This Turnip Green Dip is a quirky but delicious Southern appetizer or snack that features turnip greens, bacon, cream cheese, and more!
Y’all ready to get your greens in? This Turnip Green Dip is one of my most favorite recipes from my cookbook. It’s always been a hit with family and friends and is the star at any party.
I love the fact that even folks who claim to dislike turnip greens end up devouring this dip. It tastes so much like its spinach dip counterpart, some folks won’t even realize the difference. I really like the little bite that the turnip greens give it, though. You don’t get that with spinach.
It might take a few steps and a little time, but it’s super easy to put together. You’ll have it ready in no time. Whether it’s for a tailgate, family gathering, or a big potluck, I promise folks will love this one! Y’all enjoy!
What is turnip green dip?
Turnip green dip is a decadent appetizer served warm featuring simple ingredients, like frozen or fresh turnip greens, bacon, cream cheese, Alfredo sauce, and seasonings.
My particular recipe suggests you first cook the bacon to a crisp over medium high heat in a cast iron skillet, remove the bacon, and save a bit of the bacon fat to sautรฉ onion. Then you cook up the turnips followed by adding in the Alfredo sauce, cream cheese, and seasonings. Finally, you transfer the dip to a baking dish to bake for a bit. Followed by a quick garnish of Parmesan cheese on top and a final return to the oven for a quick broil.
What you get is a delicious dip similar to a spinach artichoke dip but with a southern accent. Perfect for game days, New Year’s Day, or get-togethers.
How to serve turnip green dip?
I recommend serving this as a warm turnip green dip. What you scoop it up with or slather it on is totally up to you. I love to eat mine with pork rinds. You could also eat it with assorted crackers or tortilla chips. If you want to be a bit more health conscious, try scooping it up with carrot sticks, green and red peppers, or celery. I also like to serve it as a spread on flatbread or really any pull-apart bread.
There are so many options and all of them are delicious! Let me know what you decide to serve this with in the comments below.
Can I use something other than turnips like collards or kale?
Yes, you can definitely substitute collard greens or kale for the turnips! I recommend using an equal quantity of other frozen or fresh greens this way you get the same consistency.
Also, it’s important to note that the cooking time for these greens might vary, and they may require a slightly longer cook time before incorporating the Alfredo sauce and other ingredients. Feel free to experiment with the greens, and tailor the recipe to your taste preferences with any of these alternatives.
Recipe Card
Turnip Green Dip
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1/2 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen chopped turnip greens, thawed and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) jar prepared Alfredo sauce
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cubed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Tortilla chips or fried pork skins for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ยฐ. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
- In a large skillet cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon, drain on paper towels, and crumble. Carefully pour away all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease; return the pan to the heat, and add the onions. Cook about 3 minutes. Add the turnip greens and cook 8 to 10 minutes. Add the Alfredo sauce, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is bubbly. Stir in the crumbled bacon.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish, and bake 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Turn on the ovenโs broiler, and return the baking dish to the oven for 5 minutes.
- Serve with tortilla chips or fried pork skins.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Susan
Any idea how to figure an amount for fresh greens instead of frozen? Do you just weigh them? Chop and measure?
Stacey
Yes, that should work. I’d imagine they’d need to be blanched or cooked some before adding them to the recipe.
Reagan Varner
Could I use fresh turnip greens versus frozen? We have some in the garden Iโd love to try this with.
Stacey
Yep! Though I’d recommend blanching them quickly first to soften them up before adding them to the recipe.
Gina
Is anyone else thinking pizza base? Have to modify it due to health issues but totally doable, on my list for next pizza night. Thank you Stacey for all your hard work and wonderful ideas.
Stacey
You’re so welcome! Please come back and let me know how it turns out!
Winnie Mom
This looks and sounds awesome. I think adding some chopped artichokes with it would be great too. I have Glory brand turnip greens on hand and may use some of that drained instead of the frozen. We will see
Stacey
Sounds delicious to me! And those canned greens should work, just drain them very well.
Margaret
Putting this in my beach file. Love the pork rinds idea. Do you have a particular Alfredo sauce you prefer? I haven’t found one I like, but haven’t tried too many. I could make one but that makes it not so simple.
Stacey
Sounds like the perfect beach food to me! I typically buy the Rao’s, Classico, or Ragu.
Rhonda
Wow! What a hit this was. Fooled a few friends with turnip greens instead of spinach. I added a couple splashes of liquid smoke and this so so yummy. Thank you for another great recipe.
Stacey
Great idea! So glad y’all enjoyed this dip!
Denise
Canโt wait to try this! I am a G.R.I.T. (Girl raised in the South ๐) but my yankee mama never once cooked turnip greens for her southern hubby and us 6 kids, at least not that I remember. I donโt care for them as an adult but def want to try this dip! The traditional soggy turnip greens just arenโt my thing but cheesy ones just might be! ๐คค Thank you for the recipe and Happy blesssd 2024!
Stacey
This is such a fun and delicious twist, I think even folks who don’t care about turnip greens will like it!
Greg Morgan
Could I use Collard Greens instead of Turnip Greens?
Stacey
Turnips are a bit more tender, so you might find that the collards don’t get super tender, but other than that, it should work just fine.
Dena Walton
Canโt wait to try this recipe! However, this Southerner is now in Iowa, and canโt find the turnip greens ANYWHERE! Will chopped kale work?
Stacey
I don’t see why not. Enjoy! ๐
Jo
This stuff is crazy good! It’s probably a good thing I’m going to work today, because it might not be safe to leave me alone with this dip. Thanks for all your hard work to bring such great joy into my life today.
Stacey
Ha! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jo!
Becky
Good Gosh-a-Mighty!! This is right up my alley! Just wanted you to know you have a new fan! I found you through Christy Jordan, and have been huntin’ through your recipes for a little while. All of them look amazing! But this one is perfect! My hubbie and I are both doing the Keto (low carb- high fat) diet – so this one is perfectly legal for us – even with the pork skins!
I have saved a bunch of your other sugary recipes to make for the rest of the family – gotta fatten them up while we get skinny. (Just kidding – maybe)
Stacey
Hilarious! Yes, this would be the perfect keto recipe! I did that for a while and pork skins were a lifesaver for me! Hope y’all enjoy!