Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 small onion, finely diced (about ½ cup)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup diced dill pickles, well drained
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until fully browned and no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the beef and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Create the creamy base: Reduce heat to low. Add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and combines with the beef, creating a smooth, creamy mixture. This takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the burger essentials: Stir in the ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce until evenly distributed. Fold in the diced pickles and 1½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese melts and everything is well combined.
- Finish and serve: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese over the top. You can either let it melt on the stovetop (cover the skillet for 2 minutes) or transfer the dip to a baking dish and broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish and enjoy: Top with your favorite burger toppings like diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, extra pickles, or crumbled bacon. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, crackers, pretzels, or vegetable sticks.
Notes
- Make it spicier: Add diced jalapeños, hot sauce, or pepper jack cheese
- Bacon upgrade: Cook 4-6 strips of bacon, crumble, and stir into the dip or use as a topping
- Lighter version: Use ground turkey, reduced-fat cream cheese, and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
- Oven method: After step 4, transfer to a baking dish, top with remaining cheese, and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until bubbly
- Consistency tip: If the dip seems too thick, add 2-3 tablespoons of milk to reach desired consistency
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup (based on 10 servings)
- Calories: 312
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 542mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 78mg