This post originally appeared here on Aug 25, 2018 and has since been updated with new photos.
Amanda Davis
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Charles Zillinger says
I am very intolerant of spicy foods, yet after making this recipe, I found it was even too bland for my taste. So I added about two tablespoons of Korean Sweet and Spicy sauce to the mix, and that gave it some extra zing and greatly improved the overall flavor. I’ll see what my company thinks about it tonight.
Jennie says
Can you use real bacon bits?
Amanda Formaro says
We haven’t tried that, but I would imagine you could.
AmyS says
Has anyone tried using buffalo sauce or Frank’s hot sauce in this recipe?
Aunt Des says
OH my gosh, I haven’t even tried this yet, but after reading your notes on using a block of cheese, it just hit me, is THAT why I can never make creamy smooth Alfredo sauce, because I was always using the pre shredded cheese?? Omgosh, I looked it up and think it is. Yet I’ve never seen anyone else mention that in a recipe, so I wanted to thank you for that. I am making this tomorrow, wish me luck. And yes, I got my block of cheese ready! :)
Ellen says
What kind of crackers or chips do you use with this dip??
Amanda Formaro says
Serve with a variety of dipping options, some great options for cheese dip include tortilla chips, ruffled potato chips, sliced baguette, butter crackers, and broccoli florets. You really can’t go wrong with any dippers!
Nancy says
Can you just put it in the oven?
Amanda Formaro says
I’m sure you could. We haven’t tested this recipe in the oven, so I can’t give you a temp and time.
Dusty Jo Catron says
Does the bacon need to be cook before going in crock pot
Amanda Formaro says
Yes, cook the bacon first :)
Terri says
I think the size of the crockpot is a little excessive.
This would do butter in a dip size crock pot or a standard crock pot. I feel like I should have tripled the recipe for the size of crockpot suggested.
Kim says
Can it be frozen
Craig Smith says
I added some dices pickled jalapenos and its awesome!!!
Tracy says
I was just given a mini crockpot and believe it’s a 2 quart. Are any of the recipes that says 3 quart can I use the 2 quart one with the same amount of ingredients?
Becky says
Can you use vegetable dip seasoning packet or only ranch?
Amanda Formaro says
I haven’t tried it with vegetable dip seasoning, but I’m sure it would work!
Linda lancuski says
Can you add chicken?
Lisa says
Yum! That looks delicious!💕
PAULA TURNER says
Could you use pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar or 1 of each for some heat?
Amanda Formaro says
Yes, I’ve heard of others using pepper jack! I would still use the american and cheddar and just sub some of it with pepper jack.
Linda lancuski says
Can you add chicken?
Penny Hoefgen says
can you use a regular size crockpot or how would you make it if you don’t have a small crockpot?
Amanda Formaro says
You could easily make this in the microwave, melt, stir, melt, stir, etc. Or on the stovetop on medium low.
Priti says
Can we use something veggiterian thing instead of Bacon
Amanda Formaro says
I’m sure you could use veggie bacon.