Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip

Everyone loves the combination of cheese, bacon and ranch. But what sets this dip apart is that it isn’t made with any sour cream or mayo, yet it’s still super creamy, flavorful and… low-cal! It’s also only 4 ingredients and super quick to make. Which makes it a hit all the way around! Of all the dips I’ve made, this Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip is one of my two favorites! (The other is the oh-so-freaking-amazing BBQ Black Bean & Corn Dip! YUM!)

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip pinnable Pinterest image

I know you’re dying to know who to make a creamy dip without sour cream and mayonnaise. Here’s the secret: COTTAGE CHEESE!  All it takes is running the cottage cheese through a food processor to puree it. A minute or two in the food processor and all curds are gone leaving a smooth, creamy base. With it’s neutral flavor, cottage cheese is a perfect food canvas to add flavor to.

A couple years ago, hubby and I decided we needed to clean up our eating. We took sugar out of the house (literally), and I started getting creative with our meals and treats. How could we still enjoy our favorite foods without sugar, processed food, and all the carbs and calories? After reading about cottage cheese dips, I decided to take the plunge and just do it. Of course I started with something full of flavor that might cover up any weirdness I was afraid we might encounter using cottage cheese. So I added cheese, bacon and dry ranch dressing. I was so incredibly surprised by the outcome. Not weird at all! In fact, this dip was creamier than most and bursting with flavor! (In fact, it was so good I even started making my Spinach & Dill Dip with cottage cheese!)

Well, I liked the dip, but it still had to pass the tests.

Test 1… the man test! Hubby reaaaally seemed to love it with his unprompted comment, “This doesn’t taste healthy at all! It’s really rich and good!”

Test 2… try it on our friends! So I took this to a small gathering at a friend’s house. I do forewarn people when I’m trying out a new recipe. I want to know what kind of tweaking they think the recipe needs.  “I would’ve never guessed this was made with cottage cheese!”, “This is really good!” and “The recipe will be on your blog next week?” were comments I received on this savory dip.

Test 3… the kids. My oldest son said the dip was the “bomb-diggity”! And my middle son was trying to hoax his little brother into trying it. My littlest, picky eater, wrinkled up his nose and boldly declared he did not like it. But hey, two out of three wins for me!

Yup, this Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip successfully passed all the tests! So go ahead… getcho dip on!

While it would work just fine on crackers, think outside the box. Try pairing this with toasted garlic bread crostinis, bagel chips, and sea salt pita chips. Or use it for a potato skin spread or on baked potatos! Of course, you could be crazy like my hubby and dip your Spicy Jalapeño Pretzels in it! No matter how you serve it, it is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Cottage Cheese Dip

Prep Time:10 minutes
Total Time:10 minutes
Yields: 30

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Low Fat Cottage Cheese
  • 3 oz. pre-cooked real bacon pieces - pre-packaged for no mess or 2 slices bacon, crumbled
  • 1 cup Mexican Cheese - cheddar cheese would work too, just won't be as smooth
  • 1 package dry Ranch dressing

Instructions

  • Puree cottage cheese in blender until smooth.
  • Pour pureed cottage cheese in a bowl.
  • Add remaining ingredients and stir.
  • Refrigerate 1 hour.

Notes

Serving Size: 2 Tbsp.
Servings: About 30
Pair with toasted garlic bread, bagel chips, pita chips or use as a potato skin spread!

There’s nothing wrong with making something good, something healthy!

Happy eating!

Alisha

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