You’ll never want to reach for store-bought dip again once you’ve tasted this rich and creamy homemade French Onion Dip. Sweet, caramelized onions add an incredible depth of savory flavor, balanced by the rich and creamy base of sour cream, mayo, and butter. It’s the perfect pairing for anything crunchy, from a bag of potato chips to a tray of fresh veggies.
Whether you need a Game Day Appetizer or a passing dish for your next holiday party, this French onion dip is sure to get rave reviews. While the dip itself takes just a bit of time to put together, thanks to the slowly caramelized onions, you can serve it alongside a bag of classic ridged potato chips or a plate of raw vegetables, making the presentation as easy as possible. It’s a simple but unforgettable crowd-pleasing appetizer that you’ll be asked to make again and again.
How to Make French Onion Dip
Ingredients
Process
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add onions and season with salt and pepper.
- Caramelize onions for 35 to 40 minutes or until onions have cooked down and are a deep brown. Lower heat to medium-low or low if onions start to cook too quickly or burn.
- Once the onions have caramelized, add Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir together.
- In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, caramelized onions, and chives.
- Season with salt and pepper and fold together until fully combined.
- Top with more chives and serve with potato chips.
Best Type of Onion to Use for French Onion Dip
The best onions for French onion dip contain a higher amount of sugar, which creates that deep, rich flavor we all love when they’re slow-cooked in butter on the stove until soft and caramelized.
- Sweet onions like Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui onions are the best choice because their natural sugars intensify as they caramelize, and the mild flavor goes well with the other seasonings in the dip.
- Yellow onions. If you can’t find any of the sweet onion varieties, yellow onions can also work. While they’re less sweet and have a sharper flavor, they mellow nicely when caramelized, making them a good second option.
Tips for the BEST French Onion Dip
- Do NOT rush the onions. Cooking them slowly over low heat allows the sugars to caramelize, giving you the beautiful browned color and sweet, mild flavor. While it can feel like it’s taking forever, the payoff is worth it (and it really only takes about 35-40 minutes).
- Use a large skillet to avoid overcrowding the onions as they cook. This helps them cook evenly and prevents steaming.
- Choose the right onion. A sweet onion (Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui) is ideal, and you want to make sure the onion is firm, without any soft spots or sprouts.
- Let it rest for at least a couple of hours before serving so that the flavors have time to really meld together. It really does get better the longer it sits!
Make Ahead and Storing Instructions
This French Onion dip gets better the longer it sits, so if you’re able to make it the day before serving, the flavors will have a chance to fully develop.
After making the dip, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days. Just give it a good stir and garnish with chives before serving.
What to Serve with French Onion Dip?
- Root Vegetable Chips – thick, sturdy chips with great crunch! Perfect for scooping up some dip!
- Fried Pickle Chips – also sturdy dippers, with some great added flavor!
- Homemade Potato Chips – a classic and so delicious when made fresh!
- Parmesan Crusted Crostini – if you’ve never tried these…do it now! then use them to scoop up some of this delicious dip or top them with anything and everything!
More Delicious Dip Recipes You Will Love!
French Onion Dip
INGREDIENTS
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 cups diced sweet onion about 2 medium onions
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives plus more for garnish
- salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add onions, season with salt and pepper.
- Caramelize onions for 35 to 40 minutes or until onions have cooked down and are a deep brown. Lower heat to medium-low or low if onions start to cook too quickly or burn.
- Once onions have caramelized add Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir together.
- In a mixing bowl combine sour cream, mayonnaise, caramelized onions, and chives.
- Season with salt and pepper and fold together until fully combined.
- Top with more chives and serve with potato chips.
NOTES
- Do NOT rush the onions. Cooking them slowly over low heat allows the sugars to caramelize, giving you the beautiful browned color and sweet, mild flavor. While it can feel like it’s taking forever, the payoff is worth it (and it really only takes about 35-40 minutes).
- Use a large skillet to avoid overcrowding the onions as they cook. This helps them cook evenly and prevents steaming.
- Choose the right onion. A sweet onion (Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui) is ideal, and you want to make sure the onion is firm, without any soft spots or sprouts.
- Let it rest for at least a couple of hours before serving so that the flavors have time to really meld together. It really does get better the longer it sits!
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