Homemade French Onion Dip Recipe
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There’s just something about homemade French onion dip when you make it completely from scratch. Sweet caramelized onions blended with cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise create a creamy, savory dip finished with fresh chives.
I’m a chips-and-dip person through and through, whether I’m curled up with a book, watching my favorite shows, or sipping a glass of blueberry mocktail. Since French onion soup is a favorite, I was in the mood for French onion dip. I used to stock up on jars of the store-bought version until my husband suggested I try making it at home. It turned out richer, creamier, and far more flavorful than anything on the shelf, and it costs less too.
Serve it for game day, add it to a party spread, or enjoy it during a quiet evening in. Friends and family always finish the bowl, and it never fails to get recipe requests!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick to make
- Great for prepping ahead: The flavor deepens as it rests, so it’s perfect to make in advance and keep chilled until you’re ready to serve.
- Easy on the wallet: Most of the ingredients are likely already in your kitchen. Making it from scratch is far cheaper than buying a tub from the store.
- Better homemade: No artificial flavors or preservatives here, just fresh, real ingredients you can feel good about serving.
- Perfect for any occasion: Enjoy it as an everyday snack or dress it up for parties, game days, and holiday gatherings.
How to Make Homemade French Onion Dip
Every time I make this French onion dip, it’s the first thing to vanish from the table. It’s amazing how just a few simple ingredients can turn into something so rich, flavorful, and snack-worthy. In only 30 minutes, you’ll have a dip that feels fancy enough for guests but easy enough for an afternoon treat.
Scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe with ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Yellow onions: These are the base of the recipe. When caramelized, they turn soft, sweet, and full of rich flavor.
- Cream cheese: Makes the dip thick, creamy, and perfect for scooping. I usually grab Philadelphia, but any favorite brand will do.
- Sour cream: Adds a tangy, creamy base that balances the richness. Full-fat gives the best flavor and texture.
- Mayonnaise: Brings extra creaminess and helps everything blend smoothly.
- Butter: The key to slowly caramelizing the onions so they turn golden and sweet.
- Chives: A fresh garnish that adds a pop of color and a mild onion bite.
- Salt and black pepper
Step-By-Step Instructions
You can have homemade French onion dip on the table in minutes. Start by caramelizing the onions, then mix the remaining ingredients until smooth. Fold the onions back in, and your creamy, flavorful dip is ready to enjoy!
Step 1: Prep the onions
Peel and thinly slice the onions. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, then add the onions and stir occasionally. When they start to brown after 5 to 10 minutes, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for another 15 minutes until soft and caramelized.
Step 2: Blend
While the onions are cooking, add the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise to a food processor. Season with salt and pepper, then blend until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Add the onions
Let the caramelized onions cool for about 5 minutes, then add them to the dip in the processor. Pulse a few times to mix them in without pureeing so the texture stays intact.
Serve right away or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors develop.
Substitutions
French onion dip comes together with basic, easy-to-find ingredients, and it’s simple to swap in alternatives if you don’t have everything on hand. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Cream cheese: If you’re out of cream cheese, mascarpone is a great stand-in with a slightly milder flavor but the same creamy texture.
- Sour cream and mayonnaise: Plain Greek yogurt works perfectly in place of either one.
- Butter: You can use olive oil or coconut oil and still get great flavor.
- Chives: Try thinly sliced green onions or even a bit of fresh parsley.
Expert Tips
- Go fresh: Using fresh sour cream, cream cheese, and mayo makes a big difference in flavor and texture.
- Soften the cream cheese: Let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before mixing so it blends in smoothly.
- Make it your own: A pinch of garlic powder or a splash of Worcestershire sauce adds extra depth. You can even sprinkle caramelized onions on top for a nice finishing touch.
- Adjust: Give it a taste before serving and adjust the seasoning if needed. A little extra salt or pepper can really bring the flavors together.
- Chill before serving: You can serve it right away, but it’s even better after at least an hour in the fridge. Overnight is ideal. For parties, keep it in an ice-chilled dip bowl to stay fresh longer.
How to Store This Recipe
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, though it tastes best within 3 to 5 days. Avoid leaving it out for more than 2 hours.
Freezing isn’t ideal since dairy dips don’t thaw well. When you’re ready to enjoy it, scoop out what you need and give it a quick stir to bring back its creamy texture.
What to Serve with Homemade French Onion Dip
Homemade French onion dip is a classic with potato chips, but it’s just as tasty with crisp veggies, breadsticks, crackers, fries, onion rings, or even sausage rolls. It pairs beautifully with chicken tenders, wings, fried chicken, or cutlets, and it’s a flavorful spread for sandwiches and wraps too. We love it on a grilled cheese sandwich!
More Easy Dips To Try
- Bacon cheddar dip
- Salmon dip with cream cheese
- Sour cream dip
- Ranch dip
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Feta dip
Easy From-Scratch French Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 2 medium yellow onions
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon chives sliced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice the onions. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, then add the onions and stir occasionally. When they start to brown after 5 to 10 minutes, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for another 15 minutes until soft and caramelized.
- While the onions are cooking, add the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise to a food processor. Season with salt and pepper, then blend until smooth and creamy.
- Let the caramelized onions cool for about 5 minutes, then add them to the dip in the processor. Pulse a few times to mix them in without pureeing so the texture stays intact.
- Serve right away or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors develop.
Notes
- Use fresh sour cream, cream cheese, and mayo for the best flavor and texture.
- Add a pinch of garlic powder or a splash of Worcestershire sauce for more depth, or top with caramelized onions for extra richness.
- Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes so it mixes in easily.
- Chill the dip for at least an hour before serving, or overnight for even better flavor. Use an ice-chilled dip bowl to keep it fresh longer.
- Taste before serving and adjust the salt and pepper to make the flavors pop.
Nutrition & Macros
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