My Secret Dip (“The Dip”)
There’s something about boat snacks that just hits different. If you know, you know—and if you don’t, let me tell you: they’re just as essential as sunscreen when you’re spending the day out on the water.
For years, I always brought a cold, creamy dip along with chips and crackers every time we hit Lake Murray here in South Carolina. It was easy, it was tasty, and it was tradition.
But one day, on a whim, I decided to pop that dip into the oven instead of chilling it—and y’all…I accidentally struck gold. What came out was warm, bubbly, golden brown goodness that I’ve been making ever since.
Now, “The Dip” is a go-to appetizer in our house whether we're hosting friends or just want to have a snack.
One of my favorite mid-summer traditions is heading out on Lake Murray in the evening to watch the purple martins. If you’ve never seen it, it’s like something out of a dream. Every July and August, hundreds of thousands of these little birds roost on Bomb Island, and people gather on boats from all over to watch the sky turn into a swirling cloud of wings at sunset. It’s one of those simple but magical South Carolina moments.
To me, food equals family, and family equals time together. And spending time on Lake Murray—especially during purple martin season—is one of the ways we stay connected. So whether you're whipping up the cold version of “The Dip” for your next boat day or baking the creamy masterpiece for a family get-together, or just because you're craving something comforting and delicious, I hope it brings a little piece of that joy to your table.
Ready to make it? Let’s dive in.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
*Note: This dip can be served either hot or cold.
Ingredients:
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing & Seasoning Mix
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. whipped cream cheese
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 2.8 oz. jar of Hormel Real Bacon Pieces
½ cup chopped green onion
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl mix all ingredients until combined and transfer to an ungreased 9x11” casserole dish.
If serving cold skip the oven all together and just transfer to a serving dish.
If serving warm, bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Serve with crackers or cut veggies. (I prefer to serve with Fritos Scoop!)
Enjoy!
