Sweet onions transform into something magical when caramelized—they go from sharp and pungent to sweet and savory, with a deep, jammy flavor that makes everything taste better, from smash burgers and grilled cheese to baked potatoes. This French onion dip takes all that caramelized onion goodness and combines it with creamy, tangy ingredients for an appetizer that’s rich, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. Whether you’re scooping it up with potato chips or crunchy crudités, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser (and yes, you’ll be sneaking bites straight from the fridge!)
“This French onion dip is freaking awesome. In my opinion, there is nothing that you can buy that even comes close.”
What You’ll Need To Make French Onion Dip
- Butter: Adds richness and helps caramelize the onions for a deep, sweet flavor.
- Sweet Onions: Lend a mellow, caramelized sweetness that defines the dip. Look for varieties like Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui
- Dried Thyme: Brings an earthy, aromatic note to complement the sweetness of the onions.
- Cream Cheese: Provides a smooth, creamy texture, helps thicken the dip, and adds a subtle tanginess. Be sure it is softened before using (you can give it a quick blast in the microwave at 50% power).
- Sour Cream: Adds a tangy flavor and creamy consistency, balancing the richness of the onions and the mayo.
- Mayonnaise: Contributes to the creaminess of the dip. Always use a good-quality brand like Hellmann’s or Duke’s—it makes a big difference.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a wonderful umami flavor, giving the dip a rich depth.
- Garlic Powder: Provides a subtle garlic flavor that complements the caramelized onions.
- Sugar: Helps intensify the natural sweetness of the onions.
- Fresh Chopped Chives: An optional ingredient that adds a fresh, mild onion flavor and color as a garnish.
- Potato Chips And/Or Crudités: Perfect crunchy accompaniments for dipping.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step InStructions
Over medium heat, melt the butter in a large skillet and add the onions, salt, pepper, and thyme.
Cook the onions, stirring often, until they are soft and caramelized, about 20 minutes. If they begin to burn, lower the heat. Towards the end, deglaze the pan by adding one tablespoon of water at a time, using just a few tablespoons in total, to scrape up any browned bits. Transfer the onions to a plate and let them cool.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and sugar.
Mix until creamy and smooth.
Add the cooled onions to the bowl.
Mix until the onions are evenly incorporated.
Serve the dip at room temperature, topped with chives, and pair it with potato chips and/or crudités. The dip can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in a covered container in the refrigerator. Before serving, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Stir well and adjust the seasoning if needed.
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French Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 large sweet onions, chopped (about 3 cups)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened (see note)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann’s or Duke’s
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives, for serving (optional)
- Potato chips or crudités, for serving
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, salt, pepper, and thyme, and cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft and caramelized, about 20 minutes. If the onions start to burn, lower the heat. Towards the end of cooking, deglaze the pan by adding one tablespoon of water at a time, using only a few tablespoons in total, to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Transfer the onions to a plate to cool.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth and evenly combined. Stir in the cooled onions until they are thoroughly incorporated. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Serve the dip at room temperature, sprinkled with chives (if using), alongside potato chips and/or crudités.
Notes
Nutrition
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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