Cheesy BBQ Beef Dip — When Sunday Calls for Something Warm

Drove Tuesday.

Gayle stable. Better week.

Josie joined the cross country team. Who knew Josie could run. She is fast. She is small and fast. 5'4" and full of opinions and fast.

Sunday: pot roast.

Sunday was always going to be a pot roast kind of day — but while that was going low and slow in the oven, I threw together this Cheesy BBQ Beef Dip for the afternoon, and honestly it was the thing everybody hovered around. Josie came in still buzzing from her first real week of cross country practice, Gayle’s good news was still settling in my chest, and something about standing around the kitchen with warm, cheesy beef in front of us just felt like the right way to hold all of it. Simple food for a week that asked a lot and finally gave a little back.

Cheesy BBQ Beef Dip

Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Total Time: 35 min | Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted baguette slices for serving

Instructions

1. Brown the beef. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onion and garlic, breaking it up as it cooks, until no pink remains, about 7–8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
2. Add the sauce. Stir the BBQ sauce and smoked paprika into the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 3–4 minutes, letting the flavors meld. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Mix the base. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup of the shredded cheddar.
4. Combine. Fold the beef mixture into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated. Transfer to a greased 8x8-inch baking dish or a small cast-iron skillet.
5. Top and bake. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup cheddar evenly over the top. Bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
6. Serve warm. Let rest for 5 minutes, then serve directly from the dish with tortilla chips, sturdy crackers, or toasted bread.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 285 | Protein: 17g | Fat: 19g | Carbs: 9g | Fiber: 0g | Sodium: 420mg