Neiman Marcus Million Dollar Dip is rich just like its name implies. It is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with bacon, almonds, and sliced green onions. If you are looking for the best cheese dip recipe for entertaining anytime and anywhere, this is the one!
This Million Dollar Dip really lives up to its name. It is an over-the-top, irresistible cheese and bacon dip that keeps you wanting more!
This dip starts with a mixture of cream cheese with mayo and is loaded with bacon, sliced green onions, toasted almonds, and two kinds of shredded cheese.
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What Is Neiman Marcus Million Dollar Dip?
Also called Neiman Marcus Dip, Million Dollar Dip, and Millionaire Dip, this dip is a rich and creamy cheese dip that has been around for decades and tastes like a million dollars.
The original recipe called "Almond Bacon Cheese Spread" was developed in the early to mid-1950s by Helen Corbitt, the Director of Food Services for Neiman Marcus. It was served for many years in The Zodiac restaurant at the main Neiman Marcus store in Dallas, Texas, and has been talked about, copied, and shared for decades.
Why This Recipe Works
Two words. Creamy and umami. Bacon and green onion are a classic combination that is loaded with umami flavor. Add them to a creamy base and you have a dip that is timeless.
This is one of those recipes that allows for a lot of customizations and substitutions until you get the flavor you prefer. It always starts with the core ingredients of cream cheese, shredded cheese, cooked bacon, and finely sliced green onions. These particular ingredients make this dip creamy, cheezy, and bacony good.
You then add seasonings like garlic powder and freshly ground black pepper to kick up the creamy base flavor and a scattering of toasted slivered almonds gives much-needed texture and crunch.
I've listed lots of substitutions and variations you can try, but you really can't go wrong with the recipe just as is. So, let's cook!
Ingredients
Here's what you need for this Neiman Marcus Million Dollar Dip:
- Cream Cheese - Full-fat cream cheese is what makes this dip luscious and "expensive" tasting.
- Mayonnaise - Use a neutral-flavored mayonnaise that doesn't have a strong lemon or vinegar flavor.
- Slivered Almonds - Almonds give a lovely crunch and toasting them brings out their flavor.
- Bacon - Did I say bacon? Yes! This dip contains crisp fried bacon that is crumbled or chopped. This recipe is loaded with bacon, so consider baking the bacon to make it quickly and perfectly.
- Green Onions - Green onions, also known as scallions, are mild and fresh tasting.
- Swiss Cheese - I like to use a mild Swiss cheese like Baby Swiss or Jarlsberg.
- Cheddar Cheese - Medium Cheddar cheese is my pick so that all the flavors blend harmoniously.
- Garlic Powder - Just a small amount of garlic powder makes this dip very savory.
- Black Pepper - Always use freshly ground black pepper that will give a tinge of heat and a slightly floral scent.
Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Neiman Marcus Million Dollar Dip
Toast the slivered almonds in a small frying pan over medium-low heat for 4 to 6 minutes until they are golden brown. Shake the pan often to prevent the almonds from becoming too brown.
Pro Tip! – If you smell the nuts toasting the heat is too high and they are burning.
Beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large-sized bowl with a wire whisk until it is soft and fluffy.
Add the toasted slivered almonds, chopped or crumbled bacon, green onions, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, onion powder, and black pepper, and mix well.
Transfer the dip to a container for the refrigerator, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the flavors to meld and marry.
Serve the dip with crackers, small toasts, and celery sticks.
My Top Tips
♡ Make this dip at least 2 hours before serving it so that the flavors can develop throughout the dip.
♡ This is a firm dip and thin chips just won't work. So, serve it as a dip or a spread with slices of toasted baguettes, hearty crackers, and firm veggies.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Many recipes state that you can mix it and serve it immediately. But this dip is better if it is made at least 2 hours in advance and is even better if made a day in advance.
Simply store any leftover dip in the refrigerator in a sealed container. It will keep for up to 5 days.
Unfortunately, no. You can't freeze this dip because it contains dairy and mayonnaise.
This is a hearty dip, so you can serve it with crackers, small toasts, thick tortilla chips, pretzels, celery sticks, carrots, and sticks of zucchini, or jicama.
It is also delicious when served with a charcuterie board and goes well with grilled meats and chicken.
Substitutions & Variations
- ADD WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE - This is my favorite thing to add to anything creamy. It adds a "certain something" that enhances creamy dishes and just makes them taste better.
- SUBSTITUTE YOUR FAVORITE CHEESES - Instead of Swiss and cheddar cheese, you can substitute your favorite cheeses, like Colby, cheddar jack, Cotswald cheddar, manchego, or gouda.
- SUBSTITUTE MIRACLE WHIP - Instead of mayonnaise substitute Miracle Whip Salad Dressing. Some people prefer Miracle Whip and others only eat mayo. Luckily they are interchangeable in this recipe.
- SUBSTITUTE SOUR CREAM - You can substitute sour cream for up to half of the mayonnaise, which will give a tangy flavor to the dip.
- USE HORMEL REAL CRUMBLED BACON - Instead of cooking bacon and chopping it, you can use ¾ to 1 cup of cooked bacon crumbles.
- ADD HOT SAUCE - If you like a small kick of heat add 1 teaspoon of hot sauce, like Tobasco, Cholula, or Tapatio.
- ADD CAYENNE PEPPER - You can also add ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to add heat.
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Neiman Marcus Million Dollar Dip
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Slivered Almonds, Toasted
- 8 Ounces Cream Cheese
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- ½ Pound Cooked Bacon, Chopped or Crumbled (8 to 9 slices)
- 4 Green Onions, Thinly Sliced
- 1 Cup Swiss Cheese, Shredded (Jarlsberg)
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
- ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Toast the slivered almonds in a small frying pan over medium-low heat for 4 to 6 minutes until they are golden brown. Shake the pan often to prevent the almonds from becoming too brown. Pro Tip – If you smell the nuts toasting the heat is too high and they are burning.½ Cup Slivered Almonds
- Beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large-sized bowl with a wire whisk until it is soft and fluffy.8 Ounces Cream Cheese, 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- Add the toasted slivered almonds, chopped bacon, green onions, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and black pepper and mix well.½ Pound Cooked Bacon, 4 Green Onions, 1 Cup Swiss Cheese, 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese, ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder, ¼ teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Transfer the dip to a container for the refrigerator, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the flavors to meld and marry.
- Serve the dip with crackers, small toasts, and celery sticks.
Notes
- ADD WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE - This is my favorite thing to add to anything creamy. It adds a "certain something" that enhances creamy dishes and just makes them taste better.
- SUBSTITUTE YOUR FAVORITE CHEESES - Instead of Swiss and cheddar cheese, you can substitute your favorite cheeses, like Colby, cheddar jack, Cotswald cheddar, manchego, or gouda.
- SUBSTITUTE MIRACLE WHIP - Instead of mayonnaise substitute Miracle Whip Salad Dressing. Some people prefer Miracle Whip and others only eat mayo. Luckily they are interchangeable in this recipe.
- SUBSTITUTE SOUR CREAM - You can substitute sour cream for up to half of the mayonnaise, which will give a tangy flavor to the dip.
- USE HORMEL REAL CRUMBLED BACON - Instead of cooking bacon and chopping it, you can use ¾ to 1 cup of cooked bacon crumbles.
- ADD HOT SAUCE - If you like a small kick of heat add 1 teaspoon of hot sauce, like Tobasco, Cholula, or Tapatio.
- ADD CAYENNE PEPPER - You can also add ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to add heat.
Nutrition Per Serving
All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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