Blue Cheese Dip with Bacon, Chives, and Walnuts

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Even if you’re not a blue cheese fanatic, you’ll go bonkers over this tangy and creamy Blue Cheese Dip with Bacon, Chives, and Walnuts! It’s an ideal football food or party appetizer to enjoy with fresh fruit, crackers, or spread on a toasted baguette.

There’s always an assortment of savory dips at gatherings for Football games and similar get-togethers. But it can be challenging to find the perfect dip with a different flavor profile when French onion dip and buffalo chicken dip get a little old.

Blue Cheese Bacon Dip to the rescue! The rich and tangy flavors of blue cheese with the smoky and salty bacon goodness in this Blue Cheese Bacon Dip meld so well together that it’s simply irresistible.

Trust me; you’ll want to double this easy blue cheese dip recipe if you’re hosting more than a few friends — this dip always disappears quickly!

Key ingredients & substitutions

• Bacon | Bring salty, savory notes to the dip with fried crisp and chopped bacon, thick cut for the best flavor.
• Garlic | Minced fresh garlic boosts the flavor. If necessary, substitute with garlic powder.
• Cream cheese | Softened cream cheese is perfect for the creamy base of the dip. For a healthier alternative, swap with Greek yogurt.
• Half-and-half | Half-and-half thins the cream cheese without compromising the creamy flavor. Heavy cream is an excellent substitute.

• Blue cheese | You’ll need some tangy blue cheese crumbles. If you prefer a mild cheesy dip, use Danish blue cheese rather than other varieties because of its less sharp flavor.
• Chives | Add chopped fresh chives for mild onion flavor or switch them out for green onion to get a similar effect.
• Walnuts | Toasted walnuts bring a crunch, contrasting the creamy and silky-smooth dip texture.

How to make warm blue cheese dip

This homemade blue cheese dip is easy to make and always a hit!

STEP 1 | Preheat the oven

Begin this easy recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.

STEP 2 | Chop bacon and beat cream cheese

Get the bacon cooked, cooled, and chopped along with the chives. Then you are ready to make the base of the dip.

In an electric stand mixer or hand mixer, add the softened cream cheese to a medium bowl and beat it at medium speed until smooth.

Then, add the half-and-half and continue mixing until the ingredients are silky-smooth.

STEP 3 | Add remaining ingredients

Next, stir in the chopped and cooked bacon, minced garlic cloves, tangy blue cheese crumbles, and fresh chives.

STEP 4 | Top with blue cheese crumbles & bake!

Spoon the mixture into a 1-quart baking dish or gratin dish and garnish the top with more blue cheese, walnuts, and chives.

Then bake the dip recipe for 15 minutes until it is warmed through. Finally, top the creamy dip with nuts and serve with juicy fruit and crunchy crackers!

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

This delicious recipe with bacon and walnuts is typically served with crackers, bread, or fresh fruit for dipping. Here are a few delicious dipper ideas:

• Fresh veggies, like celery sticks and carrot sticks
• Toasted baguette slices or flatbread
• Favorite crackers and breadsticks
• Fresh fruit, like apple or pear slices and grape clusters
• Homemade potato chips
• Chicken wings

Storage tips and reheating

• Once the dip has completely cooled, store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I don’t suggest freezing any leftovers of this recipe.
• To reheat, cover loosely and heat in the microwave until warmed through.

Behind the recipe: Creamy Blue Cheese Dip Recipe

Much like other classic recipes that have been popular for some time, the history of blue cheese dressing and dip is a little unclear.

It has been noted in cookbooks and menus since the early 1900s but didn’t become as common as it is now until it was featured in The Joy of Cooking, an iconic cookbook from the 1930s.