Creamy Bacon and Onion Dip
An easy creamy bacon and onion dip that’s rich & savoury, perfect for sharing with crackers or veggie sticks and packed with bacon flavour.
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp (20ml / 0.7floz) light or regular olive oil
- 140g / 4.9oz streaky bacon, finely chopped (NOTE 1)
- 1 (90g / 3oz) medium brown or yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 130g / 4.6oz cream cheese (NOTE 2)
- ½ cup (120g / 4.2oz) sour cream
- ½ cup (120g / 4.2oz) whole egg mayonnaise (NOTE 3)
- 2 tsp honey or maple syrup (NOTE 4)
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp finely chopped chives
Optional garnish
- fried pieces of bacon
- finely chopped chives
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium–high heat. Add the bacon and sauté for 3–5 minutes, or until golden.
- Add the onion to the pan and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, being careful not to let it burn, as burnt garlic can taste bitter.
- Transfer the bacon and onion mixture to a plate and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Place the bacon and onion mixture into a food processor and blitz until it resembles a breadcrumb-like texture. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, honey, and pepper, then process until creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add salt carefully only if required, then blend briefly again.
- Transfer the dip to a sealed container and refrigerate for 2–3 hours to allow it to thicken and for the flavours to develop. For best flavour, chill overnight.
- Remove the dip from the fridge and stir through half of the chopped chives. Sprinkle chives and bacon (if using) over the top as garnish before serving.
Notes
(NOTE 1) Streaky bacon - I learned this the hard way, but some bacon brands are much saltier than others. I once used a brand I regularly buy for its smoky flavour, only to find that the salt level in that packet was incredibly high. To be safe, I’ve left added salt out of the recipe and recommend tasting the dip after blending and seasoning carefully if needed. I prefer using streaky bacon, but you can use your favourite style of bacon here.
(NOTE 2) Cream cheese - Let’s be honest; this is an indulgent dip, so it’s best made with full-fat cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise. You can swap these for lighter versions, but keep in mind this will change both the flavour and texture. Personally, I’d rather enjoy the full-fat version and balance it out with healthier dippers like vegetable sticks.
(NOTE 3) Whole egg mayonnaise - If possible, stick with a good-quality whole egg mayonnaise. It really makes a noticeable difference to both the flavour and the creaminess of the dip.
(NOTE 4) Honey - The honey or maple syrup helps balance the savouriness of the bacon. You won’t actually taste the sweetness, but you can always adjust it slightly after blending if needed.
Make ahead - This dip tastes even better when made ahead, as chilling allows the bacon and onion flavours to fully develop and the texture to thicken and become creamier. After blending, transfer the dip to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days before serving.
Store the creamy bacon and onion dip in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Always use a clean spoon when serving to keep it fresh for longer.
Nutrition Information - I use a third-party calculator to estimate the nutrition and calorie details. These numbers are only an approximate guide.
Australian Measurements - All measurements on this website use Australian standard cups and spoons. For conversion details, see my Australian Cooking Measurements page.
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Nutrition
Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 391kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 5gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 357mgPotassium: 135mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 482IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 0.3mg