Get the party started with this epic Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf. Ready in 20 minutes, this warm dip is perfect for gatherings – just don’t expect leftovers!
Why We Love This
The cheese! The bacon! Okay seriously though, this cob loaf is creamy, cheesy goodness at it’s best. It gives us cheese fondue and pizza vibes, making it a very popular crowd pleaser.
This cob loaf is easy and adaptable, so you can stick to the recipe or do any of the variation ideas that suit. Make a double batch if you need it, as we can guarantee there’ll be nothing left at the end.
Related: Chicken & Corn Cob Loaf
What is Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf?
Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf is a popular creamy dip set in a round bread loaf. It’s usually served warm and the insides of the bread are used to dip into the cheese and bacon filling.
You’ll often see a cob loaf on the table at Australian gatherings such as parties, pot luck or at Christmas. No matter the occasion, they’re always a big hit! The flavours vary, but spinach cob loaf is another popular choice.
What You’ll Need
- Cob Loaf – Find a classic round cob loaf, or sub with any other shapes or varieties. As long as it has the height to hold the filling, it will work the same. You can also use little round loaves for individual mini cob loaf dips.
- Cheeses – This recipe boasts 4 different cheeses, perfect for all the cheese lovers out there. We used grated pizza cheese (mozzarella, parmesan and cheddar) alongside the optional half wheel of brie cheese. Sub with any of your favourite cheeses.
- Sour Cream – This helps the dip go further, and adds to to the creaminess. Sub with light sour cream or regular cream.
- Cream Cheese – Regular or light cream cheese will work. You can also sub with French onion or spring onion dip and omit the soup mix flavouring.
- Bacon – Locally produced middle bacon will yield the best flavour. You can get fancy by trying smoked bacon or sub with ham, fritz, chorizo or salami.
- Onion – White onions are great paired with the bacon. Sub with red onion or spring onion (green onion).
- French Onion Soup Mix – This boosts the flavour of the dip overall, so if there’s a particular flavour you’d like to add, get creative and add a tablespoon of your favourite soup stock.
How to make cheese and bacon cob loaf:
- Pre-heat the oven to 110°C / 230°F.
- Slice around 2 cm / 1 inch off the top of the cob loaf, and remove the soft bread inside. Break it up into bite size pieces and place onto a tray lined with baking paper. Add the lid and empty cob loaf and pop the tray into the oven for 5-10 minutes to lightly crisp the bread.
- Meanwhile, place the bacon and onion in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and cook through for around 3-5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and add in the cream cheese and sour cream, mixing until combined.
- Next, pour in the French onion soup mix, optional: brie cheese and the pizza cheese (reserving a handful to top). Mix again until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through (around 2 minutes).
- Remove the cob loaf and bread pieces from the oven and turn the oven up to 200°C / 400°F. Transfer the bread pieces and lid into a bowl ready to serve. Optional: Cut the lid into pieces for dipping too.
- Pour the cheese and bacon dip into the cob loaf and top with the remaining handful of pizza cheese. Place the cob loaf back into the oven for around 10 minutes to melt the cheese on top and warm it a little more.
- Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!
Cob Loaf Flavour Variations:
- Add roto chicken, corn and a tablespoon of curry powder.
- Crab meat is a great addition, especially if you have leftovers at Christmas.
- Spice it up with cayenne pepper, chilli flakes and smoked paprika.
- You can add spinach to this cob loaf, or make our quick and creamy spinach cob loaf.
- Skip the cob altogether and serve it as a cheese and bacon dip in a ramekin or heat proof dish so you can still melt the cheese in the oven.
Wandercook’s Tips
- No Oven? Melt the cheese topping in an air-fryer or Remoska.
- Ran Out of Bread to Dip? Use other things to dip if you run out of bread including corn chips, vegetable sticks or extra bread.
- Watch Your Heat – Warm up your dip slowly in the saucepan. If your heat is too high, it can overcook and boil the cheese and cream – which we don’t want!
FAQs
Do I have to use the oven to make a cheese and bacon cob loaf?
No. You can warm the dip on the stove first, then pour into the cob loaf to serve.
Can you prepare this in advance?
Yes, you can make the dip base and store in the fridge until you’re ready. Then warm up on the stove first before pouring into the cob loaf for serving.
Is cob loaf Australian?
It sure is, and we’re proud of it! It’s one of the best entertaining recipes that continues in popularity at parties and gatherings. The most popular flavours are creamy spinach and cheese and bacon.
More entertaining favourites guaranteed to impress:
★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and a star rating below!
Servings: 1 cob loaf
Calories: 3097kcal
Cost: $10
Ingredients
- 1 cob loaf
- 250 g cream cheese 8.8oz
- 250 g sour cream 8.8oz
- 200 g bacon 7oz, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups pizza cheese grated 150g / 5.3oz (mozzarella, cheddar & parmesan), sub tasty cheese, reserve 1 handful
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tbsp French onion soup mix sub spring vegetable soup mix
Optional
- 100 g brie cheese half a wheel / 3.5oz, sub camembert
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 110°C / 230°F.
- Slice around 2 cm / 1 inch off the top of the cob loaf, and remove the soft bread inside. Break it up into bite size pieces and place onto a tray lined with baking paper. Add the lid and empty cob loaf and pop the tray into the oven for 5-10 minutes to lightly crisp the bread.1 cob loaf
- Meanwhile, place the bacon and onion in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and cook through for around 3-5 minutes.200 g bacon, 1 onion
- Reduce the heat to low and add in the cream cheese and sour cream, mixing until combined.250 g cream cheese, 250 g sour cream
- Next, pour in the French onion soup mix, optional: brie cheese and the pizza cheese (reserving a handful to top). Mix again until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through (around 2 minutes).1 tbsp French onion soup mix, 100 g brie cheese, 1 1/2 cups pizza cheese
- Remove the cob loaf and bread pieces from the oven and turn the oven up to 200°C / 400°F. Transfer the bread pieces and lid into a bowl ready to serve. Optional: Cut the lid into pieces for dipping too.
- Pour the cheese and bacon dip into the cob loaf and top with the remaining handful of pizza cheese. Place the cob loaf back into the oven for around 10 minutes to melt the cheese on top and warm it a little more.
- Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes
- Add roto chicken, corn and a tablespoon of curry powder.
- Crab meat is a great addition, especially if you have leftovers at Christmas.
- Spice it up with cayenne pepper, chilli flakes and smoked paprika.
- Add spinach to this cob loaf, or make our quick and creamy spinach cob loaf.
- Skip the cob altogether and serve it as a cheese and bacon dip in a ramekin or heat proof dish so you can still melt the cheese in the oven.
- No Oven? Melt the cheese topping in an air-fryer or remoska.
- Ran Out of Bread to Dip? Use other things to dip if you run out of bread including corn chips, vegetable sticks or extra bread.
- Watch Your Heat – Warm up your dip slowly in the saucepan. If your heat is too high, it can overcook and boil the cheese and cream – which we don’t want!
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
20 Minute Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf Dip
Amount per Serving
Calories
3097
% Daily Value*
Fat
284
g
437
%
Saturated Fat
128
g
800
%
Trans Fat
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
20
g
Monounsaturated Fat
77
g
Cholesterol
671
mg
224
%
Sodium
3360
mg
146
%
Potassium
1472
mg
42
%
Carbohydrates
38
g
13
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
21
g
23
%
Protein
110
g
220
%
Vitamin A
5583
IU
112
%
Vitamin C
10
mg
12
%
Calcium
1078
mg
108
%
Iron
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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