Ingredients
1 lb (450g) hot pork sausage (breakfast sausage like Jimmy Dean)
1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup sour cream
8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed (or 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried parsley
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
— For Serving —
Chopped green onions (for garnish)
Fritos, tortilla chips, or ritz crackers
Instructions
1. **Preheat:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking dish or a deep pie dish.
2. **Cook Sausage:** Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork sausage and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until the sausage is browned and the onions are soft (about 7–10 minutes).
3. **Drain:** Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Drain the excess grease from the skillet thoroughly.
4. **Mix Base:** In a large bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, dried parsley, and cayenne until smooth and combined.
5. **Combine:** Add the cooked sausage mixture and the cubed Velveeta (or shredded cheddar) to the bowl. Stir well to distribute the ingredients evenly.
6. **Bake:** Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake uncovered for 45–50 minutes, or until the dip is hot, bubbly, and slightly browned on top.
7. **Serve:** Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve warm with Fritos or crackers.
Notes
Cheese Choice: Velveeta is traditional for this recipe because it melts into a perfectly smooth liquid gold texture. If you prefer real cheese, use freshly shredded Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack, but the texture will be slightly oilier.
Sausage: ‘Hot’ breakfast sausage gives the best flavor balance against the rich cream cheese. If you use mild sausage, add a pinch more cayenne or red pepper flakes.
Slow Cooker: You can dump the cooked/drained sausage and all other ingredients into a Crockpot. Cook on Low for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally.
Make Ahead: Assemble the dip in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add 10 minutes to the baking time when cooking cold.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Southern American
- Diet: Gluten Free