Creamy and slightly sweet French Onion Dip is a must-make party appetizer! Serve with chips and crudités for perfect snacking.
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Why We Love This French Onion Dip Recipe
The same sweet yet savory flavors of French onion soup shine in this chilled, creamy French onion dip. Simple to make, this onion dip has a wonderful depth of flavor thanks to perfectly caramelized onions. It’s slightly sweet, a little salty, and is totally meant for sharing!
- Simple. Caramelize the onions and mix everything together – a low-effort, maximum-flavor recipe!
- Creamy. Made with cream cheese and sour cream, this dip is ultra creamy and rich.
- Versatile. Serve with your favorite crackers, sliced veggies, or even as a spread on sandwiches.
Variations on Homemade French Onion Dip
If you don’t have all of the necessary ingredients on hand, don’t fear! There are several simple swaps that work well in this recipe. You can sauté the onions in olive oil instead of butter, and you can use sweet or yellow onions. In place of the sour cream, you can use light sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. And in place of the cream cheese, you can use an equal amount of mayonnaise or mascarpone cheese!
How to Make Ahead and Store
This is a great recipe to prepare ahead of time. Keep dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or, caramelize the onions up to 2 days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. When ready to make the dip, continue with step 4 of the recipe.
Serving Suggestions
This homemade French onion dip is meant for dipping. Serve it alongside homemade tortilla chips, Mexican spice cheese crackers, cheese straws, soft pretzel bites, or Sliced fresh veggies like carrots, celery, cucumbers, or radishes.
More Cold Dip Recipes To Try
Notes from the Test Kitchen
- Room-temperature cream cheese combines more easily and creates a creamier dip. Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator before you begin prepping the onions so it has time to soften.
- Be patient when caramelizing the onions. It takes about 20-30 minutes to caramelize thinly sliced onions. They’re caramelized when they turn a dark golden brown and taste slightly sweet. It’s well worth the wait!
- The flavors intensify the longer it chills so this is a great appetizer to make ahead of time! Whip up a batch of French onion dip a day or two in advance for easy, seamless hosting.
French Onion Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (¼ stick)
- 2 sweet onions thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups sour cream room temperature
- 2 ounces cream cheese room temperature (¼ brick)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat.2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add the sliced onions and salt to the skillet and mix well. Keep the heat set at medium-low and cook the onions, stirring occasionally until they are caramelized and dark golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. If they start to stick to the bottom of the pan, add a few tablespoons of water.2 sweet onions, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Once the onions are caramelized, transfer them to a bowl and let them cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
- In a large bowl, use a spatula or hand/stand mixer to mix the sour cream and softened cream cheese together until smooth.1½ cups sour cream, 2 ounces cream cheese
- Add the caramelized onions, garlic powder, and parsley. Stir to combine.¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with fresh vegetables, chips, pretzels, or crackers and enjoy.Kosher salt and ground black pepper
Video
Becky’s Tips
- Pull the cream cheese and sour cream out of the fridge before starting to ensure they’re at room temp.
- Be patient when caramelizing the onions. They take a full 20-30 minutes.
- Make ahead for even more flavor and easy hosting.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make French Onion Dip Step by Step
Melt the Butter: Melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat.
Caramelize the Onions: Add 2 sliced sweet onions and ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt to the skillet and mix well. Keep the heat set at medium-low and cook the onions, stirring occasionally until they are caramelized and dark golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. If they start to stick to the bottom of the pan, add a few tablespoons of water. Once the onions are caramelized, transfer them to a bowl and let them cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
Mix the Dip: In a large bowl, use a spatula or hand/stand mixer to mix 1½ cups of room-temperature sour cream and 2 ounces of room-temperature cream cheese together until smooth. Add the caramelized onions, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with fresh vegetables, chips, pretzels, or crackers and enjoy.
