Classic French onion dip gets a flavor boost! This caramelized onion dip is smooth, creamy, and made with real onions for the best-tasting party dip!
French Onion Dip
French onion dip is a popular party dip made with sour cream, mayo, onions, and seasoning. It’s as easy as it is delicious!
We took the old-fashioned recipe that is made with French onion soup mix and elevated it by using real onions. We caramelized the onions so they are sweet, juicy, and tender. This one simple trick adds SO much flavor!
And while it isn’t quite as easy as dumping soup mix into a bowl, this caramelized onion dip really only takes a few minutes of “work” because most of the time is simply letting the onions cook down. And I promise…it is WORTH it!!
Another thing I love about this dip is that it is made from scratch with real, simple ingredients. You might already have most of these things at home in the pantry or fridge!
Store-bought dips definitely don’t compare to this homemade French onion dip when it comes to flavor! This recipe is sure to be a hit at any get-together or potluck!
Why Do They Call It French Onion Dip?
Despite the name, French onion dip is a uniquely American invention. It was created in the early 1950s, by an uncredited homemaker, and was dubbed “California Dip.” The original version was made with onion soup mix, as convenience foods were all the rage at the time.
This creamy and easy dip quickly spread in popularity and Lipton even printed the recipe on their packaging of their Instant Onion Soup mix. Eventually it came to be known as French Onion Dip, likely due to its similarity in flavor to the traditional soup.
Ingredients:
- 3 yellow onions
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup sour cream, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 TB unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Yield: About 3 cups of dip
Helpful Kitchen Tools
For your convenience in re-creating this recipe at home, we’ve included shop-able ad links to some of the products and supplies used. Read our disclosure policy here.
- Large skillet or frying pan
- Food processor
Instructions:
- Peel onions and cut into thin slices.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions to pan, stirring occasionally. When the onions start to brown, lower heat and continue to cook until onions are caramelized and a deep golden brown, or about 20-25 minutes. When onions are cooked, remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Add cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and seasoning to food processor and blend until smooth.
- When onions are cool, add to the dip in the food processor and pulse, just enough to mix in the onions. Scoop the dip into a serving bowl.
Prep Tips
- Storage – Keep leftover dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. It can be served chilled or you can allow it to come up to room temperature.
- Substitutions – If you don’t have sour cream on hand, you can instead use Greek yogurt. Be sure to use plain, unsweetened yogurt. Instead of cooking the onions in butter, you could alternatively use olive oil or your favorite cooking oil.
- Garnish – I think that chopped fresh herbs look and taste fantastic when sprinkled on top of the finished dip! Try it with chopped fresh chives or parsley.
- Serve With – French onion dip and potato chips go together like bread and butter! However, this is one of those dips that tastes good on everything! Try it with pita chips, crackers, pretzels. It also pairs well with veggies such as sliced carrots, cucumbers, and celery sticks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Best Types Of Onions To Use For Onion Dip?
When choosing onions, I recommend using your basic white onions or a sweet onion variety such as yellow onions or Vidalia onions. Cheap onions are perfect for this recipe! I’d stay away from red onions for this particular recipe because they are sometimes stronger in flavor and they can add a pink or purple hue to the dish.
Can You Make French Onion Dip Ahead Of Time?
This is an excellent make-ahead recipe because it can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple days before party time and still tastes fantastic. In fact, this actually gives the flavors extra time to develop! Just be sure to give the dip a good stir before you’re ready to serve.
More Classic Dip Recipes To Try
- Knorr Spinach Dip
- Creamy Olive Dip
- Dill Pickle Dip
- Copycat Chili’s Salsa
- Cranberry Salsa
- Creamy Jalapeño Dip
- Easy Taco Dip
- Rotel Dip
Homemade French Onion Dip Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
If you tried this recipe and liked it, please rate it!
French Onion Dip (with caramelized onions)
Equipment
- Skillet or frying pan
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 2 yellow onions
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp chives sliced
- ¼ tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Peel onions and cut into thin slices.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions to pan, stirring occasionally. When the onions start to brown, lower heat and continue to cook on medium-low heat until onions are caramelized, or about 20-25 minutes.
- Add cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and seasoning to food processor and blend until smooth.
- When onions are cool, add to the dip in the food processor and pulse, just enough to mix in the onions. Scoop the dip into a serving bowl.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin our Caramelized Onion Dip recipe on Pinterest:
You might also like:
