Kentucky Hot Brown Skillet Dip
The classic Louisville Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich gets a makeover! All the best parts of the open face turkey sandwich transformed into a bubbly, cheesy, Hot Brown skillet dip that is perfect for watching the most exciting 2 minutes in sports on Derby Day!
Before we get to the skillet dip, we need to talk about the famous sandwich!
What is a Kentucky Hot Brown?
This unique dish was born in the 1920’s at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky by chef Fred Schmidt.
Dreamt up like so many of my recipes, late at night after a night of dancing and partying, it is elegant comfort food!
Instead of the hotel guest’s usual after dancing fare, Chef Schmidt presented them with a toasted open-face turkey sandwich, topped with bacon, fresh tomatoes, and a creamy Mornay sauce.
Even thought I am a sucker for bacon, the cheese sauce ties it all together.
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What is the Hot Brown recipe?
To make the classic Hot Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich, you start by making the Mornay sauce. A creamy classic béchamel sauce is made with Pecorino Romano cheese instead of Gruyère cheese.
Then roasted turkey is sliced and piled high on a thick piece of Texas Toast. A tomato is cut in half and added to the dish. The Mornay sauce is poured over the turkey and toast and placed under a broiler.
Once the Hot Brown is bubbly and golden brown, the dish is removed and topped with a couple slices of bacon. Roasted turkey, creamy cheese sauce, and BACON!!
The Hot Brown is famous all year long, but because of its birthplace, it’s also a popular dish to serve at the Kentucky Derby!
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How to Make Hot Brown Dip
First: Mix the cream cheese, chopped turkey, shredded cheeses, bacon, and sour cream until combined.
Second: Spread into an oven proof skillet. Top with more cheese!
Third: Bake in the oven until warm and bubbly.
Fourth: Remove from oven and top with parsley, more bacon, and fresh tomatoes. Enjoy with crackers!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Variations
Not only can you make the hot brown into a dip and a skillet dip that you can make in advance and then cook and serve it all in one skillet, but you can also bake it into bread bowls.
Mini Bread Bowls to be exact. I want to give you all the options available so you can make the best choice for you Derby party. And who’s mouth doesn’t start watering at the mention of cheesy bread bowl dips? I know I do!
After I whipped up a batch of this Hot Brown Skillet Dip, I kept a few servings out of the skillet and spooned it into a hole in the dinner roll.
A little extra cheese sprinkled on top of the dip and a bread cap on top, I baked them in the oven until golden and bubbly.
Forget the open face sandwich route, these dinner rolls became the best mini bread bowls filled with creamy hot brown dip. Pulling off the top revealed gooey cheese and a hot dip.
Can I use a different cheese?
You can, mozzarella is super melty but I would recommend a nuttier cheese like Gruyère or Asiago.
Do I have to make it in a skillet?
No, you can add the dip to a casserole dish or a full size bread bowl and bake it like that.
Can I make it ahead of time?
You can make the dip up to a day in advance. Any longer and you would want to leave out the tomatoes and add them just before baking.
Can I freeze it?
You can freeze the dip but the texture might vary a little afterwards.
Kentucky has a rich food history, so there is no shortage of classic Derby Foods that have been served for years.
Derby Pie, Benedictine Sandwiches, Beer Cheese, Bourbon Balls, Country Ham Biscuits, and Burgoo are always served and the recipes are rarely changed.
Kentucky Derby Foods
Looking to host a Kentucky Derby Party? Here is a list of Kentucky Derby food ideas and some cute decorations!
Among them are my Derby Pie Bites, Derby Pie Brownies, Derby Pie Cheese Ball, and Derby Pie Dip!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Rich, smoky, gooey, meaty, toasty, melty, and perfect for the middle of the night or the middle of the day!
Cheesy Hot Brown Skillet Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 6 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 6 ounces turkey cooked and diced
- 6 strips of bacon cooked and chopped fine
- 2 Roma tomatoes diced small
- 1/4 cup Romano cheese grated
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried mustard
- 1/4 cup parsley fresh, chopped fine
- salt and pepper to taste
- crackers and dinner rolls for serving
Instructions
Hot Brown Skillet Dip
- Set aside 2 ounces of sharp white cheddar cheese, a little parsley, a tablespoon of the chopped bacon, and a few tomatoes pieces for garnishing.
- Combine the cream cheese, remaining sharp white cheddar cheese, remaining bacon, turkey, sour cream, Romano cheese, remaining tomatoes, paprika, dried mustard, remaining parsley, salt and pepper.
- Spread the dip in an 8-inch cast iron or oven-proof skillet.
- Top with remaining cheese.
- Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.
- When bubbly and golden brown around the edges, remove the skillet and garnish with bacon, parsley, and tomatoes.
- Serve warm with crackers or toasted baguette.
Hot Brown Mini Bread Bowls
- Bake the dinner rolls per package instructions.
- Cut a round section off the top and hollow out most of the bread in the center.
- Combine all the dip ingredients as above, reserving little white cheddar cheese for topping later.
- Scoop into the dinner rolls.
- Sprinkle the tops with cheese and replace the dinner roll tops on the rolls.
- Bake at 350F for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the edges are starting to brown,
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
- Serve warm with a Mint Julep or and Oaks Lily!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe inspired by this one.
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Hells Bells this was Incredible! You nailed the essence of the classic and made it amazing in a dip! Going to keep this on a regular cocktail hour roTATIONS!
I had never heard of the sandwich, and now I have to say, I will be making this dip STAT. The way you put it in those rolls??!! OMG!! Cheese lovers DREAM COME TRUE!
Your recipe directions do not make sense. You say to combine cream cheese, sharp white cheddar cheese, turkey, sour cream, Romano cheese, paprika, dried mustard, parsley, salt & pepper. The next step says to reserve some bacon, parsley & a few tomatoes but you do not say what to do with the rest of these ingredients. Spread the dip in an 8 inch cast iron or oven provf skillet and top with remaining cheese. What remaining cheese. If you want us to reserve & spread with remaining cheese you need to say so in your ingredients. I am sure that this recipe will be very good but if you are going to share your recipes you need to me more complete and accurate
I am sorry that the recipe instructions were not clear enough. I have gone in and revised the instruction section and I hope that it is easier to read. I hope you give the dip a try because it is very good.
@Jennifer,
Thanks the recipe makes so much more sense. I actually made the dip the first time and everyone liked it.
I’m so glad! Thank you!
Ohhhh, I need this cheesy gooey goodness in my life, stat. Do I really have to wait for Derby Day, or can I just eat this… today?
This looks so cheesy and good and completely addicting!
This looks like a great app to serve while watching the games. All that cheesy goodness!
Everything about this dip is so up my alley! I can’t wait to make it for my next party!
Everything about this dip is so up my alley! I can’t wait to make it for my next party!
Skillet cheese dips always get my full attention. That cheese pull is making me drool. It looks so very good
Skillet cheese dips always get my full attention. That cheese pull is making me drool. It looks so very good
This looks so cheesy and good and completely addicting!
I really need to try this! I know my family would enjoy it.
I really need to try this! I know my family would enjoy it.
Hells Bells this was Incredible! You nailed the essence of the classic and made it amazing in a dip! Going to keep this on a regular cocktail hour roTATIONS!
I had never heard of the sandwich, and now I have to say, I will be making this dip STAT. The way you put it in those rolls??!! OMG!! Cheese lovers DREAM COME TRUE!
This recipe is everything that I crave. I’m always looking for great appetizer recipes and this is all that and more!
This looks like a great app to serve while watching the games. All that cheesy goodness!
Ohhhh, I need this cheesy gooey goodness in my life, stat. Do I really have to wait for Derby Day, or can I just eat this… today?
You can eat it today:)
This recipe is everything that I crave. I’m always looking for great appetizer recipes and this is all that and more!