Name: Cast Iron Skillet Kentucky Hot Brown Dip
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 Ounces Cream Cheese - softened; 1/2 Cup Sour Cream; 3/4 Cup Pecorino* - grated and divided; 3/4 Teaspoon Salt; 3/4 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper; 1/8 Teaspoon Nutmeg; 1/8 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika; 1/8 Teaspoon White Pepper; 1 Cup Turkey - cooked and cubed (see notes); 4 - 6 Pieces of Bacon - cooked and crumbled; 1/2 Cup Cherry Tomatoes - thinly sliced; Fresh Parsley - minced for garnish (roughly 1 tablespoon or about 1/4 of a bunch); Sliced French bread or baguette, crackers, or tortilla chips to serve with

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Love a Hot Brown? Then you'll love this Kentucky Hot Brown Dip! Packed with turkey, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and Pecorino, it's baked in a small cast iron skillet into a hot, cheesy, and irresistible dip. Fresh from the oven in 20 minutes, it's golden, bubbly, and perfect for scooping with toasted French bread. Whether for a Derby party or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, this rich, creamy dip will keep everyone coming back for more! Serves 6-8.

a small cast iron skillet of Kentucky hot brown dip inside with bread around it.

We are a dip-loving family over here!

Being a born and raised Southern cook, I am pretty sure I could have a site solely based on appetizers and hot-baked dip recipes. There are good reasons that recipes like 20-minute baked cream cheese and chili dip and easy skillet chorizo dip are some of the FSS top-rated recipes! Hot, baked, cheesy dips are DELICIOUS!

But today we are putting a Kentucky spin on a baked dip - perfect to bring along to any Derby party this spring. I am taking a Louisville staple, the Kentucky hot brown, and making it into a dipable and irresistible form. Your guest will not be able to get enough. Serve it with a pitcher of Kentucky mint juleps to wash it all down with - Derby party perfection!

A hand dipping a piece of bread into a cast iron skillet of hot brown dip.

Welcome to my real kitchen, lets cook!

Before we begin, after recipe testing this, there are a couple of elements that can be prepped ahead so that when you go to make this dip, it's super easy to toss together.

For the turkey - you have 2 different options here. I like to buy a 24-ounce package of turkey tenderloin breasts and cook according to the package directions in a baking pan with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. This can be done the day before, cubed up when cooled, and stored in the fridge airtight until needed. You can also purchase thickly sliced turkey breast from the deli and cube it for an easier and quicker option. I personally prefer to bake my own and think it gives a better flavor overall. You choose what you like!
For the Bacon - this can be cooked the day before. Cool on a plate lined with paper towels then store in the fridge until needed. While you're at it, just cook up the whole pound of bacon, and whatever you have leftover you can use to make stovetop mac and cheese with bacon or a bacon-egg-cheddar quiche .

This is also enough to fill a small 8" cast iron skillet - not your typical large cast iron size. You can also use an 9" pie plate, or 7x9" baking dish as well. (affiliate links)

Cream cheese and sour cream in a large bowl on the kitchen counter. — Add your softened cream cheese and sour cream to a large bowl.

A hand mixer mixing together cream cheese and sour cream until smooth in a large bowl. — With a hand mixer, mix together until really smooth.

Adding spices to cream cheese that is in a large mixing bowl on a kitchen counter. — Add in the cheese and spices and mix together until creamy.

⭐️ PRO TIP ⭐️ - grate your own pecorino cheese for this recipe. The extra effort it takes will result in a smooth dip and better results. If you use pre-grated cheese, the powdered coating on it will clump and create a weird texture. Parmesan cheese can also be used here if you cannot get pecorino.

Chopping up turkey on a cutting board. — Dice your turkey...

Chopping up bacon on a cutting board. — ...and bacon...

Chopping up tomatoes on a cutting board. — ...and tomatoes.

Stirring together a cream cheese dip with tomatoes inside. — Add them into the bowl (reserving a little bit of the bacon and tomatoes for topping), and mix well with a spatula.

Spreading hot brown dip inside a small cats iron skillet. — Spread out evenly into a cast iron skillet.

Placing a cats iron skillet inside an oven to bake. — Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes.

A small knife inside a cast iron skillet with hot brown dip scooping some out. — Remove and top with the reserved bacon, tomatoes, and fresh parsley. Serve with sliced and toasted baguette or French bread, crackers, or chips immediately while hot and fresh!

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