My dad demanded I make a double batch of this for his weekend cookout after he tried it once. You only need 4 ingredients to make everyone beg for the recipe

This southern 4-ingredient BLT dip is the kind of recipe that quietly shows up at a family cookout and then suddenly everyone is hovering over the dish, asking who made it. The first time I brought it to my parents’ house, my dad took one bite, looked at me, and said, “You’re making a double batch of this for the cookout next weekend.” It’s creamy, smoky, and packed with that classic BLT flavor, but without any fussy steps or long ingredient list—just four things you can grab on a busy weeknight. It fits right in with all the church potluck and backyard barbecue recipes I grew up with in the Midwest: comforting, simple, and dangerously easy to keep scooping.

Serve this BLT dip chilled or slightly cool in a shallow glass casserole dish so everyone can see the creamy base topped with crispy bacon and bright red tomatoes. I like it with sturdy dippers: ridged potato chips, buttery crackers, toasted baguette slices, or thick-cut pita chips so they don’t break in the dip. It also makes a fun twist on a veggie tray—set it out with celery sticks, cucumber rounds, and bell pepper strips. For a cookout, park it on the snack table next to a big bowl of chips and a veggie platter, and if you have leftovers, spread it inside a wrap or on toast the next day for an easy BLT-style lunch.

Servings: 8-10

8 oz cream cheese, softened

Cook the bacon first so it has time to cool. Lay the bacon strips in a single layer in a large skillet or on a sheet pan. Cook over medium heat on the stove, or bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–20 minutes, until very crisp. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel–lined plate to drain and cool completely. Once cooled, crumble or chop into small pieces.

Prep the tomatoes while the bacon cooks. Dice the tomatoes into small, bite-size pieces. Place them on a layer of paper towels and gently press another paper towel on top to blot away excess moisture. This helps keep the dip from getting watery.

Make the creamy base. In a medium mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise. Use a hand mixer or a sturdy spatula to beat or stir until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and well combined, with no lumps of cream cheese remaining.

Assemble the dip in a glass casserole dish. Spread the cream cheese–mayonnaise mixture evenly in the bottom of an 8×8-inch or similar-size glass casserole dish, smoothing the top with a spatula so you have a flat, even layer. This will be your creamy base.

Add the bacon layer. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon evenly over the entire surface of the creamy base, making sure you cover all the way to the edges so every scoop gets plenty of bacon. Reserve a small handful if you’d like to sprinkle a little extra on top right before serving.

Top with tomatoes. Scatter the diced, patted-dry tomatoes evenly over the bacon layer. Gently press them down just a bit so they settle into the bacon without getting buried. If you saved any bacon, sprinkle it over the tomatoes for a little extra color and crunch.

Chill before serving. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving, or up to 8 hours. This helps the flavors meld and keeps the layers looking neat. Right before setting it out, you can dab off any excess moisture from the tomatoes with a paper towel if needed.

Serve. Serve the dip chilled directly from the glass casserole dish with sturdy chips, crackers, or sliced veggies for dipping. Keep the dish on a bed of ice or return it to the fridge after 2 hours if you’re at a warm outdoor cookout.

You can tweak this 4-ingredient BLT dip a few ways without making it fussy. For a little extra freshness, stir a handful of finely chopped green onions or chives into the creamy base (this technically adds a 5th ingredient, but it’s worth it if you love onion flavor). If you want a slightly lighter version, use light cream cheese and a good-quality light mayonnaise; just avoid fat-free, which can make the dip watery. For a smoky kick, use thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon or sprinkle a pinch of smoked paprika over the top right before serving. If fresh tomatoes are out of season, you can swap in well-drained, diced canned tomatoes or halved grape tomatoes—just make sure to blot them very dry so they don’t water down the dip. To make it more meal-like, spread leftovers on toasted bread, stuff into lettuce wraps, or use as a filling for tortillas with extra lettuce. Food safety tips: Always cook bacon until it reaches a safe crispness and no visible raw fat remains; discard any bacon that has an off smell or color. Let cooked bacon cool on clean paper towels or a rack, and wash your hands and cutting board after handling raw bacon. Keep the dip refrigerated until serving, and do not leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if it’s above 90°F/32°C at an outdoor cookout). Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3 days, discarding any dip that has been left out too long or shows signs of spoilage.