Neiman Marcus Million Dollar Dip Recipe

This Neiman Marcus Million Dollar Dip recipe is a crowd-pleasing concoction of cheddar cheese, bacon, and slivered almonds that is guaranteed to disappear fast.

If you’re not familiar with this appetizing dip, it has an interesting backstory. The original Million Dollar Dip originated in the store’s flagship restaurant, The Zodiac Room in Dallas, where it was an instant hit with the restaurant’s patrons.

So what makes this dip so special? If you ask me, it’s the perfect combination of salty and savory, with just the right amount of crunch from the crispy bacon and toasted almonds.

And the best part? This party favorite is super easy to make! With just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps, you can whip up a batch of creamy, crunchy dip that will have your party guests begging for the recipe.

If you love cheesy bacon dips as much as we do, be sure to check out our recipes for:

• Bacon Horseradish Dip (Heluva Good copycat recipe)
• Baked Bacon and Brie
• Crockpot Jalapeno Popper Dip
• Cream Cheese Dip with Bacon and Caramelized Onions.

How I Modified the Original Recipe

I made a few tweaks to the original recipe, beginning with the addition of MORE BACON. (Are you surprised?)

The base of the original recipe is all mayonnaise, which was a little rich for my tastebuds. Adding some tasty sour cream to the mix gave the dip amazing soft, creamy texture, and the combination tastes so good.

Finally, I swapped out one of the chopped green onions for a little savory ranch seasoning. The flavor is pure heaven!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Shown from the top, here’s what you’ll need to prepare this tasty dip.

3/4 cup sour cream – Full fat sour cream will add the most flavor, but low fat sour cream will work just fine if that’s what you have on hand. You can also substitute full fat Greek yogurt for the sour cream.

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese – Sharp cheddar will give the most flavor, and you can either grate your own or use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe. For a different taste, you can use grated Swiss cheese instead.

3/4 cups mayonnaise – For the best flavor, make sure you use real mayo for this recipe. (Our favorite is rich, creamy Duke’s mayo!)

1/2 cup slivered almonds – Look for the freshest package you can find of blanched, slivered almonds. 1/2 cup is equivalent to about 2 ounces.

1 tablespoon ranch dip mix – This savory seasoning tastes so good, and rounds out the flavors of the other ingredients.

1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper – Just a pinch adds a little hint of spicy flavor. You can substitute red pepper flakes, or add a dash of your favorite hot sauce for more heat.

1 green onion, thinly sliced – The original recipe calls for 2 sliced green onions (also called scallions), but we’re not huge green onion lovers here and found this amount a little overpowering.

Instead, I used just one green onion and added a little ranch seasoning to complete the mix. You can also substitute chopped chives for the green onions.

8 slices bacon – Feel free to use your favorite type of bacon — smoked, unsmoked, thick-sliced or regular! Fresh bacon always tastes best, but if you’re in a hurry you can use pre-cooked bacon bits.

Equipment and Supplies Needed

You don’t need any fancy kitchen equipment to make this dip:

• A large skillet, like our favorite frying pan for cooking bacon
• Paper towels, for draining the cooked bacon
• Baking Sheet
• Cooling rack
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Spatula or spoon for mixing
• Serving bowl

Step by Step Instructions

Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crispy. (Note: If you prefer, you can cook the bacon in the oven, a microwave, the grill, a pellet smoker, or even a crock pot!)

Drain the bacon on paper towels, and chop or crumble it in small pieces.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until fragrant and lightly browned, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Put the pan on a wire rack, and cool to room temperature.

In a serving bowl, combine the mayonnaise and sour cream until blended. 

Add the ranch dressing mix and cayenne pepper, and stir until combined.

Reserve 1 tablespoon of the crumbled bacon for garnish, and add the rest to the dip mix. Add the cheese and toasted almonds and stir until blended. 

I forgot to add the cayenne pepper earlier, but no problem!

It really doesn’t matter what order you add the ingredients, as long as everything gets combined well.

Once everything is well combined, garnish the dip with the reserved crumbled bacon and chopped green onions.

You can serve it right away, or refrigerate it, tightly wrapped, for an hour or two before serving.

What to Serve with Million Dollar Dip

Sturdy dippers work best with this hearty dip, such as:

• Potato chips (especially the ridged kind)
• Cut fresh vegetables 
• Assorted crackers 
• Bagel chips
• Pita chips
• Carrot sticks
• Tortilla chips
• Pretzels
• Corn chips
• Fritos scoops

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover dip in an airtight container or a dish tightly covered with covered with plastic wrap for up to 2 days.

Can This Recipe Be Made in Advance?

Yes, you can make it up to 2 days ahead of time. Reserve 1 tablespoon crumbled bacon in a small covered container or baggie to sprinkle on the dip for garnish right before serving.

You can serve the dip straight from the refrigerator, or let it sit at room temperature for an hour or so to let it warm up.

Can You Freeze This Dip?

We don’t recommend freezing it, as mayonnaise based dips don’t retain their nice, creamy texture when they’re thawed after freezing. This Neiman Marcus cheese dip is best enjoyed fresh.

Recipe Variations

To vary the flavors of this Neiman Marcus Million Dollar dip recipe, feel free to experiment and add an additional ingredient such as:

• Chopped fresh jalapenos or roasted green chiles
• Chopped artichoke hearts
• Chopped roasted red bell peppers or pimentos
• Chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• Crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese
• Cooked crabmeat
• A small clove of minced fresh garlic, or a dash of garlic powder

Here’s the full, printable recipe card:

Got questions? Just ask! I’m happy to help.

If you post your creations on social media, tag #BENSABaconLovers so I can share! Thank you for your support. – Eliza

Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline.

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