Loaded Baked Potato Dip

The first Super Bowl party I hosted, I spent three hours making fancy stuffed mushrooms that disappeared in minutes while my friend Sarah showed up with a bowl of this dip. Everyone hovered around it like their lives depended on it, and I realized sometimes the simplest comfort foods are the real crowd-pleasers.

Last summer I made this for a poolside birthday and watched three generations fight over the last scoop. My uncle actually asked if he could take the bowl home to finish the scrapings, which I took as the highest compliment possible.

Ingredients

• Sour cream: The creamy base that ties everything together, full fat really does give you the best texture here
• Sharp cheddar cheese: Grate it yourself if you can, pre-shredded has anti-caking agents that make it weirdly powdery
• Cream cheese: Let it sit on the counter for an hour so it blends smoothly instead of leaving weird lumps
• Bacon: Cook it until it's seriously crispy, soft bacon makes the dip feel greasy instead of crunchy
• Green onions: Slice them thin so you get that mild onion flavor in every bite without overwhelming the other ingredients
• Fresh chives: These add a subtle onion punch that dried chives just can't match
• Garlic powder and onion powder: This dynamic duo recreates that baked potato flavor profile we're chasing
• Black pepper and salt: Start with a quarter teaspoon and taste, the bacon and cheese already bring saltiness
• Thick-cut potato chips: Sturdy chips are non-negotiable here, regular ones will shatter and leave you sad

Instructions

Cook the bacon:

Lay those strips in a cold skillet and turn the heat to medium, flipping occasionally until they're crispy enough to crumble beautifully

Mix the creamy base:

Grab your mixing bowl and combine the sour cream, softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt until everything's smooth and inviting

Add the good stuff:

Fold in most of your crumbled bacon, green onions, and chives, keeping back a little of each for that pretty garnish on top

Make it look tempting:

Transfer everything to your serving bowl and scatter those reserved toppings across the surface like you're plating at a restaurant

Decide your timing:

Either dive in immediately with those chips, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours to let the flavors really get to know each other

Save

My neighbor started making this for every neighborhood gathering and people actually started timing their arrivals for when the dip came out. There's something about the combination of crispy bacon, sharp cheese, and cool sour cream that makes people stand around the bowl and talk longer than they planned.

Serving Suggestions That Work

I've learned that the vessel matters just as much as the dip itself. Thick-cut kettle chips are my go-to because they can handle the weight of all those toppings without snapping under pressure. Pretzel crisps add a nice salty crunch, and sometimes I'll set out a tray of cucumber slices for guests who want something lighter.

Make It Your Own

Sometimes I'll swap in Greek yogurt for half the sour cream when I'm feeling virtuous, and honestly nobody has ever noticed the difference. A dash of hot sauce brings this whole thing alive, and smoked paprika gives it this incredible depth that makes people wonder what your secret ingredient is.

Perfect Party Prep

This might be the ultimate make-ahead appetizer because it actually improves after a night in the refrigerator. The ingredients have time to meld and mellow into something even better than the sum of its parts. Plus, having one thing completely ready before guests arrive feels like a small victory.

• Double the recipe if you're feeding more than six people, seriously
• Set out two kinds of dippers so people have options
• Keep the bag of chips nearby for refills because you will need them

Save

Hope this becomes your go-to party dip too, just like it's become mine for every gathering where I want people to feel at home.

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I prepare this dip ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the dip up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate it to allow the flavors to meld together beautifully.

→ What can I use instead of bacon?

For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon or use plant-based bacon substitutes to maintain a similar smoky flavor.

→ Which chips pair best with this dip?

Thick-cut potato chips work best to hold the creamy dip, but kettle-cooked chips, pretzel crisps, or vegetable sticks are also great alternatives.

→ How do I make the dip lighter?

Substitute Greek yogurt in place of sour cream to reduce fat and add a tangy flavor while keeping the dip creamy.

→ What spices enhance the flavor?

Garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt create a well-balanced seasoning without overpowering the other ingredients.