Crazy 1-Step Neiman Marcus Dip Joy

Oh, there is nothing quite like strolling into a gathering and seeing that one dip everyone gravitates toward, right? It’s the hallmark of easy entertaining! For me, that dip is legendary, creamy, and ridiculously simple: the famous Neiman Marcus Dip. Seriously, if your party doesn’t have this sitting out, you’re missing out. Friends often call it the Million Dollar Dip because it tastes so incredibly rich and luxurious, but trust me, creating this cheesy, savory spread is anything but complicated. It’s the kind of recipe that proves my whole philosophy here at Pure Cooking Joy: incredible food just needs simple steps and the intention to share something wonderful with the people you care about. When you’re planning your next event, check out my guide to easy entertaining! Come see why this cold dip goes fast every single time!

Why This Neiman Marcus Dip is Your Next Party Essential

I’m telling you, you need this dip on your roster for every single gathering. It hits all the right notes without making you slave away in the kitchen. Why is it so popular? Well, just look at it!

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• It’s the definition of an easy party appetizer—it barely needs mixing!
• That amazing combination of bacon, cheddar, and almonds makes it irresistibly savory.
• It’s perfect for everything: the big game, holiday parties, or just because you need a fantastic cheesy party spread.

Quick Prep for the Ultimate Creamy Cheese Dip

Honestly, the best part is that the prep time is only about 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes! You let the fridge do the heavy lifting for the flavor melding later. It’s one of those wonderful, classic retro dip recipes that you might feel guilty serving because people always assume you spent hours on it. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone how fast it comes together.

Gathering Ingredients for the Authentic Neiman Marcus Dip

Okay, let’s talk about what you need to assemble this legendary dip. The quality of these few ingredients really makes the whole **Million Dollar Dip recipe** sing. Remember, this isn’t a complicated dip, but you do need to make sure a couple of things are prepped right before you toss them together.

You’ll need eight ounces of cream cheese, and listen, it has to be softened. Don’t try to shortcut this; soft cream cheese is essential for that smooth base. Then, add in one cup of mayonnaise—that brings in the creamy tang. For the cheese component, grab one cup of sharp cheddar, shredded up nicely. I always recommend shredding your own cheddar if you have time; the pre-shredded stuff has anti-caking agents that fight against ultimate creaminess.

Now for the stars: one cup of cooked bacon, crumbled up; half a cup of sliced almonds; and half a cup of green onions, both chopped finely. Don’t forget the seasonings: just one teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and a tiny dash of garlic powder. That little bit of Worcestershire is important; it adds depth to the savory flavor!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your **Bacon Almond Dip**

Let’s pause here because two ingredients totally make or break this recipe. First, the almonds. You absolutely must toast those sliced almonds! Spread them on a dry skillet over medium heat for just three to five minutes. Stir them constantly or they’ll burn in a second. When they smell nutty and fragrant, pull them off immediately. That extra crunch and flavor from toasting is so worth the minute of stirring.

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If you’re not a fan of nuts, you can leave them out, but you lose some of that necessary texture contrast against the smooth dip. Just know it won’t be quite the same! For the bacon, cook it until it’s nice and crispy. If you use pre-cooked bacon bits, make sure they are the real, crunchy kind, not the chewy microwave ones, because we need that satisfying *CRUNCH*.

As for the cheddar, use sharp! Mild cheddar just disappears into the background when mixed with the mayo and cream cheese. You want that sharp bite to stand up to the salty bacon.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making the Best Neiman Marcus Dip

Alright, this is where the magic happens, and it’s so easy, you’ll feel like you’re cheating! Remember that feeling of pure joy when a recipe works flawlessly? That’s what we’re getting here. Grab a medium-sized bowl—no need to get fancy mixing this one up. I always grab my favorite big mixing bowl for this so I have plenty of room when everything is folded in!

First things first: you need to introduce your softened cream cheese and the mayonnaise. I just use a rubber spatula or a sturdy wooden spoon to mash these together until they are completely smooth and combined. You want zero cream cheese lumps; that’s key for a luxurious texture. Once that’s creamy, you’ll stir in the shredded sharp cheddar, all that crispy bacon you crumbled, the Worcestershire sauce, and that tiny bit of garlic powder. Make sure everything is evenly distributed through that cheesy base. Feel free to check out my other favorite appetizers-snacks while you are waiting for the bacon to cool!

Next, gently fold in your toasted almonds and the chopped green onions. Don’t over-mix here; we want those crunchy elements to stay distributed and not totally break down. Once it’s all together, cover it up! Now, this next step is non-negotiable if you want the absolute best flavor for your game day dips.

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Cover that bowl tightly and move it into the refrigerator. You absolutely must let this chill for at least two hours, but honestly, overnight is even better. This allows all those savory flavors—the bacon, the onion, the Worcestershire—to actually marry each other. If you rush this chilling, it tastes fine, but when you let it sit? Wow, it tastes like a million bucks!

Crucial Chilling Time for the Perfect Cold Dip for Crackers

Please, please, please do not skip the chilling! I know you want to dive right in, especially when this is the perfect make ahead dip for hosting, but patience pays off hugely here. Serving it cold right after mixing means the ingredients haven’t settled. That two-hour minimum gives the dip body and lets the sharp cheddar and bacon flavors really sink into that creamy base. When it’s perfectly chilled, it’s firm enough for dipping and tastes incredibly complex!

Tips for Success with Your Cheesy Party Spread

I’ve made this **cheesy party spread** more times than I can count, especially when I know I have a busy day coming up, so I’ve picked up a few tricks to ensure it’s absolutely perfect every time. These little moments of expertise are what separate a good dip from the legendary one everyone asks you to bring!

First, let’s talk about the make-ahead magic. This truly shines as a make ahead dip. I always prepare it completely, right down to the perfectly toasted almonds and green onions folded in, and then cover it tightly and put it in the fridge for 24 hours. Honestly, it tastes even better the next day. It gives the cream cheese time to absorb all that smoky bacon flavor.

Second, remember the texture rule we talked about earlier? When blending the cream cheese and mayo, don’t use an electric mixer unless you really cut the speed way down. A medium-speed electric mixer can whip too much air into the base, making the final dip lighter than we want. We are aiming for dense and creamy, so stick to a good spatula or hand mixing for that first step. Speed is great, but texture comes first!

Third, if you are serving this at a large event and it’s going to sit out for a while—say, during a long afternoon football game—keep the main bowl chilled if possible. You can place the serving bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice. Because it’s full of dairy, it holds up best when kept cool until serving time. For more kitchen advice that makes life easier, check out my general blog section!

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Finally, when you serve it, don’t spoon it all out at once. Keep the main batch refrigerated and replenish smaller bowls as needed. This keeps it colder longer and stops the dip from softening up too much!

Serving Suggestions for Your Neiman Marcus Dip

What good is the best **creamy cheese dip** in the world if you don’t have the perfect vehicle to scoop it up? This dip is so versatile, which is another reason it’s one of my absolute favorites for easy entertaining. It tastes amazing with almost anything crunchy or fresh, but I definitely have my go-to pairings.

When I’m serving this up as one of my top **holiday appetizer ideas**, I always go for sturdy, ridged tortilla chips. The strong flavor of the dip—that bacon and cheddar combination—really stands up to corn chips. It’s fantastic for dipping right out of the big bowl!

For less heavy-duty dipping, like when we’re just having a quiet weeknight board game night, you can’t beat good old-fashioned buttery crackers or crisp row of pretzel thins. If you want to balance out all that richness, go for fresh vegetables. I love slicing bell peppers (especially the sweeter yellow ones!) or keeping some crisp celery sticks handy. It’s those fresh veggies that make it feel slightly less guilty!

Remember how I said this is perfect for **game day dips**? If you’re making a full spread for football season, definitely include this alongside something hot, like sliders or wings. This cold dip provides that cool, creamy texture contrast everyone loves between bites of hot snacks.

No matter what you serve it with, just make sure you have plenty of dippers ready because this **savory snack recipe** disappears faster than you can imagine!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for This Appetizer Dip with Cream Cheese

Because this **appetizer dip with cream cheese** has so much creamy goodness—and no oven time involved—storage is super simple, but you do have to respect the dairy!

If you have leftovers (which, let’s be honest, sometimes happens if you serve a really small crowd!), just make sure you cover that original container tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container immediately after you finish serving. Since this dip is meant to be a **cold dip for crackers**, it needs to stay in the fridge when you aren’t actively eating it.

My notes say you can safely keep this dip refrigerated for up to two days. After that, the texture starts losing its vibrant freshness. Honestly, it’s at its absolute peak on Day One, but Day Two is perfectly acceptable, especially if you want to prep for a late-week snack!

Now, about reheating. Because it’s packed with mayo and cream cheese, I really, really don’t recommend heating this up. It’s designed to be served chilled, and warming it can mess with the emulsion, leading to a greasy or separated texture that just isn’t pleasant. It’s better to just let it sit out on the counter for about 20 minutes before serving again to take that deep chill off. If you absolutely insist on serving it slightly warmer than fridge-cold, bringing it slowly up to room temperature a little before guests arrive is the best you can do. It’s a **retro dip recipe** best served cool and intact!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Million Dollar Dip Recipe

I always get questions when people try this dip for the first time, because everyone wants to know if they can tweak it or if they’ve done something wrong! It’s so popular, and that means people are curious about keeping it perfect. Feel free to send me any other questions you have over on my contact page!

Can I make the Neiman Marcus Dip without nuts?

You absolutely can! If you or a guest has an allergy, or you just don’t like that extra crunch, feel free to leave out the sliced almonds entirely. But I have to warn you: that crunch from the almonds, combined with the bacon pieces, is what gives this **creamy cheese dip** that fantastic texture contrast. If you take them out, the dip will be softer and more uniformly creamy, but you lose a little bit of that fun texture adventure in every scoop.

Is this Savory Snack Recipe better warm or cold?

This is one of those absolute must-serve-cold dishes! This **savory snack recipe** is designed to be stirred together, chilled for hours to let those deep flavors meld, and served straight from the fridge. It is never intended to be heated up. If you try to warm it, the mayonnaise and cream cheese can separate, and you’ll end up with a greasy mess instead of that perfectly luscious **cheesy party spread** we’re aiming for. Stick to cold for the best, most authentic results!

Another common question I get is about variations. Can I add other cheeses? Sure! If you want to swap out some of the cheddar for white cheddar or Monterey Jack, that’s totally fine, but always keep the sharp cheddar as the base because that’s where the signature flavor of the Million Dollar Dip recipe comes from. And no one substitutes the bacon, promise?

Understanding the Nutrition of This Classic American Dip

I’m not usually one to count every calorie, you know? My philosophy here is about finding joy, and sometimes joy means eating a big scoop of creamy, cheesy, bacon-y goodness. Plus, when you’re working with cream cheese, bacon, and mayo, it’s not exactly health food—it’s party food! But because some of you lovely readers have asked, I wanted to give you the ballpark figures for what’s in this Classic American dip.

These numbers are just estimated, based on the ingredients I used when I wrote down the recipe—so if you use low-fat mayo or skip some of the bacon (bless your heart!), your numbers will look different! This is based on a serving size of about 1/4 cup, which is honestly a small scoop since this dip is so rich.

Here is the general breakdown:

• Calories: Around 220 per serving. Yep, that’s proof it’s decadent!
• Fat: About 21 grams. Most of that is the good, satisfying kind of fat we love in cheese and bacon.
• Protein: Roughly 8 grams. That bacon and cheese really pack a punch!
• Carbohydrates: Very low, only about 3 grams. It’s a great savory snack recipe if you’re watching carbs, just skip the crackers!

When you’re making food for sharing, it’s good to have an idea, but when you’re serving this amazing **Neiman Marcus Dip**, I hope you focus more on the smiles than the sodium! Bring on the party!

Share Your Neiman Marcus Dip Creations

Well, that’s it! You’ve mixed, you’ve chilled, and now you have the best Million Dollar Dip recipe ready to go. I truly hope that when you serve this glorious, creamy concoction, your guests enjoy it as much as my family does. Food is all about sharing happiness, and I know this cheesy, bacon-filled masterpiece is going to bring a lot of smiles to your gathering.

Once you’ve whipped up this spectacular retro dip recipe, I really want to hear all about it! Did you toast your almonds perfectly? Did someone ask you for the recipe immediately? Please, please leave a rating right here on the page and drop a comment below telling me who you served it to and what you used for dipping. Hearing about your kitchen triumphs is what keeps me going!

And if you snapped a picture of your beautiful spread—maybe it was center stage at a big potluck or cooling off next to your game day spread—share it with the community! Tag me on social media so I can celebrate with you. You can find us over on Facebook, and I love seeing your twists and turns on all these classic dishes. Come say hi over at our Facebook page; I can’t wait to see your amazing **Neiman Marcus Dip** creations!

The Authentic Neiman Marcus (Million Dollar) Dip: Creamy, Cheesy Party Favorite

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Make this easy, creamy Neiman Marcus Dip, also known as Million Dollar Dip. It combines cream cheese, bacon, almonds, and green onions for a savory, irresistible party spread perfect for game days or holidays.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 5 min
• Total Time: 20 min
• Yield: About 3 cups 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Mixing/Chilling
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

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Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise. Mix until smooth.
2. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, cooked bacon, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
3. Fold in the toasted sliced almonds and chopped green onions gently.
4. Cover the bowl and chill the dip for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. This step is key for the best taste.
5. Serve cold with crackers, chips, or vegetable sticks.

Notes

• Toasting the almonds enhances their flavor and crunch. Spread them on a dry skillet over medium heat and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant.
• You can make this dip ahead of time. Prepare it completely and keep it refrigerated for up to 2 days before serving.
• If you are planning your weekly meals, this recipe is a great addition to your meal planning rotation for easy entertaining.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/4 cup
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 2
• Sodium: 350
• Fat: 21
• Saturated Fat: 10
• Unsaturated Fat: 11
• Trans Fat: 0.5
• Carbohydrates: 3
• Fiber: 0
• Protein: 8
• Cholesterol: 45