All Day I Dream About Food

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Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip: Appetizers in the Kitchen

Low Carb Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip

The kitchen has some sort of magnetic force. You can put the food and goodies all over the rest of the house, but people will just pick up their plates and move back into the kitchen.

I, for one, have given up. My kitchen is where the action is, so I just make it — and some delicious appetizers — the center of all of my get-togethers. It’s certainly easier than trying to constantly herd folks into other rooms!

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Low Carb Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip

Juggling food prep while engaging in witty repartee with friends is not always easy to do, and potentially very dangerous. If you are distractible like I am, you could end up with burnt food or body parts, neither of which makes for a particularly enjoyable party. I like to avoid potential disasters with make-ahead recipes that require no cooking once friends have arrived. That way, the food is ready and the prep dishes are washed and out of view, so I can relax.

Think easy to serve and especially to eat, like a counter or a table full of appetizers that people can nibble on while chatting. Kitchen entertaining is at its easiest when no one needs to sit down with a fork and knife to eat their food.

Low Carb Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip

Appetizers can also easily be the whole meal, if they are plentiful. Lots of little bite-sized goodies is actually my favourite way to eat, so I can enjoy many different flavours in one meal. We hosted just such an event this past weekend, with everyone bringing a few of their favourite appetizers. I made this Low-Carb Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip and served it with endive leaves for me and tortilla chips for everyone else. It was a huge hit.

So if your friends and family tend to head to the kitchen from the moment they arrive at your house, consider making it the focal point of your party. Gather a few easy-to-serve recipes, grab a drink, relax and enjoy the time spent with good people and good food.

Low Carb Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip

Print
Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
This creamy cheddar dip with bacon is a delicious low carb appetizer when served with veggies or endive leaves. Gluten-free too!
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 20 appetizer servings (approximately)
Calories: 120 kcal
Ingredients
  • 8 slices bacon
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
  • 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
  • 8 ounces sharp Cheddar grated
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
  1. In large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving bacon grease.
  2. Combine cream and half and half in a large measuring cup. Stir in arrowroot powder until dissolved.
  3. Add cream mixture to pan with bacon grease and continue to cook over medium-low heat. Whisk in xanthan gum briskly.
  4. When mixture begins to thicken, add grated cheese on handful at a time, whisking in to melt.
  5. Add salt and peper and stir until smooth. Remove from heat
  6. Chop bacon and stir into cheese mixture.
  7. Transfer to a bowl and serve.
Recipe Notes

Serves 20 (can easily be halved). Each serving has 2 g of carbs.

Other Nutritional Info: 120 Calories; 11g Fat (80.3% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 35mg Cholesterol; 174mg Sodium

Nutrition Facts
Smoky Bacon Cheddar Dip
Amount Per Serving
Calories 120 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 17%
Cholesterol 35mg 12%
Sodium 174mg 7%
Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 4g 8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Other Delicious Low Carb Appetizers:

Zucchini and Feta Fritters

Shrimp & Avocado Ceviche

Mini Bacon Guacamole Cups


Cheddar Jalapeno Crackers

Brie & Bacon Tartlets

This post is part of BlogHer’s Kitchen Entertaining editorial series, made possible by KitchenAid.

Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

  3. Wow, wow. Sounds SO yum. I used to love cheese dip made with that not-really-cheese-block-off-the-shelf… know what I mean? And then I woke up 🙂 Loving this option so much better!

    Reply

  4. Love the recipe but how important is the xanthan gum? Could you leave it out or maybe replace with something other than another gum? Thanks.

    Reply

    • No, not really. You need something to emulsify it and help it thicken. You could try a little xanthan or guar gum but I can’t say for certain how well that will work.

      Reply

  9. The recipe sounds so yummy.
    I’d like to try it but I am wondering what you could mean with “half and half”. I’m not english and asking myself the whole time from which product you take “half and half”.

    Thanks in advance for your help 🙂

    Reply

    • Hi Mareike,

      Half and half is a North American thing. It’s half heavy cream, half whole milk, homogenized to be the perfect cream for coffee. So you can sub half heavy cream and half whole milk.

      Reply

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