Around here, a good dip is always welcome, especially when it comes together in just a few minutes. This bacon cheddar ranch dip is made with 7 ingredients and loaded with crispy bacon, freshly shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Served cold with salty kettle chips, it's the kind of easy Southern appetizer that everyone keeps coming back for.

A hand with pink nail polish dips a potato chip into a bowl of creamy dip, surrounded by more chips on a striped plate and scattered on an orange surface.

We have been going hard into the cold southern dips here this summer. I am still eating my weight in the dill pickle dip - but this cream bacon ranch dip is hitting a home run too, y'all!

It checks off all the requirements of the summer dip series: made in 1 bowl, served cold, no cooking (or minimal as an option for this one), and 100% irresistble. I have a very specific ingredient that I have been loving adding to so many recipes recently that I really think is the secret star.

A white mixing bowl with a red handle contains a dollop of whipped cream and has a wooden spoon resting inside. The bowl sits on a granite countertop. — Add in the sour cream to a large bowl.

A white mixing bowl with a red handle contains chopped cooked bacon and cream cheese being mixed with a wooden spoon. The bowl is on a speckled granite countertop. — Then add in your cooked and cooled bacon bits.

A pile of freshly grated cheddar cheese sits on parchment paper next to a metal box grater on a kitchen countertop, ready to be used in quick homemade pimento cheese ground sausage balls. — Pro tip - shred your own cheese! The minute it takes to do it makes such a difference in taste and flavor!

A white mixing bowl on a granite countertop contains shredded cheddar cheese and chopped cooked bacon, with a wooden spoon resting inside the bowl. — Then add in the shredded cheddar.

A hand holds a jar of Trader Joes Ranch Seasoning Blend over a white bowl filled with shredded orange cheese on a granite countertop. — My favorite seasoning right now!

A white mixing bowl on a counter holds a thick, creamy batter with chopped chives on top and a wooden spoon resting in the mixture. — Add the ranch seasoning, salt, lemon juice and fresh chives - stir really well until everything is mixed up.

Bowls of creamy dip topped with shredded cheese and chives are surrounded by scattered potato chips on an orange surface. — Serve right away or put in the fridge to chill until ready to serve! There is something about the salty crunchy kettle chip combo with the creamy dip that just really hits all the flavor profiles you crave!

Recipe

Chilled Cheddar Bacon Ranch Dip (No Mayo)

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Author: Heather Bilyeu
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 2 cups 1x

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Description

Ingredients

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1 pound bacon - cooked and crumbed (*see notes below)
16 ounces sour cream
4 ounces cheddar cheese - finely shredded
2 tablespoons Trader Joe's ranch seasoning*
1 teaspoon fresh chives
¼ teaspoon salt
Juice of ½ Lemon
kettle chips

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Instructions

Cook the bacon until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and allow it to cool completely. Finely chop into bits. (*see notes below)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, chives, salt, and lemon juice.
Add the chopped bacon and stir until evenly combined.
Serve immediately or cover and chill for at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve.

Notes

You can prep the bacon bits the day before and have them in the fridge ready to go when you're ready to make/serve, or you can use 1 ½ - 2 cups of already-made bacon bits. making this a 5-minute recipe.
If you do not have a Trader Joe's near you, use your favorite ranch seasoning packet as a substitute.
Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Appetizer, Appetizer - Cold Dip
Method: Cooking
Cuisine: American, American - Southern