6-8slicesthick cut bacon, cooked and chopped into small pieces
3Tbspmelted butter
¾cuppanko breadcrumbs
Freshly chopped cilantro for garnish
Crackers, chips, bread, vegetables for dipping
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, add cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream and all the spices, pepper and salt. Mix well with a wooden spoon, and then add in 1 cup sharp cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella, ½ cup Gruyere cheese, drained jalapenos, and all but 2 Tbsp bacon (the remaining bacon will be a garnish).
Spoon the mixture into an 8x8 cake pan. Spread evenly and top with remaining cheeses.
In a medium bowl, mix melted butter and panko together. Evenly spread over cheese layer. Optional to cover and refrigerate and bake later OR pop it right in the oven.
At 350 degrees, bake the dip for 25-30 minutes. The cheese will be melted and the dip hot throughout.
Next step, right before serving, turn the broiler on and broil the dip for 3-5 minutes, or until panko breadcrumbs are golden-brown.
Garnish with remaining bacon and optional fresh chopped cilantro. Serve warm with pita crackers, 1x1" pieces of bread chunks, and then larger slices of veggies (colored bell peppers, carrot sticks, cucumber slices).