Bacon Ranch Cheese Bread
Life is hard. Bacon makes it better. Especially this enticingly easy, amazingly epic Bacon Ranch Cheese Bread!
Gooey, melt-in-your-mouth Bacon Ranch Cheese Bread is the ultimate delicious homemade fast food recipe! With just 5 ingredients (butter, ranch dip mix, bacon, mozzarella and cheddar) and 5 minutes, you can turn a loaf of French bread into your new favorite food!
The Best Recipe for Every Occasion!
Cheesy Bacon Bread is super yummy, like Crock Pot Crack Chicken – SO fabulous you can’t stop returning for more! But the other awesome thing about this recipe (besides the bacon and cheese, of course!) is its versatility! It is simply a fabulous option for every day and every event! Bacon cheese bread makes a great afterschool snack, a quick lunch, a game day appetizer, and even a delicious, colorful addition to your holiday table that everyone will love!
Other Recipes to Serve with Bacon Cheese Bread
- Nothing complements cheese bread quite like Slow Cooker Classic Tomato Soup!
- Grape Salad is a cool, sweet side dish that perfectly accompanies warm, savory, cheesy bacon ranch bread!
Ingredients
Bread: A whole loaf of French bread or sourdough makes such a delicious foundation for this cheese toast recipe!
Cheese: We use shredded mozzarella and mild cheddar for this bread because they melt beautifully and taste great together!
Bacon: Cooked, chopped, crispy, delicious BACON brings all the meaty, savory goodness to this bread!
Ranch Spread: A packet of Ranch Dip Mix and unsalted butter combine to make the flavorful bread spread that makes this recipe unique!
How to Make Bacon Ranch Cheese Bread
STEP ONE: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix the softened butter and the dry ranch dip mix until well combined. Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise. Place the two sides of the bread, cut side up, onto a large baking sheet. Spread the ranch butter generously onto the bread.
STEP TWO: Top the bread with crispy, cooked, chopped bacon. Mix the two cheeses and layer on top of the bacon.
STEP THREE: Bake in the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted. Flip the oven to broil and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese gets a golden brown top. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
STEP FOUR: Slice the loaves into your desired size pieces—bite-sized strips, big, French bread pizza halves, or anything in between. Enjoy as is, or serve with a delicious dipping sauce!
Tips for Success
- Add marinara as a dipping sauce for a quick French bread pizza lunch!
- Top with cilantro jalapenos or green onions for an extra kick of flavor!
- Grating a block of cheese instead of buying pre-shredded cheese results in ooier, gooier cheesiness!
- Use a whole packet of ranch mix if you love that strong ranch flavor, or a half packet for just a hint of ranch goodness!
- A serrated bread knife best cuts into the bacon ranch cheese bread.
What Cheese Makes the Best Cheese Bread?
To make cheese bread with the best flavor and texture, the key is to use multiple cheeses! Look for the ones with the most moisture. White cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and American are always delicious. But even firmer cheeses like sharp cheddar, gouda, or Swiss cheese can add a great depth of flavor if paired with a softer partner! I even use pepper jack for a little kick and extra flavor sometimes. And don’t forget about a slather of cream cheese if you want your bread extra rich and creamy! Mix it with the butter and ranch to make the spread.
What is Pull-Apart Bread?
Pull-apart bread is simply a way of pre-cutting the bread loaf into cube shapes, changing the presentation.
With pull-apart bread (sometimes called monkey bread), the toppings are placed between the slices. The advantage is that the presentation is pretty, looking much like a blooming onion. The disadvantage is that pulling it apart leaves the entire crust uneaten.
The Best Ever Bacon Ranch Recipes!
- Bacon Ranch Chicken
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake
- Sriracha Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
- Layered Bacon Ranch Dip
- Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
*This post originally posted on 02/22/2016.
Bacon Ranch Cheese Bread
Equipment
- Parchment Paper or Aluminum Foil
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread lengthwise
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 ounce ranch dressing mix (see note)
- ½ pound bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Slice the loaf of french bread in half lengthwise so the top and bottom are separated. Place the bread on the baking sheet with the cut sides up.
- Mix the butter and dry ranch mix in a small mixing bowl until evenly combined. Spread half of the butter mixture onto each loaf half, edge to edge.
- Spread the bacon crumbles all over the bread. Mix the mozzarella and cheddar in a mixing bowl and then divide between the two loaves over the bacon.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melty. Then broil on high for 2-3 minutes to brown top.
- Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with a little chopped parsley if desired, and then slice and serve.
