Crock Pot Cheeseburger Bacon Dip

This dip is the greasy, cozy cousin of a backyard cheeseburger — all the beef, bacon, melty cheese, and tang without the bun drama. It lives in the slow cooker and comes out bubbly and ridiculous, perfect for game day, a lazy party, or that weeknight when you need something comforting and zero-fuss. It’s not fancy. It is delicious.

My family treats this like precious party jewelry. My husband will show up to the couch from “just grabbing a beer” and suddenly it’s his whole personality — hovering with a chip, stealing spoonfuls, insisting we hide the crock pot the second guests arrive. Once I made it for movie night and our toddler dunked a whole carrot into it (don’t judge—she loved it), then spent the next week requesting “cheeseburger sauce” for every snack. It’s become our standby when life is chaotic and we need a dish that makes everyone smile.

Kitchen Talk

MORE EASY APPETIZERS RECIPES...

APPETIZERS

Easy Hot Tomato Cheese Dip

APPETIZERS

Easy Herbed Spinach Dip Recipe

APPETIZERS

Easy Spring Rolls Recipe

APPETIZERS

Easy Meatball Marinara Appetizers

I’ve burned the bottom once by using the wrong setting and then swore never again — that’s when I started stirring at least once while it warms up. Also: pre-cooked bacon is a secret time-saver, but real bacon right from the stove gives the best crunch and flavor. One time I threw in chopped pickles because I was out of relish and it was shamelessly good — so if you like a little tang, don’t be afraid to improvise. Crock-pot liners are my lazy friend; they make cleanup basically nonexistent, which means I’ll make this more often.

Shopping Tips

– Protein: Use a higher-fat ground beef for flavor and juiciness, or pick lean turkey for a lighter option — both work fine when combined with cheese.
– Cheese: Sharp cheddar melts great and packs flavor; pre-shredded is faster, but block cheddar grated yourself melts smoother.
– Dairy: Cream cheese and sour cream make this silky; full-fat versions yield the creamiest dip but light versions work in a pinch.
– Canned Goods: If the recipe calls for diced tomatoes or Rotel, pick low-sodium if you’re watching salt — drain excess liquid to avoid a runny dip.
– Crunch Extras: Grab good-quality bacon or bacon bits; real bacon cooked crisp will always beat pre-packaged crumble for texture.

Prep Ahead Ideas

– Brown the beef and cook the bacon a day ahead, cool, and store in separate airtight containers in the fridge.
– Shred cheese and soften cream cheese so mornings are faster; keep cheeses in resealable bags or containers.
– Chop any add-ins (onion, pickles, jalapeños) in advance in a shallow container so they’re ready to toss into the crock.
– In the morning, dump everything in the slow cooker and set it; makes weeknights feel like cheating.

✔Time-Saving Tricks

– Use pre-cooked bacon or microwave bacon strips between paper towels for fast crispness.
– Buy pre-shredded cheese when you’re in a rush, or hand-grate a block if you want silky melty texture.
– Brown the meat in a large skillet while you’re getting other things ready so the crock pot does just the finishing.
– Crock-pot liners and a quick stir midway cut cleanup and prevent scorched bits.

✔Common Mistakes

– Adding too many watery ingredients (like undrained canned tomatoes) can make the dip thin — drain or simmer off extra liquid first.
– Over-salting: bacon and processed cheese add a lot of salt; taste before adding more.
– Leaving it on high for too long will make cheese separate or get grainy — keep an eye and stir occasionally.
– I once served this straight from the crock without stirring and hit a greasy top layer; a quick stir fixes it and brings back the shine.

What to Serve It With

– Tortilla chips, sturdy pita chips, or kettle chips for scooping.
– Sliced baguette or toasted sourdough to soak up the cheesy goodness.
– Crudité plate (carrots, bell peppers, cucumber) for a veggie crunch contrast.
– Quick green salad to lighten the spread and add something fresh.

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Keep heat moderate — low and slow yields creamier results than blasting it on high.
– Taste before serving: adjust salt, pepper, or a squeeze of pickle juice for brightness.
– If it’s too thick, add a splash of milk or broth; too thin, simmer uncovered for a bit or stir in extra shredded cheese.
– Don’t overdo delicate herbs; add chives or parsley at the end so they don’t disappear.

✔Storage Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring between, so the cheese doesn’t separate. Eating it cold off a cracker? Totally acceptable and kind of legendary. Also, had it for breakfast on an English muffin more than once — zero shame.

✔Variations and Substitutions

– Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian-friendly version; add smoked paprika or liquid smoke if you miss that beefy char.
– Omit bacon and add extra smoked cheese plus a pinch of smoked salt to mimic the bacon vibe.
– Mix in diced pickles or relish for a cheeseburger-ketchup-pickle nod; or stir in chopped caramelized onions for sweetness.
– Different cheeses change the mood: pepper jack for heat, American for nostalgia, or Gruyère for something fancy-feeling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Crock Pot Cheeseburger Bacon Dip

All the flavors of a loaded cheeseburger meet creamy, melty dip in the slow cooker. Perfect for game day with chips or pretzel bites.

Rate This Yum Pin This Recipe For Later! Share The Yum On Facebook Print

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

Main Ingredients

• ▢ 8 oz bacon, chopped cook until crisp; reserve some for topping
• ▢ 1 lb lean ground beef
• ▢ 1 cup yellow onion, diced
• ▢ 2 tsp garlic, minced
• ▢ 8 oz cream cheese, cubed softened if possible
• ▢ 10 oz processed cheese, cubed
• ▢ 1.75 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded plus extra for topping if you like
• ▢ 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
• ▢ 0.5 cup milk add more as needed for consistency
• ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1 tsp yellow mustard
• ▢ 2 tbsp ketchup
• ▢ 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
• ▢ 0.5 tsp kosher salt to taste
• ▢ 0.25 tsp black pepper to taste
• ▢ 0.25 cup dill pickles, finely chopped plus extra for topping
• ▢ 0.25 cup green onions, thinly sliced for garnish

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Drain, crumble, and reserve 1 tablespoon drippings.
• Brown the ground beef in the drippings with the onion. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute. Drain excess fat.
• Transfer beef mixture to the slow cooker. Add cream cheese, processed cheese, cheddar, tomatoes, milk, Worcestershire, mustard, ketchup, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Cover and cook on Low for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, until smooth and melty.
• Fold in half the bacon and the chopped pickles. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Top with remaining bacon and green onions. Switch to Warm and serve with chips, crackers, or veggies.

Notes

Variation: Swap ground turkey for the beef, or stir in sliced jalapeños for extra heat. To keep it dippable on a party table, splash in a little warm milk as it thickens. Leftovers keep 3–4 days in the fridge; rewarm gently over Low heat or in the microwave, stirring often.

This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Crock Pot Cheeseburger Bacon Dip flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.