Using the smoked cheese from a couple of weeks ago, we created a yummy appetizer that was perfect for an upcoming potluck held at Jason’s work. Everyone in the office was bringing something and we like to be those people who bring something out of the norm. Since the beer is burned off by the heat of the stove top, we weren’t worried that we were going to make anyone tipsy at work that day but we were certain they would enjoy this beer smoked cheese dip!
How to Smoke the Cheese
If you didn’t see our post on How to Smoke Cheese, you can find it here and make it in just about 20 minutes after heating up the smoker. This is so quick that you can literally smoke the cheese in the morning and take the finished dip to a gathering in the afternoon.
If you are going to try to smoke more than one kind of cheese at the same time, make sure they are all the same firmness and about the same size. You won’t want to have smaller and thinner pieces next to a large one pound piece as they won’t smoke uniformly and smaller pieces may melt more quickly.
We used a one pound piece of cheddar for our Beer Smoked Cheese Dip but a Sharp Cheddar or Gouda would be a fun twist as well!
How to Make Beer Smoked Cheese Dip
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the beer (we used Stella Artois this time), smoked cheese, cream cheese, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until the cheese melts and becomes creamy.
Reduce the heat to low and continue to stir frequently for another 5-10 minutes. The sauce may look thin but will thicken quite a bit once it is removed from the heat.
How to Meal Prep this Beer Cheese Dip
I always love it when I can meal prep a recipe and share it later!
- Smoke the cheese and wrap it up in Press and Seal and then place in a gallon sized zip lock bag to keep the smoke smell inside the bag and not in your fridge.
- Make the dip on the weekend for a Monday or Tuesday function at work. Bring the dip in a container and scoop into a Slow Cooker at work to heat it back up. It will be ready in under an hour on low. Stir every 10 minutes or so.
- If you plan to bring the Bread Machine Pretzel Bites with it, make them over the weekend. They store in a gallon zip lock bag for up to 5 days.
What Do I Serve with the Beer Smoked Cheese Dip?
Our favorite means of dipping is the Bread Machine Pretzel Bites but add some variety by including the following:
- Pita bread
- Tortilla Chips
- Take a circular loaf of your favorite bread and tear it off and dip
- Toasted baguette
- Pretzels
Beer and Smoked Cheddar Cheese Dip With Homemade Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb smoked cheddar cheese
- 12 oz beer
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Stir often until the cheese is fully melted and not getting stuck on the bottom of the pan.
- Reduce to simmer and allow to simmer on low for 10 minutes. There should be a little bit of reduction here.
- The dip may appear to be thin, but take it off the heat and it will thicken quickly.
Notes
Nutrition
