Blue Cheese Dip Recipe

This blue cheese dip is so indulgent and delicious, a million times better than the store-bought ones. You need just a few ingredients to make this cool, tangy, and creamy blue cheese dipping sauce from scratch! Not only is it great alongside some buffalo chicken wings, but it pairs well with anything and everything, you name it!

I prefer making my own dips and salad dressings because it is actually so easy to make one at home. How difficult can mixing ingredients in a bowl or a Mason jar really be, right?

I know, I hear ya! The store-bought stuff is super convenient, just open a jar or pop open a bottle, so why really bother to make it at home. A walk down the salad dressing aisle and one is really spoilt for choices with a number of brands.

For me, they just taste blah, and even worse, it is loaded with preservatives, additives, and unwanted fillers. Hence, I prefer making my own dips or salad dressings from scratch, which also gives me plenty of room to customize and play around. Honestly, that’s my favorite part 😀

I was quite hesitant to try bleu cheese for the longest time. That typical smell really put me off. But it’s something I’ve come to appreciate over the years. On the contrary my hubby really really loves it.

The first time I ever sampled blue cheese was in the form of this dip at a local restaurant and I think that was a good start, I was pleasantly surprised that I actually loved it.

Since I enjoyed the dip so much, I thought it was about time to explore more of the blue cheese territory…..haha 😀 Blue cheese dip has been a favorite since then and a must-make at home, especially if buffalo wings are on the menu!

Ingredients needed for this simple dip

To make this quick and easy blue cheese dip, you will need;

Bleu cheese- the star of this dip: There are so many kinds of blue cheeses, depending on the region it is made. It is ‘bleu’ in French and Roquefort which is a French cheese is one of the best known blue cheeses. There are other types of blue cheese like gorgonzola from Italy, Stilton from England, Cabrales from Spain, and Maytag blue from the US to name a few.

Be sure to use a good quality, soft, blue cheese that crumbles well. Confused about what type of blue cheese to use for this dip? If you have never tried blue cheese before, I suggest starting off with a mild one like gorgonzola dolce, Amish, or Danish blue cheese.

For a stronger flavor, you could use gorgonzola piccante, Stilton, or Roquefort.

For something in between that’s not too mild nor too strong, use Maytag blue.

Ultimately, use the kind of blue cheese that you love as it will dictate the taste of this dip to an extent.

Mayonnaise and sour cream: This forms the creamy and tangy base of the dip.

Lemon juice: To slight acidity really brightens up this dip.

Worcestershire sauce: For that hint of savoriness

Seasonings like salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

That is all that I’ve used in my homemade blue cheese dip! You really don’t even need a packaged dip mix, seriously ditch it!

Substitutions

This recipe is truly adaptable to whatever ingredients you have at hand. You really don’t need to stick to this recipe, though I suggest you try it the way it is, and then make alterations to suit your preferences.

Mayonnaise: Can be substituted with the same amount of full-fat Greek yogurt. You can also use 4 oz, which is about 1/2 cup of cream cheese in lieu of mayonnaise. Using cream cheese will also add more thickness to this dip, so you may need a splash of milk to thin it down.

Sour cream: You can also make this blue cheese dip without sour cream. Substitute it with Greek yogurt or creme fraiche. For a healthier version of blue cheese dip, skip the mayo and sour cream, and simply use all Greek yogurt.

Fresh garlic: I’ve used garlic powder, but you can also use a clove or two of garlic, finely minced. You can also use onion powder, a pinch of paprika if you like.

Lemon juice: You can swap the lemon juice with lime juice, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic, or red wine vinegar.

Variations

I love to keep this recipe simple, but you can consider incorporating some of these ingredients for a different variation.

Herbs: You can add a couple of tablespoons of fresh herbs likes parsley, dill, chives, etc for a pop of color. You can also use a teaspoon or two of dried herbs. 

Bacon: Use about 1/3 – 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon, reserving about 2 tablespoons for garnishing. Mix it with the rest of the ingredients, garnish with the reserved bacon before serving. Skip the salt, taste just before serving and add if needed.

Caramelized onion: If you are feeling fancy, take this dip a notch up by adding caramelized onions, a cross between an onion and blue cheese dip.

Julienne 1 sweet or Vidalia onion, sauté with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter, and a pinch of salt. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the onions caramelize and turn a deep golden brown. You can add a splash of water to scrape up all that yummy browned bits stuck at the bottom of the pan. Once the onions have caramelized, transfer to a bowl and let it cool. You can chop it up to make it less stringy. Add it along with the other ingredients and enjoy this fancy version of blue cheese dip with caramelized onions.

Nuts: Garnish the dip with some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to add some more texture to this dip

Heat: Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or jalapeño, diced into small pieces, also add some of the seeds for that kick.

Tips to make the best blue cheese dip 

Best quality ingredients: Use quality ingredients while making this dip. You must use good mayo (if it’s homemade, even better!), and good quality blue cheese.

I suggest buying a wedge of blue cheese instead of the crumbles sold in containers. But if you are not in the mood to splurge on fancy blue cheese, the crumbled stuff in the container will work fine. It just won’t taste the best but will work in a pinch. 

Avoid reduced-fat or fat-free mayonnaise/salad dressing: Use full-fat mayo for that creamy texture. Be sure to use real mayonnaise and not salad dressing. You can still get away with reduced-fat or light mayo in this recipe, but using salad dressing would make the dip watery.

Also, keep in mind if you choose to use a blender or food processor to mix the ingredients, avoid using low-fat mayo and sour cream as it can make the dip watery. Simply mix everything in a bowl. 

Make-ahead: It is best to make this dip at least a day in advance. This gives the ingredients time to meld together, making the dip taste so much better as it sits. So, plan ahead before you intend to serve it.

Adjust the quantity of blue cheese: These quantities of blue cheese work well for us in this recipe. You can use more or less blue cheese, depending on your preference.

Chunky v/s smooth dip: This dip is fairly chunky and that’s how we like it. If you prefer a really smooth dip, blend all the ingredients in a food processor or a blender. 

You can also mash the cheese in a bowl with the back of a fork, add the other ingredients, and mash everything together until it reaches your desired consistency.

Servings suggestions

This tangy, cooling blue cheese dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment for spicy buffalo wings. But besides that, there are so many ways of using this delicious dip. I like to serve it with;

• Veggies like celery sticks, baby carrots, thinly sliced radish, red peppers, broccoli
• Roasted vegetables
• Thin it down and use it for drizzling on a classic wedge salad
• All sorts of chips like potato chips, Kettle chips, nacho chips, blue corn chips, pita chips or veggie chips
• Crackers
• Soft pretzels
• As a topping for baked potatoes
• On burgers
• Chicken strips or popcorn chicken
• Along with steak bites 

Whether you are hosting a party, or simply want a quick dipping sauce for chips or hot wings, give this easy recipe a go! I bet you will never go back to the store-bought stuff!

You may also enjoy these delicious dips

• Greek tzatziki 
• Restaurant-style salsa
• Baba ganoush 
• Roasted tomatillo salsa verde 

How to make blue cheese dip recipe – Step by step instructions

Step 1: Combine ingredients and mix well

For a chunky consistency: In a medium-sized bowl, add 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup full-fat mayonnaise, 5 oz crumbled bleu cheese (reserve a tablespoon for the topping), 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper. Mix until well combined.

For a smooth consistency: Add all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until well combined. You may reserve half of the cheese to mix in later, for a smooth and chunky consistency. 

Step 2: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours

Cover the bowl with a cling wrap or transfer to a Mason jar and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to 2 days.

Taste-test before serving and adjust seasonings if required. Top with the reserved cheese crumbles. I sprinkled freshly chopped parsley some color. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Note

• If the dip is too thick for you, add a few tablespoons of milk/buttermilk to thin it down to your desired consistency.

Quick FAQs

What does this dip taste like?

This delicious dip is packed with robust bleu cheese crumbles. The spicy, salty, piquant flavor of the bleu cheese compliments the creamy mayo and sour cream.

This dip is savory and indulgent with a thick, creamy, and chunky consistency. The lemon juice adds a pop of brightness.

A dash of salt brings out the flavor, freshly cracked pepper adds a little kick and the garlic powder gives this dip a mild garlic flavor. This homemade version tastes fresh and is nothing like the bland store-bought ones.

Does this dip go bad?

USDA does not recommend storing foodstuff for more than 2 hours at room temperature or more than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90° F. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the dip to a Mason jar and refrigerate it as soon as it’s prepared.

This makes a pretty big batch and will last for about 5 days in the refrigerator. You can scale down this recipe to make a small batch.

Blue cheese dip v/s dressing

The only difference between the two is the consistency. For the dressing, you will need the same base as the dip, and thin it down by adding a few tablespoons of milk or buttermilk until you reach your desired consistency.

Can I make this dip without blue cheese?

If you can’t get past the typical flavor of bleu cheese, try swapping it with crumbled feta or goat cheese. It won’t taste quite the same but will work in a pinch. 

Interested in knowing more about blue cheese?

Check out this article from Delishably that throws more insight into the different types of blue cheese.

★ If you try this easy blue cheese dip, I would love to hear from you! I’d appreciate it if you could rate and leave a review below in the comments. Your reviews help others know the recipe better too. Feel free to share your feedback and suggestions at [email protected]. Thanks so much 🙂 

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