🥒🧀🍺 Pickle Beer Cheese with Soft Pretzel Bites
Pretzels are good. Beer cheese is good. Pickles are good. So obviously, we had to put all three in the same room. This creamy, cheesy beer dip is loaded with sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Tommy Pickles Garlic Dill Pickles, and a splash of pickle brine. It’s tangy, salty, rich, and made for one thing: dunking.
Grab a soft pretzel, give it a serious dunk, and try not to finish the whole bowl.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Pickle Beer Cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beer, preferably a lager or pale ale
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Tommy Pickles Garlic Dill Pickles, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Tommy Pickles Garlic Dill pickle brine
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Pinch of salt, if needed
For the Serving
- Soft pretzel bites
- Extra chopped Tommy Pickles Garlic Dill Pickles
- Fresh dill, optional
- Flaky salt, optional
🧑 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Pickles (3 Minutes)
- Finely chop the Garlic Dill Pickles.
- Set aside a small amount for topping and keep the rest for the cheese sauce.
Step 2: Make the Beer Cheese (10 Minutes)
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Slowly pour in the beer while whisking to keep the mixture smooth.
- Add the milk and continue whisking until the sauce begins to thicken, about 2–3 minutes.
- Lower the heat. Gradually add the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack, stirring after each addition until completely melted and smooth.
- Keep the heat low—don't let the cheese sauce boil.
Step 3: Pickle It (3 Minutes)
- Stir in the chopped Garlic Dill Pickles and pickle brine.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning. If you want more pickle flavor, add another splash of pickle brine.
Step 4: Get Dipping
- Transfer the warm pickle beer cheese to a serving bowl.
- Top with extra chopped Garlic Dill Pickles and fresh dill, if desired.
- Serve immediately with warm, soft pretzel bites for dipping.
🔥 How Garlic Dill Pickles Add
All that creamy, melty cheese needs a little contrast. Garlic Dill Pickles bring the tang and crunch, while a splash of pickle brine adds even more flavor. Rich meets bright—and the pretzel gets caught in the middle.
⏱ Time Breakdown
- Prep Pickles: 3 minutes
- Make Beer Cheese: 13 minutes
- Total: 16 minutes
🥒 Make It With Tommy Pickles
The pretzels are just here to give you an excuse to eat the pickle beer cheese.
You bring the appetite. Tommy's got the dip.