Bread Bowl Dip

5 from 22 votes
22 Comments

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This Bread Bowl Dip is a favorite appetizer at parties or game days. The creamy, cheesy dip is baked in the oven right in the sourdough bowl!

Sourdough bread bowl with Warm Bacon Cheese Dip topped with cheese, bacon and green onions. Carrots, celery, crackers and bread cubes.
Featured With This Recipe
  1. Ingredients in this Bread Bowl Dip
  2. Tips for the Sourdough Bread Bowl
  3. What to Serve with this Bacon Dip Recipe
  4. Alternatives or Substitutions for Bread Bowl Dip
  5. How to Store Leftovers
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Hot Dip Recipes
  8. How to Make Bread Bowl Dip
  9. Bread Bowl Dip Recipe

This Bread Bowl Dip is the most addicting appetizer or party food! Many of our family holiday parties or New Year’s Eve game nights includes this cheesy, savory, creamy dip. And because it comes together with only five simple ingredients, you can make it all the time! My favorite part is that the dip mixture is baked right in a round sourdough loaf which takes the flavors in this dish to the next level. It stays nice and fresh in the bread bowl and stays warm long after coming out of the oven, so it’s the perfect addition to any buffet spread.

Ingredients in this Bread Bowl Dip

There are only SIX simple ingredients in this recipe.

  • 1 large round loaf of sourdough bread – you can make your own or use a store bought loaf. It also tastes delicious in a rye bread bowl or pumpernickel.
  • Cream cheese – one eight-ounce brick of regular cream cheese. I like to use the regular instead of low fat because it makes the whole dip much creamier.
  • Sour Cream – one and a half cups, again use the full fat variety. Everything in moderation, right?
  • Cheddar Cheese – two cups, medium to sharp cheddar. This recipe is also delicious with extra sharp white cheddar.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – to coin a phrase from Rachael Ray, this sauce has “everything but the kitchen sink” and gives the dip a rich, deep, sightly tangy flavor that can’t be beat!
  • Bacon – about three quarters of a pound; just fry up the bacon slice by slice and then tear the slices into bite size pieces.
  • Green onions – optional, for garnish
Ingredients to make Warm Bacon Cheese Dip including cream cheese, sour cream, sour dough bread bowl, cheddar cheese, bacon, Worcestershire sauce and green onions.


Tips for the Sourdough Bread Bowl

  • It’s easy to find large sourdough bread loaves at your grocery store or bakery. You want it large enough to hold all the ingredients, so look for one that will hold about five cups of filling once hollowed out.
  • If you don’t love sourdough bread, find a nice Italian bread round or honey whole wheat. Just make sure it’s crusty on the outside and tender on the inside so it can hold all the cheesy sauce without getting soggy.
  • Use caution when removing the bread from inside the loaf; you’ll want to keep the walls of the bowl thick enough to hold the dip.
  • Break up the extra bread into bite-sized pieces for easy dipping.
  • You will definitely need more bread for dipping than what you hollow out from the sourdough loaf. You may want an extra loaf of bread.
  • Garnish the dip with dill weed, chives, extra bacon bits, fresh parsley flakes or green onions.

What to Serve with this Bacon Dip Recipe

This cheesy bacon dip can be eaten with the bits of sourdough bread along with all sorts of yummy veggies and sides:

  • Broccoli
  • Carrot sticks
  • Celery sticks
  • Water chestnuts
  • Cauliflower
  • Pea pods
  • Radishes
  • Red or green bell peppers
  • Potato chips
  • Tortilla chips
  • Baguette slices
  • Crackers
  • Pita chips
Top view of a Warm Bacon Cheese Dip bread bowl missing a bit of the dip.

Alternatives or Substitutions for Bread Bowl Dip

  • Not a fan of cheddar cheese? You can substitute mozzarella and parmesan cheese for this bread bowl dip.
  • You can toss in a can of corn (make sure to drain it first)
  • Dice a jalapeno into the dip.
  • If you don’t have sour cream on hand, you can substitute mayonnaise.
  • Give the bread bowl dip recipe a dash or two of hot sauce for extra kick.
  • Season with garlic powder or onion powder.

How to Store Leftovers

You can store leftovers easily but they should be consumed within four or so days. Scoop out all of the dip from the bread bowl and place it in an airtight container. Cover the bread bowl with plastic wrap. Store them both in the refrigerator, then reheat by warming the dip up in the microwave. The bread gets soggy after a few days but trust me, this bread bowl dip recipe rarely lasts longer than the night it’s served!

Hand dipping a piece of sourdough bread into warm bacon cheese dip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What bread is good for dipping?

We love using hearty sourdough bread for this bacon dip, but you can use a crusty Italian bread like focaccia. Another bread you could try is a a French baguette, ciabatta bread, or a crunchy crostini.

How do you cut bread for a bread bowl?

Using a serrated knife, cut a circle around the top of the bread bowl with the tip of the knife facing toward the center of bowl.

How do you gut a bread bowl?

To scoop out the insides of your bread bowl, curl your fingertips to tear the bread away from the bottom the loaf, then repeat the process until the inside of the bread is separated from the bottom. Gently lift out the center and tear into pieces for dipping.

How do I keep my bread bowl from getting soggy?

The thicker the filling, the less soggy the bread will be. Because this dip is thick and cheesy, you should have no issues with the bread bowl getting soggy.

Read Next: 75+ Super Bowl Recipes

More Hot Dip Recipes

From bacon cheese dip to our delicious artichoke dip, we have all sorts of yummy appetizer recipes that hit the spot. Our Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip can be made with or without a bread bowl, and is so yummy! Try a few of our other favorites:

How to Make Bread Bowl Dip

Close up of a bread bowl with warm bacon cheese dip topped with cheddar cheese, bacon and sliced green onions.

Bread Bowl Dip

5 from 22 votes
This Bread Bowl Dip is a favorite appetizer at parties or game days. The creamy, cheesy dip is baked in the oven right in the sourdough bowl!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Video

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cut out a circle in the top of the bread and gut out the middle to make a bread bowl (save inside pieces of bread for dipping). 
  • In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and Worcestershire sauce. 
  • Pour into the bread bowl.
  • Wrap up the whole thing in aluminum foil. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour.
  • Remove from oven and stir in the bacon.
  • Garnish with shredded cheese, extra bacon and sliced green onions.
  • Serve with extra bread pieces from bowl and crackers.

Notes

  • The previous version of this recipe called for the bacon to be stirred in prior to baking, but we have found the bacon will stay crispy if it’s mixed in immediately after it’s pulled out of the oven. 
  • You can add salt and pepper to taste if you want but we have found it is plenty savory with the bacon and cheddar cheese.
  • You will definitely need more bread for dipping than what you hollow out from the sourdough loaf. You may want an extra loaf of bread, a sliced baguette, crackers, pita chips or even veggies to dunk along with the bread from the sourdough loaf.
  • Garnish the dip with shredded cheddar cheese, extra bacon bits, fresh parsley or green onions.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 425kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 14gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 606mgPotassium: 209mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 630IUVitamin C: 0.7mgCalcium: 207mgIron: 1.9mg

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Elise Donovan

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5 from 22 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this for our date night at home and this appetizer is the best! I love that the ingredients are so simple and it is also easy to make. Thank you so much for sharing.

  2. 5 stars
    So savory and delicious! Super yummy. This is perfect for all sorts of group gatherings and maybe even Easter brunch! Mmmmmm……so good!

  3. 5 stars
    We are obsessed with this dip! It’s perfect for our movie nights. I can’t wait to make it again this weekend!

  4. Will baking at home work if I intend to take this to a party 30 min away? Will the bread bowl get soggy while traveling?

        1. If you are just doing it in a pan, I would just put it all in a 9×13 baking dish, cover, and bake for 20-40 minutes or until bubbly. You won’t get that “sourdough” taste but it will still be delicious!

  5. 5 stars
    Just had this at a family Christmas Party and LOVED it! I just tracked down the recipe and can't wait to make it for tomorrow night.

  6. 5 stars
    Best bread dip ever!!!! Had it left over for lunch and snacks the next three days because we doubled the recipe!!!

  7. 5 stars
    I made this dip for a couple different things last week. Everybody LOVED it!

    For some reason, the grocery store where I bought the ingredients for the dip didn't have full sized round loaves. I bought mini-loaves and split the recipe between the two loaves. I used one right away and refrigerated the other one. It was just as amazing a day later!

    All my friends and especially my husband thank you for this recipe!

    My husband said (after devouring almost the whole thing by himself) "This is quite possibly my new favorite food."

  8. 5 stars
    (I'm a long time, appreciative reader…)
    I made this dip last night for a bunch of friends and this is the email I got this morning:

    "This dip was the best, yummiest, soul-warming food I've tasted in a LONG time. :)"

    Thanks for sharing!