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Hot Bacon Corn Dip โ the ultimate summer appetizer. This spicy, Mexican-inspired dip packs in all the flavor of street corn, but with the creamy, cheesy goodness of a baked skillet dipโand crispy bacon to take it over the top. Sweet summer corn gets mixed with chili powder, cream cheese, yogurt, and a touch of mayo, then baked with plenty of melty cheese until golden and bubbly. To finish? A spicy honey-chili butter drizzle and crispy bacon bits. Scoop it all up with tortilla chips (homemade, if youโre like me!), and youโve got a guaranteed crowd favorite.
One of my favorite things about summer is how easygoing it feelsโeven without major holidays, thereโs always something to celebrate. Backyard dinners, beach days, casual get-togethers โ summer entertaining is meant to be low-stress and full of flavor.
A great dip is essential for these kinds of moments. If youโve made my street corn dip before, you already know itโs a summer staple. Todayโs recipe is a twist on that favoriteโand it might just be even yummier.
The real star of this version? That hot honey bacon topping. Itโs unexpected, a little spicy, a little sweet, and seriously addictive. Trust meโthis combo works.
And if you have a few extra minutes, make the homemade chips! I use corn tortillas, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt, then bake at 400ยฐF for 10โ12 minutes. So simple, so good!
Here are the details
Ingredients
- chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne
- salted butter or olive oil
- onions
- garlic
- jalapeรฑos
- fresh or frozen corn
- sour cream โ or swap for Greek yogurt
- mayo โ I prefer to use half mayo, but you can use Greek yogurt here too
- lime juice
- cilantro
- shredded spicy or regular cheddar
- pepper jack cheese
- crispy bacon bits
- honey
Ingredients โ for topping
- fresh cilantro, smashed avocado, and limes
- tortilla chips
Tools: Just a small mixing bowl and a skillet.
Steps
Step 1: Mix the Seasonings
Start by mixing the chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl. Adjust the cayenne to your personal heat preferenceโmore for a kick, less for a mild version.
Step 2: Cook the Onions and Peppers
This is the main hands-on part of the recipe. Sautรฉ the onions, garlic, and jalapeรฑos in a skillet with a bit of olive oil until softened and fragrant. This step brings out their sweetness and mellows the heat, which is great if youโre cooking for people who arenโt into raw onion flavor (like my mom and dad!).
Step 3: Add the Corn
Once the onions and peppers are cooked down, stir in the corn. You only need to cook it for a minute or twoโjust enough to combine the flavors. The corn will finish cooking in the oven.
Step 4: Create the Dip
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the Greek yogurt or sour cream, mayo, lime juice, and about two teaspoons of the seasoning mix from Step 1. Add in some of the cheese and mix until everything is creamy and well combined.
Step 5: Bake
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the dip. Then place the skillet in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the whole dip is sizzlingโabout 15โ20 minutes. Your kitchen will smell amazing!
Topping โ The Most Important Step
As soon as the dip comes out of the oven, top it with extra crispy bacon, the rest of the seasoning mix, and a generous drizzle of honey. Itโs basically hot honey baconโand yes, itโs as good as it sounds. Finish with fresh cilantro, diced avocado, a squeeze of lime, and a pinch of flaky sea salt.
Looking for other summer corn recipes? Here are a few ideas:ย
8 Ingredient Cheesy Green Chile Chicken
Spicy Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp with Parmesan Corn Polenta
Jalapeรฑo Cheddar Stuffed Chicken with Creamed Corn
Pesto Chicken, Corn, and Avocado Bacon Pasta Salad
Skillet Creamy Cajun Chicken Lazone with Herby Corn
Lastly, if you make this Hot Bacon Corn Dip, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, donโt forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Hot Bacon Corn Dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1/2-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, to your taste
- 1 tablespoon salted butter or olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 jalapeรฑo, seeded if desired, plus chopped
- 4 cups fresh or frozen corn, (4-5 raw)
- salt and black pepper
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream
- 1/3 cup mayo, or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- 1 1/2 cups regular or spicy cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 4-6 strips crispy bacon, crumbled
- 1 tablespoon honey
- cilantro, avocado, and limes, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In a bowl, mix the chili powder, paprika, and cayenne.2. In a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, melt the butter/oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, and jalapeรฑo, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are tender and softened, about 5 minutes. 3. Add the corn and toss to combine. Remove from the heat.4. To the skillet, add the cream cheese, sour cream/yogurt, mayo/yogurt, and lime juice. Mix in 2 teaspoons of the seasonings and 1 cup of cheese. Mix until you have a creamy dip, then spread in an even layer. Top with the remaining cheese. 5. Bake 20 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Top the dip with crispy bacon, then sprinkle with 1-2 teaspoons of the seasoning. Drizzle with honey. Serve immediately,ย topped as desired and with tortilla chips.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Hi Tieghan,
Made this for a family party and it was a big hit! I did have a lot of the seasoning left. Are the measurements correct in the recipe?
Jeff
Hey Jeff,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your thoughtsโso happy it worked for you!
Yes, you can save the seasoning for future use.
Have the best weekend!
Could this be done in a crockpot? How would you suggest doing that if so ๐
Hi Alexandra,
I would stick with the instructions for this recipe, but you could certainly transfer to a crockpot when finished to keep warm if you wanted. I hope this helps!
Absolutely delicious! Will definitely be making this for my sister when they visit in October!
Hey Karla,
Awesome! Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! Have a wonderful weekend! xx
So good! Creamy deliciousness.
Thank you SO much Karen! So happy to hear you loved this recipe! ๐ xT
Where do we add the cilantro?
Hi Theresa,
I garnish with the cilantro in step 5. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Tieghan, the Hot Corn Dip was delicious!!!! The hot honey really took the flavor over the top!! Perfect appetizer for our barbecue last night! Happy Fatherโs Day to your Dadโ-you sure got a good one! ๐ฅฐ
Hey Kelly,
Happy Sunday!! I’m so glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, I appreciate you making it! xx
Hot dips are not summery to me! Have any variations of this that are cooler?
Hi Mary,
Not exactly of this recipe, but here are some other summer options you might enjoy:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/marinated-cherry-tomatoes-with-burrata/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/gruyere-tomato-bruschetta/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/tomato-peach-crostini/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/charred-peppers/
I hope this helps! Have a great weekend! xx
I gotta say, a warm, heavy cheese dip doesnโt exactly sounds like a summer dish to me! I personally would love some more cold dishes that make that donโt require turning on the oven! Can you share more like that? I would love a recipe for a mayo-free chicken salad!
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback, Ann! Here are some summer appetizers you might enjoy:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/marinated-burrata/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/watermelon-peach-salad/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/mezze-platter/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/strawberry-jam-with-goat-cheese/
I hope this helps! I’ll add the mayo-free chicken salad to my list:) xx
This was absolutely delicious! It had a perfect balance of salty, smokey, spicy and the honey gave it just the right amount of sweetness. I used frozen corn, but next time I’ll plan ahead and use fresh. Topping it with the additional spices gave it a beautiful color and added flavor. I think the leftovers would be delicious with some shredded chicken maybe in the form of a quesadilla, and topped off with some lime crema. This is a winner!
Thanks so much, Ashley:) I am so glad this dip turned out nicely for you, I appreciate you making it! xx
Hi,
I would like to know if I can make this in advance and refrigerate it or will the consistency be jacked up?
Hey Tim! You can prep this advance up until itโs time to bake. When you add the cheese, chill the dip until ready to serve, then bake and serve when ready! That will be great! Hoping you love this dip!
Sounds so good! Do you think this could be frozen, then reheated?
Hey Annabelle,
Totally, that will work nicely for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
This looks so good, but I donโt eat pork. Do you think this would work with turkey bacon?
Hey Seren,
Totally, that will also work nicely for you! Let me know if you give this dip a try, I hope you love it! xx
Could this be done in a crockpot? Not to be this person but I never host but often go to family parties where I could take this. Like sautรฉ everything then pop all the ingredients into the crockpot and top when ready to serve?
Hey Alix! Yes! Keeping this hot in the crockpot will be great! I love that idea! Super smart! Hope your family loves the dip! And you too of course!!