Million-Dollar Dip

This million-dollar dip doesn’t cost a million dollars, but it sure does taste like a million bucks! It’s inspired by the famed Neiman Marcus dip with bacon, cheddar cheese, almonds, mayo and cream cheese, but this version goes to the next level with a few new additions that layer even more flavor into every scoop.

In our creamy dip recipe, a splash of buttermilk lends a wonderful tang and thins the dip just enough to make it a little more scoopable. You’ll also find a bit of ranch seasoning for some zippy garlic, onion and herb pizzaz, and a dash of cayenne helps make your taste buds dance.

Finally, rather than using only cheddar cheese, we stepped it up with a blend of three (yes, three) types of cheese. A handful of cheddar for extra sharpness, a bit of smoked Gouda for depth and complexity, and a smattering of aged Parmesan provides complementary nuttiness to the almonds in the recipe. The result is an addictive combination of flavors and textures you’ll want to enjoy with crackers, pretzels, chips, fresh vegetables and more.

Million-Dollar Dip Ingredients

• Creamy base: A blend of softened cream cheese and mayonnaise creates a rich, tangy foundation for this indulgent dip.
• Buttermilk: Just a small splash adds extra tang and helps achieve the perfect consistency for dipping and dunking.
• Spices: A simple blend of salt, ground black pepper, ranch seasoning and a dash of cayenne pepper complements the other ingredients, delivering robust flavor to the million-dollar dip recipe.
• Cheese: A trio of extra sharp cheddar, smoked Gouda cheese and grated Parmesan cheese creates a symphony of sharp, tangy, smoky and nutty flavors that complements the other ingredients in the cheese dip recipe.
• Bacon: Everything is better with bacon—and this million-dollar dip recipe is no exception.
• Sliced almonds: We find sliced almonds to be the perfect choice for this dip. Their thin, delicate shape blends easily into the dip, offering just the right amount of nuttiness and crunch in every bite.
• Green onions: Finely sliced, a small amount of this type of onion adds color and freshness to the savory dip.
• Dippers: Choose whatever your heart desires, from buttery crackers and salty pretzels to toasted crostini or fresh vegetables.

How to Make Million-Dollar Dip

Step 1: Beat the base

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise and buttermilk using an electric hand mixer until smooth.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t have an electric hand mixer, you can pulse the mixture in a food processor or beat it in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Or, you can, of course, do it the old-fashioned way and beat using a wooden spoon and a bit of elbow grease.

Step 2: Stir in the remaining ingredients

Add the ranch seasoning, salt, pepper and cayenne, and stir until blended.

Then, mix in the cheddar, Gouda, Parmesan, bacon and almonds.

Finally, toss in the green onions, reserving 1 tablespoon for garnish, and stir to combine.

Editor’s Tip: Salt content can vary widely across ranch powder and bacon brands. Because of that, you may want to consider omitting the salt from the recipe initially and then adding it later once the remaining ingredients have been mixed, adjusting the amount to suit your tastes.

Step 3: Chill, then garnish and serve

Transfer to a serving dish, cover and chill for at least four hours. When ready to serve, remove from the fridge and garnish with the remaining green onions. Serve with crackers, pretzels and fresh vegetables of your choice. Enjoy!

Million-Dollar Dip Variations

• Modify the creamy base: For a lighter take, substitute reduced-fat cream cheese (or Neufchatel) for regular cream cheese. You could also omit the cream cheese in favor of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. If you don’t enjoy mayo, you can substitute sour cream or Greek yogurt. Ultimately, you can use any combination of cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and/or Greek yogurt you wish, so long as it totals roughly 1-3/4 cup. Keep in mind that mixtures without cream cheese will not be as thick or decadent.
• Try other cheese combinations: I love the combination of sharp cheddar, smoky Gouda and nutty Parmesan in this recipe. That said, you can experiment with other cheeses you enjoy. For extra punch, try a bacon- or herb-flavored cheddar, or swap in smoked provolone, fontina, Swiss or Gruyere for the smoked Gouda. As for the Parmesan, substitute blue cheese, gorgonzola, Asiago or Romano cheese.
• Simplify the recipe: For an easier, milder version closer to the original, stick with a single type of cheese. This recipe still tastes great using just 1-1/2 cups of shredded cheddar. You can also omit the cayenne, if desired.
• Make a spicy version: For a south-of-the-border vibe, substitute pepper jack and Cotija cheese for the smoked Gouda and Parmesan. Then, add a minced jalapeno pepper to the dip, along with additional cayenne pepper to taste.
• Toast the almonds: For a stronger almond flavor, you can toast the nuts before adding them to the dip.

How to Store Million-Dollar Dip

Million-dollar dip should be stored in an airtight container and kept refrigerated.

How long does million-dollar dip last?

For food safety, the dip should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours at a time. Make sure to return it to the refrigerator when it is not being enjoyed. Refrigerated million-dollar dip will stay fresh for three or four days.

Million-Dollar Dip Tips

Can you serve million-dollar dip warm?

Sure! If you would like to enjoy a warm million-dollar dip, transfer it to a shallow baking dish and bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Alternatively, for a slow-cooker dip, transfer it to a small slow cooker (1 to 2 quarts in size). Warm on low and stir occasionally until heated through. Then, switch to your slow cooker’s “warm” setting to serve.

How else can you use million-dollar dip?

This million-dollar dip recipe makes an insane spread for burgers, sandwiches and wraps. Dollop it on top of a juicy smash burger, pile it onto a crispy fried chicken sandwich or smear it in between slices of toasted bread for a killer turkey club sandwich.

For a special dinner, try stuffing this dip into chicken breasts and baking them in the oven (as with this jalapeno popper-stuffed chicken) or create a steakhouse-worthy side by adding a scoop to a fluffy baked potato.

What can you serve with million-dollar dip?

Round out your appetizer menu with a selection of a few more crowd-pleasing dip recipes. Then, for variety, add a platter of chicken wings, a batch of crispy Southwest egg rolls, and a colorful fruit and cheese platter.

[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]