This Asiago Kale Dip with Bacon is a beautiful alternative to the more commonly known spinach and artichoke dip. It's easy to make, creamy, flavorful, and beautiful. Serve this warm dip with crispy pita chips, fresh pita bread, or Naan, and you'll have a go-to appetizer for dinner parties and potlucks.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you want to switch up your appetizer game, this Amazing Asiago Kale Dip with Bacon is the dip for you. The flavors of Fontina and Asiago pair perfectly together. Combined with Kale and Smokey Bacon, that makes for a full-flavored dip different from any other. Plus, it's super easy to make and is ready to serve in less than an hour.
Ingredients
You'll likely already have most of the ingredients for this fancy-flavored dip. However, some particular ingredients make this as outstanding as it is, and those are as follows...
- Fresh Kale
- Thick Cut Bacon
- Yellow Onion
- Fresh Garlic
- Pinot Grigio
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Asiago Cheese
- Fontina Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Black Pepper
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by preheating the oven to 350°F.
Next, cook the bacon in a Cast Iron Skillet over medium-high heat until it gets nice and crispy. Once the bacon is done cooking, transfer the slices to a paper towel-lined plate and let them cool.
When the bacon has cooled, crumble or slice it and set it aside.
In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the diced Onion, sautéing for about 5 minutes.
Now, working in batches, add the kale and cook it down until the whole 1 lb bag has been added.
Add the garlic and pour the wine and vinegar, stirring to combine thoroughly. Simmer the mixture for about 4-5 minutes.
Remove the skillet from the heat.
Incorporate the remaining ingredients by stirring them in until everything is well combined.
Lastly, bake the Asiago Kale Dip for 30 minutes, then set the oven to broil for about 1 - 1 ½ minutes.
Remove the skillet, add the crumbled bacon on top, and serve with Pita Chips, Pita Bread, or Naan.
Expert Tips
- Do not discard the bacon grease. Instead, sauté the onions, garlic, and kale in the same pan. This will add incredible flavor to your dip. Plus, it makes for easier cleanup.
- Keep an eye on the dip during the broiling process. This step is to add color to the top of the dish and make the bacon extra crispy. But you certainly don't want to burn the top of this dish.
Recipe FAQs
No, Asiago has a more nutty and bitter flavor than Parmesan. Plus, when being melted, it has a more silky smooth texture than stringy.
Asiago cheese is similar to Parmesan but has a more nutty, buttery, and bitter flavor.
Kale and Spinach are very different in flavor and texture. Kale has a more bitter flavor and, when cooked, isn't quite as soft and silky as spinach. However, in a dip, for example, this can create a very pleasing mouth feel and make the recipe stand out on its own.
Fontina cheese has more of an earthy and nutty flavor and is a creamy, semi-soft cheese, while Mozzarella is soft with a semi-sweet flavor. Both complement each other well in certain recipes.
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📖 Recipe
Amazing Asiago Kale Dip with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb Fresh Kale - stemmed
- 6 Strips Thick Cut Bacon
- 1 Yellow Onion - diced
- 1 Tbsp. Minced Garlic
- ¼ Cup Pinot Grigio
- 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 5 Oz Asiago Cheese - shredded
- 5 Oz Fontina Cheese - shredded
- 8 Oz Cream Cheese - cubed
- ½ Cup Mayonnaise
- ½ tsp. Crushed Red Pepper
- ½ tsp. Black Pepper
- Pita Chips for Serving
Instructions
- Begin by preheating the oven to 350°F.
- Over medium-high heat, cook the bacon in a Cast Iron Skillet until it gets nice and crispy. Once the bacon is done cooking, transfer the slices to a paper towel-lined plate and let them cool.
- When the bacon has cooled, crumble or slice it and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the diced Onion, sautéing for about 5 minutes.
- Now, working in batches, add the kale and cook it down until the whole 1 lb bag has been added.
- Add the garlic and pour the wine and vinegar, stirring to combine thoroughly. Simmer the mixture for about 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and incorporate the remaining ingredients to combine thoroughly.
- Top with crumbled bacon and serve with Pita Chips, Pita Bread, or Naan.
Notes
- Do not discard the bacon grease. Instead, sauté the onions, garlic, and kale in the same pan. This will add incredible flavor to your dip. Plus, it makes for easier clean up.
- Keep an eye on the dip during the broiling process. This step is to add color to the top of the dish and make the bacon extra crispy. But you certainly don't want to burn the top of this dish.
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