This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
This smoked gouda bacon cheddar cheese dip pairs beautifully with soft pretzels. So, if you’re looking for the best pretzel cheese sauce recipe, look no further, as this one can really elevate your gatherings in the most delicious way. Vibrant flavors such as smoked gouda cheese, cheddar cheese and cream cheese make this dip irresistible, while bacon bits, garlic and green onions only add to its deliciousness. It’s quick and easy to make and tastes much fresher and better than any store-bought dip for pretzels.
This smoked gouda cheddar bacon dip is a breeze to prepare and boasts onion, garlic and bacon flavors in every mouthful, making it a sure hit at any party or gathering.
You might also like loaded mac and cheese, bacon cheeseburger sliders, a cranberry orange cheese ball or caramel apple pretzel bites.
Why You’ll Love It
So delicious: Make this tasty dip and you’ll never want a grocery store dip again! The different cheeses, tangy sour cream, aromatic garlic and onions, and bacon bits make it a real winner.
Easy to prepare: Simply shred the cheese and combine it with the other ingredients. All that’s left to do is bake it in the oven until it’s all ooey-gooey, melty and perfect for dipping!
A real crowd-pleaser: This is a great pick for a party or any kind of get-together. It’s pretty much guaranteed to be one of the most popular dishes of all.
Gluten-free: There’s no gluten in this dip. And you can substitute a gluten-free dipper instead of serving pretzels.
Smoked Gouda and Bacon Dip Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cheese: Smoked gouda, mild cheddar, spicy cheddar, and cream cheese give this dip plenty of cheesy appeal.
Sour cream: For both creaminess and a tasty tang.
Green onions: A complementary flavor and also adds pops of color. I like to add some onion powder too.
Bacon bits: For a meaty touch.
Heavy cream: This is optional in case the dip needs to be thinned.
How to Make Hot Smoked Gouda Bacon Dip
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Combine the ingredients: Shred all the block cheeses into a bowl. Mix everything else together in a second bowl, apart from some of the green onion and bacon. Now you can mix the shredded cheese into the cream cheese mixture.
Bake the dip in the oven: Spread the cheese dip mixture into a cast iron skillet or similar ovenproof pan or dish. Give it about 15 minutes in the oven, stirring at the halfway point. If it seems too thick, you can mix in a splash of heavy cream.
Serve and enjoy: Once everything is melted, serve warm with the rest of the green onion and bacon sprinkled on top.
Substitutions and Variations
Cheese: I do find the smoked gouda, cheddar and cream cheese to be a great combo but you can use other favorites instead. Emmentaler, edam, a blend of cheeses, goat cheese, Monterey-jack – these are just a few ideas. You can use any combination you like. Shred your own or use pre-shredded, as you prefer. As for the cream cheese, I like to use the full-fat kind because it’s tastier.
Bacon bits: You can use bacon bits in the smoked gouda bacon cheddar cheese dip or else crumbled freshly cooked bacon, as you prefer.
Make it spicy: To add a little heat to this creamy dip, consider a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder, or even some minced jalapeños.
Serving Suggestions
With other dips: Other appetizer recipes that pair well with it are jalapeño popper rolls and crab cake egg rolls.
As a snack: Enjoy this smoked cheese dip with pretzels or your preferred dippers. If you want something contrasting, serve up a poke cake cupcake too!
With drinks: This pretzels and cheese appetizer goes really well with a nice cold beer or with cream soda.
How to Store Smoked Gouda Cheddar Cheese Dip
Store: Any leftovers can be refrigerated for a few days in an airtight container. Leftover cheese dipping sauce is great served over roasted or baked potatoes, steamed vegetables or with French fries.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing this dip, as the dairy will separate.
Reheat: You can warm the dip back up in the oven.
Top Tips
Perfect consistency: If the dip comes out too thick, you can add in a little heavy cream as well. If you are using pre-shredded cheese, you might find the added ingredients (the starch to stop the pieces sticking together) might thicken the dip up a bit though.
Shredded cheese: If you’re using ready-shredded cheese you can just add it directly to the cream cheese mixture instead of using two bowls.
Let it cool slightly: I usually leave this to cool for 10 minutes or so, as it comes out mouth-burningly hot from the oven!
Smoked Gouda Cheddar Bacon Dip FAQs
Check the frozen section of Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart or your local grocery store. If you can’t find them for whatever reason, any kind of crusty bread will be good with cheese dipping sauce.
Although pretzels and cheese just seem to pair perfectly, you don’t have to serve pretzels with this. You might prefer baguette slices or even corn chips, crackers or veggie sticks like carrot and celery, for example. The pretzel cheese sauce recipe is quite thick so I wouldn’t recommend anything delicate such as some kinds of potato chips which would likely just break while you’re trying to scoop.
Smoked Gouda and Cheddar Bacon Dip Recipe
Smoked Gouda Bacon Cheddar Cheese Dip for Pretzels
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet or Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 2 Ounces gouda cheese, smoked
- 2 Ounces cheddar cheese, spicy
- 2 Ounces cheddar cheese, mild
- 4 Ounces cream cheese
- ½ Cup sour cream
- ½ Cup green onions, sliced
- ¼ Cup bacon bits
- 1 Teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper
Optional for Thinning:
- 1 Tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Shred the blocks of cheese and combine in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients. Set aside 1 tbsp of the green onions and bacon for topping.
- Next, combine both bowls. Mix well.
- Add to a cast iron skillet. Place into the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Stop to stir halfway through.
- Add heavy cream and stir if cheese is too thick (optional).
- Top with remaining green onions and bacon bits.
- Serve with pretzels.
Notes
Shredded cheese: If you’re using ready-shredded cheese you can just add it directly to the cream cheese mixture instead of using two bowls.
Let it cool slightly: I usually leave this to cool for 10 minutes or so, as it comes out mouth-burningly hot from the oven!
Nutrition
Bursting with wonderful flavors, this smoked gouda cheese dip pairs so well with fluffy soft pretzels. Once the ingredients are combined you simply have to cook it in the oven until hot, bubbly and irresistible. This is the kind of dish that’s super-popular at a gathering and tends to disappear at warp speed!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
That dip recipe is the best one I’ve had, especially for a cheese lover!
Loved this recipe. I will be making it again for sure! 🙂
Nothing can compare to the flavor of smoked Gouda. Ever!!
You had me at gouda! I have to make this asap!
What a great little appetizer for a gathering or party. Perfect for a night around the firepit!
I would eat this all myself! yum