Kentucky Hot Brown Dip – A Great Leftover Turkey Recipe

One of my favorite leftover turkey recipes is this Kentucky Hot Brown Dip. Although not as common as Turkey Noodle Casserole, Turkey Tetrazzini, or Turkey Pot Pie, it is a great recipe to use some of your leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

Shredded turkey that is tossed in a creamy, cheese based sauce flavored with crushed bacon bits and diced tomatoes. If you have never tried it, it may seem like an odd combination of flavors.

However, this dip is a simple twist on a famous meal made popular in Louisville, Kentucky. The Hot Brown originated as an open-faced sandwich that consisted of a thick piece of bread topped with turkey, tomatoes, bacon and cheese.

Although you can use your leftover turkey to make the iconic sandwich, it is also great to serve as a dip to share with your family and friends.

And because the weekend after Thanksgiving is filled with a line up of competitive football games, it is the perfect time to make this recipe.

Kentucky Hot Brown Dip Recipe

INGREDIENTS

Bacon, cooked and crumbled
Turkey, cooked
Cream cheese
Mayonnaise
Parmesan cheese
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Nutmeg
Tomato

More About The Ingredients

Bacon – standard or thick cut bacon works best for this recipe. However, do not use flavored bacon, such as Maple or Hickory as it changes the flavor of the dip.

Cook the bacon in a skillet, oven or keep things simple and make Air Fryer Bacon. Once cooked, pat the excess grease off the bacon strips and crumble the strips.

You can also purchase pre-cooked bacon if you prefer. Simply heat the strips of bacon based on the package instructions and crumble when cool enough to handle.

Cream Cheese – You can use full fat, reduced fat, or no-fat cream cheese for this Kentucky Hot Brown Dip recipe. Best of all, because the cream cheese is going to be melted, it doesn’t have to come to room temperature before mixing it with the other ingredients if being made in a crock pot.

Mayonnaise – Just like the cream cheese, you can use any variety of mayo that you prefer. I even use a Vegan Mayo because of an egg allergy in my family.

Cheese – Although the recipe calls for a combination of Parmesan and Sharp Cheddar Cheese, feel free to substitute a blend of cheeses. Some of my favorite substitutions include Monterey Jack, Colby or an Italian Blend.

Nutmeg – Sounds like an odd addition to a cheesy dip, doesn’t it? But believe me, just a little hint of nutmeg adds just enough flavor to enhance the other ingredients in this dish.

Tomato – No Hot Brown would be the same without tomato. However, because the tomatoes are diced, feel free to use either slicing or cherry tomatoes in this recipe.

INSTRUCTIONS

I have included the instructions for making this dip either in a small, 2 quart slow cooker, or in the oven. Although either method works, I prefer to make it in a crock pot for ease of serving during a party.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. In a small slow cooker add the diced bacon, turkey, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese and nutmeg.
2. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour and stir. Reduce heat to LOW and cook for an additional 2-3 hours, stir.
3. Before serving, stir in the diced tomato until well incorporated.
4. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, toasted baguettes or to keep it low-carb, serve it with vegetable slices.

Oven Instructions:

Spray an 8×8 inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and preheat the oven.

1. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, nutmeg and turkey.
2. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking dish.
3. Top the cream cheese dip mixture with the tomatoes, crumbled bacon, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
4. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until completely heated through.

*If making this Kentucky Hot Brown dip in the oven, it is best to allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature before mixing it with the other ingredients.

However, because this dip is being put in the oven, you can also microwave the block of cream cheese just until it becomes soft.

Then mix it with the other ingredients as instructed.

Enjoy! Mary

Other Leftover Turkey Recipes

• Kentucky Hot Brown
• Turkey Pot Pie
• Instant Pot Southwestern Turkey Soup
• Instant Pot Turkey Noodle Casserole
• Turkey Noodle Casserole (Small Batch Recipe)
• Turkey Chili

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