Like many of you, I sat glued to my television screen this past Saturday, watching proudly as the Seahawks annihilated the Panthers. Between cheering, high-fives and the occasional chest bump, the room of people I was enjoying the game with were all eager to fill their plates (and mouths) with snacks, beer and more. Part of Saturday night’s smorgasbord was a hot and spicy dip I made special for the occasion. Loaded with different types of cheese, jalapenos and even some of Olympia-made Dick’s Brewing 12 Man Pale Ale (I couldn’t resist), this spiked Jalapeno Popper Dip is the perfect snack to enjoy while cheering on the Hawks. As you gear up to watch the our boys in blue take on the the Green Bay Packers this coming Sunday, be sure to add this dip to your snacky spread.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Makes: One large bowl
Ingredients:
16 ounces cream cheese
1 ½ cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, plus more for topping (½ cup)
½ cup sour cream
½ cup Dick’s Brewing 12 Man Pale Ale
½ yellow onion, diced
4 jalapenos, finely chopped
6 bacon strips, cooked and finely chopped
½ cup Panko bread crumbs
3 tablespoons melted butter
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
In a small pan, sauté onion until well caramelized. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, Mexican blend cheese, sour cream, onion, jalapenos, bacon, beer and salt and pepper (I use ½ teaspoon of each). If you like things extra spicy, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce. On medium-low, combine ingredients until well incorporated, about 3 minutes.
In a square baking dish (I use an 8” x 8” pan), spread the dip into an even layer. (The benefit of using a shallower pan with bigger dimensions, such as an 8” x 8” pan, is that you have more surface area for the topping.)
In a small bowl, toss Panko bread crumbs with melted butter and additional cheese. Once well combined, sprinkle topping across the top of the dip and place in oven to cook for approximately 35 minutes, or until dip is bubbling and topping is golden brown in color.
Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm with chips or crackers of your choice.
