Broccoli Dip (Easy Oven or Slow Cooker Recipe)

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This Hot Cheesy Broccoli Dip can be made in the slow cooker, crock pot or baked in the oven! This easy warm cheese appetizer is packed with tender-crisp broccoli, salty bacon, three types of cheeses and spectacular flavor, then cooked until warm, creamy and bubbly! This quick and easy vegetable dip can be made ahead of time for a fuss-free, crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for every occasion! 

Continue to read on for easy ways to customize this warm dip! Plus, comprehensive tips on selecting, storing and trimming fresh broccoli! And, don’t miss the in-depth recipe video at the bottom of the post!

Update: This post was originally published in April 2015. I took new photos, tweaked the recipe slightly and made updates to the post below to include more information about vegetable dip. Plus, I added a recipe video and step by step photos to show you how easy this cheesy broccoli dip is to make!

Hey guys! Today we are celebrating the life of any party – dips!

And, because party prep can be stressful (or party attendance if I’m being honest. I mean, deciding on the right pair of shoes and accessories can be time consuming work), today we are going to embrace the lazy life with a dip that can be made the morning of, or quickly thrown together depending on your mood!

So, grab a party-sized bag of chips and get ready to score a party touchdown with this insanely cheesy dip!

About this easy cheesy baked broccoli dip

This dip is rich, creamy and impossibly cheesy! Loaded with tender-crisp broccoli and salty bacon, and studded with aromatic garlic, fresh scallions and sweet onions, this broccoli dip is full of savory flavors and ultimate in the appetizer department!

But, not only does this dip hit all the right notes of flavor and texture, it is also a cinch to prepare and can be made in the slow cooker or in the oven!!

AND, considering broccoli is the star of the show, I’m declaring this dip is basically healthy too! 😉

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Quick and easy to prepare!
• Recipe can be made in the oven or the slow cooker (crock pot)!
• Insanely creamy – this dip is made with a combination of sour cream, mayonnaise and cream cheese!
• Deliciously cheesy – it features a trifecta of cheeses: Colby Jack, cream cheese and parmesan!
• Packed with broccoli, bacon and tons of flavor!
• You can prepare it in advance!
• So easy to customize with your family’s favorite ingredients!
• Perfect for football parties, potlucks, barbecues, family gatherings and holiday celebrations!

What is broccoli cheese dip?

If you love broccoli casserole, you are going to love this broccoli dip!

This warm and cheesy dip essentially takes those same flavors, adds some cream cheese for extra creamy richness and bacon for salty, umami flavor, and bakes it up into an unbelievably creamy, bubbling hot dip!

What’s in broccoli dip?

This vegetable dip is creamy, cheesy and totally addictive! This recipe relies on simple, easy to find ingredients, plus a few pantry staples, to create a rich dip that everyone will love!

• Bacon: Crispy bacon adds a punch of smoky, salty, umami flavor! I prefer to use center cut bacon because it has less fat and prevents the dip from becoming greasy. The recipe calls for 6 slices of bacon, but you can use more if you like! Note: You can easily omit the bacon to make this dip vegetarian!
• Yellow Onion: Half of a large yellow onion adds a touch of mild onion flavor.
• Spices & Seasonings: Fresh garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt and ground black pepper all provide tons of flavor!
• Broccoli: You need three cups of fresh broccoli cut into florets. Make sure you select the best-looking heads of broccoli at the store! (See below for tips on selecting and storing broccoli!)
• Cheeses: A trifecta of cream cheese, Colby Jack and parmesan cheese adds complex flavor and make this dip deliciously cheesy! Cream cheese provides a rich creaminess, and Colby jack delivers a mildly sweet taste and smooth texture, while parmesan adds a subtly sharp flavor! Make sure you shred or grate the cheese yourself for the best taste and texture! (See below for substitution ideas!)
• Scallions: Fresh scallions provide delicate onion flavor and make a beautiful garnish!
• Dairy: The combination of Sour cream, milk and mayonnaise give the dip a thick and creamy texture while providing a slightly tangy flavor.
• Worcestershire: Worcestershire sauce is the secret ingredient that adds a faint, yet powerful umami flavor that can’t be beat!

Variations

Want to make some changes or additions to this warm dip? Fantastic! I encourage you to make this broccoli dip recipe your own! Get creative in the kitchen – add ingredients you love and eliminate the ones you don’t! Below are a few ideas to get you started!

• Bacon: Not the biggest fan of bacon? No worries! Try using leftover holiday ham, salami or crispy prosciutto!
• Vegetarian: Need to feed a vegetarian? Omit the bacon and use a vegetarian bacon substitute or try using sauteed mushrooms! I also suggest adding a few shakes of smoked paprika to the dip as well!
• Cream Cheese: Using different rich cheeses is my favorite way to shake things up! Use a flavored cream cheese, such as chive or spicy jalapeno! Or, remove the cream cheese entirely and try a soft creamy cheese spread, such as Boursin or Aloutte instead! You can even use different flavor varieties, like savory vegetable or garlic and herbs for even more flavor!
• Shredded Cheeses: Prefer to use different cheeses? Try substituting cheddar, Monterey Jack, gouda, mozzarella or swiss for the Colby Jack cheese! And try using Pecorino Romano or Asiago instead of parmesan!
• Seasonings: Amp up the flavor and add a bit of seasoning dip mix to taste! Try using ranch, French onion or vegetable soup mix!
• Bell Peppers: Add a touch of fresh sweet or slightly spicy taste by tossing in some red bell peppers or jalapeno peppers! Sauté them along with the onions in step 2 of the recipe.
• Hot Sauce: Like things hot and spicy? Add your favorite hot sauce to taste!
• Lazy Dip: Use bacon bits and skip steps 1 and 2 of the recipe. Instead, combine all the ingredients together and bake or slow cook as directed.

How to select, store and prepare broccoli?

Trimmed broccoli is the star ingredient in this dip, so it’s important you select good heads of broccoli at the grocery store or farmer’s market! The most common broccoli sold in the store is the standard green variety; however, you can find purple and golden varieties at the farmers markets and specialty stores! Feel free to use your favorite variety in this warm broccoli dip!

Selecting broccoli at the store

Picking the freshest broccoli is easy once you know what to look for!

• Appearance: Choose broccoli heads with tight, green florets and firm stalks. The cut ends of the stalk should look fresh and slightly moist.
• Blemishes: Avoid broccoli with florets that look dry or yellow in color. Likewise, don’t pick any head with browning or discolored stems.
• Size: Pick a head of broccoli that feels heavy for its size.
• Odor: Select heads of broccoli that smell fresh or are odorless! If your broccoli smells bitter or has an off-putting odor, it has gone bad!

How to store broccoli

Once you have selected the perfect head of broccoli, it’s time to store it! Make sure you do not rinse the broccoli until you are ready to use it!

Store broccoli in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. To keep broccoli as fresh as possible, wrap the head in damp paper towels. If you prefer to store broccoli in a plastic bag, just make sure the bag is unsealed.

Fresh broccoli will keep well for at least a week.

How to prepare broccoli

For this dip you will need to remove the florets from the stem or the stalk. The florets are the individual flowery parts growing off of the stalk of broccoli. But don’t discard those stems – save them and make vegetable stock, add them to soups and stir-fries or roast them for snacking!

Get expert tips for trimming broccoli here! And then put those florets to good use in these recipes next:Broccoli Salad with Grapes, Easy Tabbouleh with Broccoli, Broccoli Tater Tots, and Creamy Broccoli Pasta.

How to make Broccoli Dip?

1. Cook Bacon: In a large sauté pan over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy and cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside to drain.
2. Saute onions + aromatics: Drain off all but 2 teaspoons of the bacon grease. Add the onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook until translucent. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook until fragrant. Remove from heat.
3. For the slow cooker:  Spray the inside of the slow cooker insert with cooking spray.  Transfer the onions and bacon to the slow cooker. Stir in all the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook the dip on LOW for 2-3 hours, or until the broccoli is tender, stirring halfway through cooking.
4. For the oven:  Grease an 8-inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine onions, bacon and the remaining ingredients (through salt and pepper), reserving 1/4 cup of the Colby cheese for topping.  Transfer the dip to the baking dish. Sprinkle reserved Colby cheese evenly on top of drop. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until bubbly. Optional: During last 3-4 minutes, switch the oven to broil for a more golden brown top!
5. To Serve:  Garnish with more parmesan and scallions if desired. Enjoy!

Tips for the best dip with broccoli

1. Broccoli Prep: If you are trying to be more sneaky and serve this dip to picky eaters, make sure you very finely chop the broccoli before proceeding with the recipe. If you prefer your broccoli on the softer side (versus the tender-crisp side), partially steam the head of broccoli before chopping.
2. Cream Cheese: You can use any type of cream cheese you would like in this dip. If I have it on hand, I prefer whipped cream cheese because it is lends a lighter mouthfeel to the dip.
3. Slow Cooker: The precise cooking time will depend on the strength of your slow cooker. Make sure you cook the dip on low and check on it periodically. Cook until the broccoli is just tender, there is nothing worse than mushy broccoli dip!
4. Baking Dish: You can use any ovenproof baking dish that is approximately  2 to 2 1/2 quarts, or 8 to 9 inches.  An 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish, pie pan or cake pan all work wonderfully. Or, you can also use an oven proof skillet!

How to make hot cheese dip with broccoli step by step photos

Can I make hot cheese dip in advance?

Absolutely! This bacon cheese dip with broccoli is a wonderful make ahead dish!

• Mix the dip ingredients together according to the recipe instructions.
• Transfer the dip to the prepared baking dish.
• Cover the dip with tightly with plastic wrap.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and let the dip sit on the counter to remove the chill while the oven preheats. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly.

Serving broccoli dip

How to serve warm dip with vegetables?

This broccoli dip is best served warm or hot! If you are baking the dip, let it sit for at least 5 minutes before serving so your guests don’t burn the roof of their mouths or tongues!

What to serve with broccoli dip?

Honestly, I could eat this broccoli dip directly from the baking dish or crock pot with a spoon! However, I understand that most people are more civilized and need a few things for dipping and dunking! Below are a few delicious serving options for this warm dip!

• Bread: Crusty bread is the obvious vessel for picking up all this cheesy goodness! Fresh baguettes, artisan bread and a sourdough loaf are my personal favorites!
• Bread Bowl: A bread bowl is always a wonderful option! It looks great, plus it’s fun to watch everyone tear into the dip soaked bread!
• Chips: Salty chips are another no brainer for warm dips! Any sturdy chip, such as thick-cut tortillas, Fritos and pita wedges work best!
• Crackers: An assortment of crackers are always a crowd pleasing pairing option for dips!
• Broccoli and Cauliflower: Double down on the cruciferous vegetables by pairing this dip with more broccoli or cauliflower! You can use raw cauliflower or give the vegetables a light steam to remove the slightly bitter flavor.
• Bell Peppers: Sweet mini bell peppers are one of my favorite healthy dippers!
• Potato Skins: If you have never tried topping your potato skins with broccoli dip you are missing out! This is a match made in heaven!!

Tips for storing and freezing baked dip with cream cheese

Food safety is a important when it comes to storing homemade dips! Follow the simple tips below for properly storing and freezing this broccoli dip with bacon!

What can I do with leftover cheese dip?

Got leftover dip and want to repurpose it into something new?! You can easily turn this vegetable dip into a rich, creamy homemade sauce! Thin the dip with a little whole milk, heavy cream or half and half and reheat it over low heat on the stove. Voilà – you have an incredible homemade cheese sauce that tastes amazing with pasta, rice or even potatoes!

How long will homemade broccoli dip last?

Allow the broccoli dip to cool completely at room temperature. Either wrap the cooled baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the dip to an airtight storage container. Store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Can you reheat broccoli dip?

You can reheat this creamy dip two different ways!

• Oven: Remove the dip from the refrigerator to remove chill while the oven preheats to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If the dip is in a storage container, transfer it to an oven-safe baking dish. Reheat for approximately 22-25 minutes, or until the dip is bubbly and hot throughout.
• Microwave: Transfer individual portions of the dip to a microwave-safe container or bowl. Place a microwave-safe lid on top of the container, leaving the lid slightly cracked at the side (to prevent splatter and form a vent). Microwave for 45 second intervals until warm throughout.

Can you freeze hot cheese dip?

I do not recommend freezing this broccoli bacon dip due to the mayonnaise and sour cream. The fats in the dairy products will separate and the dip will be unappetizing once thawed. You can prepare this dip in advance and store it in the refrigerator, or you can half the recipe if you are worried about having leftovers.

I’m pretty sure this bubbly, cheesy vegetable dip is what you call winning in life!

Cheyanne

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More warm cheese dips!

Looking for more hot dip recipes? Try these family favorites next:

• Crab Rangoon Dip
• Queso con Chile

The best Broccoli Dip recipe👇

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