Paula Deen BLT Appetizer

Paula Deen BLT appetizer is an easy cold dip made with mayonnaise, sour cream, crispy bacon and fresh tomatoes, ready in 15 minutes. It's a simple make-ahead appetizer for game day, potluck nights, cookouts or the holiday table, and it's served with sea salt bagel chips.

Cook the bacon until it's truly crisp, because soft bacon turns chewy once it sits on the creamy base. Pile everything on right before serving, since the lettuce and tomatoes will wilt and water down the dip if they sit.

Paula keeps the dip itself plain, just mayonnaise and sour cream, so the bacon and tomatoes carry all the flavor. Mixing it ahead in a bowl with a snap-on lid means the only work left at party time is topping it.

Paula Deen BLT Appetizer

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Course: AppetizerCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

380

kcal

A cool, tangy mayonnaise and sour cream base is topped with shredded lettuce, juicy tomatoes and a heap of crumbled bacon. Each salty, crunchy bagel chip scoops up a bite that tastes like a BLT sandwich.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Sour cream
  

• 1 cup mayonnaise
  

• 1 lb cooked crisp and crumbled lean bacon
  

• shredded iceburg lettuce
  

• 2 large chopped vine-ripe tomatoes
  

• sea salt bagel chips
  

Directions

• Mix the base: Combine 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup sour cream in a small bowl with a snap-on lid. Stir until well mixed, then refrigerate until serving time.
• Prep the toppings: Cook 1 pound lean bacon until crisp, then crumble it into small pieces. Shred the iceberg lettuce and chop 2 large vine-ripe tomatoes so everything is ready to go.
• Build the dip: When you're ready to serve, spoon the mayonnaise mixture into a large serving bowl. Then top it with the shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and crumbled bacon.
• Serve with chips: Set the bowl out with a pile of sea salt bagel chips alongside. Guests can scoop up a bit of the creamy base along with the toppings in every bite.

Tools for this recipe

• Pyrex 3-piece glass mixing bowl set, Nordic Ware half sheet pan, John Boos maple cutting board, 18 x 12, Hellmann's real mayonnaise, 30 oz. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I make this BLT dip ahead of time?

You can mix the mayonnaise and sour cream base a day ahead and keep it chilled in a covered bowl. Wait to add the lettuce, tomatoes and bacon until just before serving, since they lose their crunch and freshness if they sit.

Can I use light mayonnaise or Greek yogurt?

Light mayonnaise works fine, though the dip will taste a little less rich. Plain Greek yogurt can stand in for the sour cream, and it gives you the same tang with a slightly thicker texture.

What can I serve with it besides bagel chips?

Sturdy crackers, pita chips and toasted baguette slices all hold up to the creamy base. Celery sticks and endive leaves are good lighter picks for dipping.

How do I keep the tomatoes from making the dip watery?

Chop the tomatoes and let them drain for a few minutes on a paper towel before topping the dip. Adding them right before serving also helps, since they release juice the longer they sit.

What's the best way to cook the bacon for a crowd?

Baking a pound of bacon on a sheet pan keeps it flat and evenly crisp, and you don't have to stand over a skillet. Let it cool on paper towels before crumbling so it stays crunchy.