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    Home » Recipes » Smoky Beer Cheese Dip with White Cheddar

    Smoky Beer Cheese Dip with White Cheddar

    Jan 20, 2019 · Modified: Sep 3, 2020 by Mackenzie Ryan · This post may contain affiliate links | Disclosure policy in footer.

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    Title text "smoky beer cheese dip" over a picture of bread being dipped into dip

    Use this beer cheese dip recipe as a complement to soft pretzels, sausages, or with tortilla chips. This game day favorite is super easy with just and can be as smoky as you want.

    hands dipping a piece of bread into beer cheese dip

    Beer cheese dip is the ultimate game day appetizer. Made with extra sharp white cheddar cheese, garlic, and your favorite beer, the combination is a super bowl hit. Most people serve it with pretzels, but for today’s recipe, I’m using some delicious seared sausage slices. Don’t worry though, you can always put some additional soft pretzel bites on the side for a more traditional dip.

    What Is Beer Cheese Dip?

    Beer cheese dip is, at its core, a thickened cheddar cheese sauce. It is made with shredded cheddar cheese, your favorite beer, and can be served either cold or hot. (Cold is often referred to as “pub-style” and used as a spread/dip.)

    Whether you use this recipe or another, make sure to follow the instructions about liquid amounts. If you add too much, it quickly becomes beer cheese soup

    What Kind of Beer For Beer Cheese Dip?

    When you choose the beer for this beer cheese dip recipe, the important thing is to choose one you like. If you’re not a fan of deep and malty beers, don’t choose a stout. If you hate hoppy beers, avoid IPA’s. The beer you choose greatly affects the flavor, so choose according to you (or your guest’s) tastes.

    If you’re not a beer drinker, or you’re just not sure where to start, I recommend an amber or a red. (A “red” is a type of beer. I didn’t forget to finish the sentence.) Both of these tend to be middle-of-the-road in flavor, with a balance of both hops and malts.

    Cast iron pan of beer cheese dip surrounded by bowls of things to dip in it

    Can Beer Cheese Dip Be Made Ahead?

    If you are serving your dip cold, making it ahead is easy. In fact, I recommend it. It gives the beer flavor time to truly impart itself so it shines.

    If you’re serving the dip hot, you can make it ahead, but there will be a few things to watch for. Primarily in the reheating. When you reheat the beer cheese dip, you want it to reheat as evenly as possible. The best way to do this is to use a low heat so it doesn’t scorch to the side of the pot. Also, as the dip chills in the refrigerator, it will turn into a blob. Cut the cheddar cheese mass into uniform sized pieces before melting. This helps keep the outside from burning before the middle heats through.

    What Goes With Beer Cheese Dip

    For this beer cheese dip recipe, there are many things you can choose to dip into it. Some great dipping items include:

    • Homemade pretzels
    • Tortilla Chips (I find the tri-colored ones for an extra beautiful presentation).
    • Crudité vegetables
    • Green apple slices
    • Seared sausage bites
    • Pretzel rods
    • Potato chips
    • Baguette slices
    • Crackers
    • Bacon chips
    • Jalapeno poppers

    Tips For Making The Best Beer Cheese Dip

    If you want a beer cheese dip that is out of this world, I recommend brushing up on these culinary techniques. You’ll be so glad you did.

    • How To Get Crisp Crudité Veggies.  This method is called “blanching and shocking” and gives you crisp, but slightly cooked vegetables for dipping. Additionally, it locks in the bright color of the veggies so they are vibrant.
    • Buy and Store Apples.  If you choose to use apple slices, check out this post for tips on buying the right kind of apples for this dip recipe.
    • How To Make A Roux.  This is how the beer cheese dip is thickened. If you incorporate the liquid incorrectly, it can leave the dip clumpy.
    A cast iron pan filled with beer cheese dip

    Happy National Cheese Lovers Day

    This post is a collaboration celebrating National Cheese Lovers Day. If you want to check out some of the other cheesy delicious recipes, look below.
    Chicken Madeira by House of Nash Eats
    Gooey, Gorgeous Raclette from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
    Easy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake from Cooking For My Soul
    Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
    Slow Cooker Creamy Mac and Cheese with Bacon from Cheese Curd in Paradise
    Baked Parmesan Cheddar Crisps from Blogghetti
    Smoky Beer Cheese Dip with White Cheddar from Food Above Gold
    Layered Chili Mac and Cheese from Palatable Pastime
    Cheese Danish from Kate’s Recipe Box
    Macaroni and Cheese Pierogi from The Spiffy Cookie
    Waffled Pizza Bites from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
    Pizza Grilled Cheese from A Day in the Life on the Farm
    Sweet Gherkin Pimento Cheese Spread from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
    Easy Cheese Sauce from The Gingered Whisk
    Creamy Homemade White Cheddar Mac n Cheese from Jonesin’ for Taste
    Adjaruli Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread) from Caroline’s Cooking
    Cheese Charcuterie and Pickled Onions from Our Good Life

    White Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip Recipe

    Don't skip the step of simmering the beer and roux (the butter and flour mixture.)  This helps remove the taste of the flour and gives your beer cheese dip a much better flavor. It's only five minutes.


    Want a free printable grocery list for this beer cheese dip recipe? Get it HERE.


    Use this grocery list to help simplify shopping. Everything is listed in standard grocery store amounts. If no size is specified, even the smallest package will provide more than enough.

    Happy Cooking! 🙂

    A piece of bread being dipped into smoky beer cheese dip in a cast iron pan
    5 from 4 votes

    Smoky Beer Cheese Dip with White Cheddar

    The smoky flavor of this white cheddar beer cheese dip can be as light or as strong as you want.  Dip some fresh veggies, bread, chips, or sausages into this dip for a great game day appetizer.
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Mackenzie Ryan
    12 servings
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
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    Ingredients

    • 2 Tablespoons butter
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 Tablespoons flour
    • 1 cup beer
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 2 cups grated extra sharp white cheddar cheese
    • 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

    Instructions

    • In a 6 inch cast iron pan over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add in the minced garlic and cook until translucent.  Stir in the flour and let cook for one minute.
    • Reduce the heat and slowly stir in the beer and mustard.  Simmer for [/timer]5 minutes and stir in the cheese until melted.  Add in the smoked paprika and serve. 

    Notes

    For a stronger smoky flavor, trade out the regular cheddar cheese for a smoked cheddar cheese.  
    Since most shredded cheese from the store has an anti-caking ingredient added, your beer cheese dip will have a better texture if you freshly grate the cheese.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 256mg | Potassium: 50mg | Vitamin A: 520IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 273mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Tell me how much you love this recipeand show off how you made it!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ashley says

      January 22, 2019 at 6:55 pm

      5 stars
      Wisconsin girl checking in! I love this recipe, and I am loving the sliced brats you have with your cheese dip. I can't wait to give this one a try. I am partial to Spotted Cow beer from WI in cheese dips.

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        January 22, 2019 at 8:50 pm

        The brats are such a fun accompaniment! It's nice to break away from the traditional soft pretzels.

        Reply
    2. Terri Steffes says

      January 21, 2019 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      I’m in love with this recipe. I hope to make it for the super bowl. Yum.

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        January 22, 2019 at 6:29 am

        It's a perfect recipe for game day! Always a big hit! I hope you love it!

        Reply
    3. Tania Lau says

      January 21, 2019 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness, this is cheesy perfection 🙂 I super love cheddar cheese, so this is right up my alley. I really love your food photography too.

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        January 21, 2019 at 4:19 pm

        Thank you so much, Tania. As a fellow cheddar cheese lover, I would be standing at the table devouring this with you. 🙂

        Reply
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    5 from 4 votes

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