Bacon and Cheddar Cheese Curds Bites
These Bacon and Cheddar Cheese Curd Bites make for a delicious appetizer…especially while watching sports! And the smoky ranch dressing? It’s tasty enough to be a dip all by itself!
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 730kcal
Ingredients
For Smoky Ranch Dressing
- 8 oz. sour cream
- 1½ Tbsp powdered ranch seasoning mix
- ¾ tsp smoked paprika
For Toasts
- 1 loaf of French bread
- olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
For Bacon Jam
- 16 oz. thick-cut bacon
- ¾ cup white onion diced
- 2 tsp garlic minced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp chili powder
For Toppings
- 1 box Farm Rich Cheddar Cheese Curds
- ¼ cup green onions
Instructions
For Smoky Ranch Dressing
- Using a medium bowl, combine all ingredients (sour cream, ranch seasoning, smoked paprika) until well blended; set aside.
For Toasts
- Place grill pan over medium-high heat. (See note below.)
- Slice the loaf of French bread widthwise into 3 large pieces; slice each piece lengthwise into thin slices.
- Brush the tops of slices with olive oil and then sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
- Place slices in grill pan for 4-5 minutes, or until grill marks appear. Remove toasts from pan and set aside.
For Bacon Jam
- While the toasts are baking, cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove bacon to a paper-towel lined plate. Drain and discard bacon fat, leaving 1 Tbsp of bacon fat in pan.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add onions and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until onions have softened.
- Add remaining ingredients (garlic, brown sugar, vinegar, maple syrup and chili powder); stir and bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, add crumbled bacon, stir and reduce heat to low. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until mixture has thickened.
For Toppings
- While bacon jam is simmering, bake the cheese curds according to package instructions.
- Assemble bites by spreading smoky ranch dressing on each toast. Then top with a spoonful of bacon, several cheese curds and green onions. Serve hot.
Notes
If you don’t have a grill pan handy, these toasts can be baked in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes, flipping half-way through.
Nutrition
Calories: 730kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 1165mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 397IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 2mg
