Caramelized Onion Dip
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A guaranteed crowd-favorite! Made with sweet caramelized onions, cream cheese and sour cream. So creamy, so so good!!
why i love this recipe
- Crowd-favorite. Caramelized onion dip is a guaranteed crowd-favorite, whether it’s for weekend company, game day (think college football, the Super Bowl or March Madness), or even big-time holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE. It is truly the best kind of party dip.
- Leftovers taste even better. Similar to lasagna, caramelized onion dip tastes even better the very next day as it sits overnight, really letting the flavors meld and come together.
- Great make ahead recipe. This makes for a great make-ahead recipe, setting aside in the fridge for up to 3 days, perfect for party entertaining and easy holiday planning.
how to make this winning crowd-pleasing caramelized onion dip
- Caramelize the onions in some butter (not oil) with a little bit of brown sugar (the brown sugar will enhance the overall sweetness and yield a more intense, deeper, golden-brown color to the onions)
- Stir in garlic, some wine (scraping up all the lovely browned bits), vinegar and Worcestershire
- Let it cool (in the fridge if you’re in a rush), saving some of the caramelized onions for garnishing
- Mix, mix and mix with cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and the cooled caramelized onions, seasoning liberally with salt + pepper
- Serve with all the favorited dipping vessels or set aside in the fridge until ready to serve
which onions are best for caramelized onions
Yellow onions
Yellow onions are a popular choice due to their balanced flavors and lower water content.
Sweet onions
Sweet onions, such as Vidalias, can take longer to cook but have a higher sugar content, yielding a sweeter end result.
White onions
White onions can lead to milder, tangier flavors.
Red onions
Red onions are prone to burn more easily due to their high sugar content, and will yield much less sweetness.
tips and tricks for success
- Cut in uniform size. Slice the onions into thin, even pieces for even cooking and a consistent bite.
- Use a light-colored pan. This is best to visualize the onions changing colors from light to deep golden brown. When using a black bottom pan, sometimes you are left guessing the color change, and possibly burning the onions.
- Choose a wine you will drink. A dry white wine (pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc) is great here – it does not have to be anything fancy or overpriced. Just something you don’t mind sipping on since you will have an open bottle.
- Use “brick” cream cheese. Brick cream cheese is ideal here, not whipped. It will add all the lovely rich and creamy textures here.
- Make it lighter. For a lighter dip, replace some or all of the sour cream with plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt, adding a little bit of tanginess with more protein (and fewer calories).
pro tip
Low and slow is the name of the game here.
Caramelized onions is a labor of love. Do not try to rush the process and increase the heat for faster results. If the onions are browning too quickly or the bottom of the skillet is getting too dark, reduce the heat and add a splash of water to deglaze the pan.
what to serve with caramelized onion dip
Bread
Baguette slices (crostini)
Chips
Potato chips, pita chips or bagel crisps
Crackers
Assortment of crackers (buttery, salty, seeded or whole wheat)
Pretzels
Salted pretzels, pretzel sticks or pretzel crisps
Veggies
Carrots, celery sticks, bell peppers or cucumbers
more favorited dip recipes
Tools For This Recipe
Large skillet
Caramelized Onion Dip: Frequently Asked Questions
French onion dip and caramelized onion dip are both creamy, onion dips, but French onion dip typically uses a dry onion soup mix whereas caramelized onion dip incorporates slowly caramelized onions, bringing out their natural flavors and sweetness to the dip.
Vegetable or chicken stock can be used for white wine as a non-alcoholic substitute.
Bread, chips, crackers, pretzels and vegetables are all great options. Leftovers can also be repurposed to serve with sandwiches, burgers and sliders – yum!
Yes! Caramelized onion dip tastes better the longer it sits, making it perfect to prep, assemble and make ahead of time.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Caramelized Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 pounds sweet onions, halved and sliced
- ¼ teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over low to medium low heat. Add onions and brown sugar, and cook, stirring often, until deep golden brown, about 45-55 minutes.
- Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet; remove from heat.
- Stir in vinegar and Worcestershire.
- Let cool completely, setting aside 2 tablespoons caramelized onions for garnishing, if desired.
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise.
- Stir in caramelized onions; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve, garnished with reserved caramelized onions and chives, if desired, or cover and chill for up to 3 days.
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