Flavorful caramelized onions blended with sour cream, Worcestershire sauce and cream cheese make this easy homemade French Onion Dip. It’s perfect for dipping with potato chips, spreading on sandwiches or dolloping on a baked potato.
Table of contents
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Ways to serve it
- Pro tips
- More dip recipes
- Notes & storage
- Nutrition
I’m a dip lover — give me a bag of chips and a few dips, and I’m content. French Onion Dip was a staple in my childhood refrigerator. While store-bought versions are convenient, homemade dip with real caramelized onions delivers far richer flavor. The slow-cooked onions bring sweetness and depth that transforms a simple sour cream base into something special.
Caramelizing onions takes time but they’re easy to make and freeze well. Once you have a batch of caramelized onions ready, this dip comes together in about 10 minutes. The result is creamy, tangy and packed with savory onion flavor — ideal with ruffled potato chips, as a sandwich spread, or spooned over a baked potato.
Ingredients
- Sour cream — the tangy, creamy base for the dip.
- Cream cheese — softened; adds richness and body.
- Caramelized onions — finely diced; they provide deep, sweet onion flavor. If making specifically for this dip, dice the onions before caramelizing to shorten cooking time by about 15–20 minutes.
- Fresh parsley — roughly chopped; substitute chives or green onions if preferred. If using dried parsley, reduce the amount to about one teaspoon.
- Worcestershire sauce — a little goes a long way to add umami and depth. If needed, soy sauce may be used as a substitute in a pinch.
- Salt and black pepper — to taste.
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl: sour cream, softened cream cheese, diced caramelized onions, chopped parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt and black pepper.
- Stir until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined. Taste and adjust salt, pepper or Worcestershire sauce as needed.
Serve immediately, garnished with extra chopped herbs such as parsley, chives or green onions. For best flavor, refrigerate for 30–60 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
Ways to serve it
- With chips — ruffled or wavy potato chips work best to scoop up the thick dip, but any sturdy chip variety is fine.
- With crackers — add to a cheese or charcuterie board as a savory spread.
- With vegetables — celery, carrot sticks and bell pepper strips are great for dipping.
- On a baked potato — spoon the dip over a hot baked potato and top with shredded cheese and bacon for an indulgent twist.
- As a burger spread — replace mayonnaise with this dip to add creamy, savory onion flavor to burgers.
- As a sandwich spread — use it on steak sandwiches, deli-style sandwiches, or grilled paninis.
- With potato wedges or fries — try it with thick-cut or waffle fries for a hearty snack.
- Dolloped on soup — a spoonful of this dip adds richness to tomato or beef-based soups.
Pro tips
- Onion yield: If you’re caramelizing onions specifically for this dip, one pound of raw onions will caramelize down to about 1 cup. Dice the onions evenly so they cook consistently.
- How to caramelize: Use 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet and sauté diced onions over medium heat for roughly 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown. Low-and-slow heat yields the best sweetness.
- Use diced onions: If you buy prepared sliced caramelized onions, dice them before adding to the dip so the texture is uniform.
- Gluten note: This recipe is gluten free using the ingredients listed, but always check product labels on condiments like Worcestershire sauce if you need to avoid gluten.
- Soften cream cheese: Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or microwave it briefly (20–30 seconds) to make mixing easier.
- Quick shortcut: If you don’t have time to caramelize onions, a high-quality dry French onion dip mix can be used as a shortcut. The flavor won’t be as deep, but it makes a tasty, quick alternative.
More dip recipes
If you enjoy a variety of dips, pair this French Onion Dip with other favorites for a dip board or party spread. Try guacamole, chorizo queso, buffalo chicken dip, baked taco dip, roasted garlic dip or a cheesy queso.
Notes & storage
- Store the dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Freezing is not recommended. Sour cream and cream cheese can separate or change texture when frozen and thawed.
- If preparing caramelized onions ahead of time, freeze them in small portions so you can pull out the amount you need for future batches of dip.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per serving (varies by brands and exact portions):
- Calories: 56 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Fat: 5 g (Saturated fat: 3 g)
- Sodium: 118 mg
French Onion Dip
Servings: about 28 ounces total
Prep time: 10 minutes (plus time to caramelize onions)
Author: Whitney Bond
Ingredients
- 12 ounces sour cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup caramelized onions, diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine sour cream, cream cheese, caramelized onions, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Stir until smooth and creamy, then taste and adjust seasonings.
- Serve immediately or chill to let flavors meld. Garnish with extra herbs if desired.
Notes
- Dip keeps in the refrigerator up to 7 days in an airtight container.
- Do not freeze; dairy texture changes after freezing and thawing.
- If making onions for this recipe, dice them before caramelizing to shorten overall cooking time.
