Cheeseburger Dip

Recently the majority of the Johnson crew were in town and we had a fun appetizer potluck.  I wanted to make something healthy (hummus) and something not as good for you.  Dips are always a crowd pleaser.  And so are cheeseburgers.  What could be better than putting them together?

I found the original recipe from Closet Cooking online.  Even though I wasn't going for healthy with this dip, I decided to lighten it up a hair – without sacrificing taste, of course.  A few little switches can really shave off some calories, ya know?  Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.  Light cream cheese.  That light olive oil mayo.  2% cheese.  It adds up!

I must say, if I were to make it again, I would cut the ketchup just a little.  And use a little less Greek yogurt than the sour cream it called for.  It had a little tang that I had to adjust for.  (The recipe below reflects those measurements for next time.)  But overall, really good!  It definitely tasted like a cheeseburger.  The freshly made crostinis were nice too.  (I didn't plan on making them but the store was out and mind was set on crostinis.  Sometimes you just have to grin and buy some French loaves.)

The meat out of the oven

A sprinkling of color

The perfect bite

Cheeseburger Dip

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef
• 8 strips bacon, crumbled
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup light olive oil mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Swiss, shredded
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Chopped lettuce and tomatoes for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the ground beef in a pan over medium heat.  Place cooked beef on paper towels and drain pan.
2. Cook the bacon in the pan until crispy.  Remove bacon & pat with paper towels.
3. While the beef & bacon cook, saute the onions over medium high heat until it starts to brown.  Turn down to medium-low until almost caramelized. 
4. Mix the ground beef, bacon, onions , cream cheese, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Swiss, cheddar, worcestershire sauce, and ketchup together in the pan and pour it into a baking dish.
5. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until the top starts turning a light golden brown and then sides are bubbling, about 20-30 minutes.
6. Sprinkle with lettuce and tomatoes. 
7. Serve with chips or crostinis.