Charleston Cheese Dip
This Charleston Cheese Dip is an easy, creamy appetizer featuring a blend of mayonnaise, cream cheese, sharp Cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Mixed with green onions and a hint of cayenne, it's baked until warm and bubbly, then topped with crispy bacon and served with chips or crackers for a delicious, crowd-pleasing snack.
Equipment
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl
- 1 Shallow Baking Dish e.g., 9-inch pie pan
- 1 Mixing Spoon or Spatula
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
Main
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- One 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
- 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 1 dash cayenne pepper
- 8 butter crackers crushed, such as Ritz
- Corn chips crackers or bagel chips, for serving
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, green onions and cayenne pepper. Transfer the mixture to a shallow baking dish, such as a 9-inch pie pan. Top the mixture with the cracker crumbs and bake until heated through, about 15 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and top with the bacon. Serve immediately with corn chips, crackers or bagel chips.
Notes
Ensure cream cheese is thoroughly softened to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, homogenous dip. For an extra layer of flavor, consider lightly toasting the crushed butter crackers before topping to enhance their nuttiness. A pinch of smoked paprika could be added with the cayenne for a subtle smoky depth. Adjust the cayenne pepper to your preferred spice level. For a richer, crispier bacon topping, render bacon slowly until very crisp, then crumble. Serve immediately for optimal warmth and texture, as the dip can seize slightly as it cools.