French Onion Dip made from scratch will knock your socks off. It’s worth making because you will never, ever get this flavour in store bought dip! Not from the most expensive gourmet store in town, and certainly not in those tubs at the grocery store. It’s seriously incredible!
Homemade French Onion Dip
Confession time: I’ve made shortcut French Onion Dip using a packet of French Onion Soup mix many, many times…. and in fact, here’s the recipe!
BUT a REAL Homemade French Onion Dip, made from scratch by making your own caramelised onion trumps the shortcut soup mix version 10 times over.
Thank you Ina Garten!
I will never give up the packet soup mix French Onion Dip. It’s an 80’s thing, it’s an Aussie thing, and it’s a nostalgic thing.
But if you want a French Onion Dip that’s elevated to incredible status, make this Homemade French Onion Dip from scratch!
The BEST chips to serve with French Onion Dip are plain crinkle cut potato chips. It’s the classic way it’s served in the US – try it once and you’ll be converted for life!
French Onion Dip gets its name from French Onion Soup, with the flavour base of both being caramelised onion.
What French Onion Dip is made of
Here’s what you need for this recipe. Just a note on a few of the items:
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The dip base is cream cheese (tang + richness), mayonnaise (flavour + fat) and sour cream (tang + reduces richness a bit);
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Less butter – as much as I love Ina Garten, I often find myself cutting down the fat she uses in her recipes quite substantially. This is one such example. The original recipe called for 4 tablespoons of butter AND 1/4 cup of oil. I swear, this does NOT need that much – way too rich! I made it with 3 tablespoons of butter, no oil, which is plenty; and
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Hint of spice – adds a touch of extra flavour and warmth to the dip!
How to make it
And here’s how to make it. The key flavour base is the caramelised onions. It will take a good 20 to 25 minutes and it can’t be hurried otherwise the onions just burn instead of turning golden and sweet!
What homemade French Onion Dip tastes like
It’s a creamy dip, a gorgeous soft creamy texture rather than the rock-hard dips you get from the grocery store where your chips break every time you try to scoop some up.
The caramelised onion infuses it with beautiful flavour that’s savoury with natural sweetness – there’s no sugar in this recipe, it’s all from the natural caramelisation of the onion!
It’s great on the day it’s made, but it’s even better the next day once the flavours have had time to meld together even more!
How long can you keep homemade French Onion Dip?
I’ve kept it for 4 to 5 days and it was 100% perfect, no flavour loss at all.
How to serve French Onion Dip
Hands down, the BEST thing to dip in Onion Dip is plain crinkle cut potato crisps. This is an American thing that hasn’t yet made it across the waters.
And it might sound strange to some people, dunking potato crisps in dip.
But trust me. For French Onion Dip, plain potato crisps are the BEST. Better than corn chips, better than crackers, better than bread. It beats ’em all! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Note: typo in video! Says “paprika” instead of “cayenne pepper”. Though actually, you could totally use paprika instead!
More dip recipes
This Snack Monster has shared plenty of dip recipes!!!
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Guacamole (done right!) or Avocado Hummus Dip
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Retro Soup Mix 2 Minute French Onion Dip
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Hot Corn Dip – you’ll love the flavour in this creamy, bubbly dip!
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Smoked Salmon Dip (flavour you can’t buy in tubs!)
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See all Dip Recipes
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Homemade French Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 1/2 cups diced onions (2 to 3 onions) (brown, yellow or white)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 4 oz / 120 g cream cheese (cold), cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup whole egg mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream (full fat is best, but you can use low fat or even yoghurt)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a fry pan over medium heat.
- Add the onions, salt, pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Then reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onions should be sweet and golden. Remove from stove and allow to cool.
- Place the cream cheese, sour cream and mayo in a bowl, mix until smooth (use microwave in 10 sec bursts if needed to assist)
- Add the caramelised onions. Mix until just combined. Refrigerate at least 2 hours to allow flavours to develope, overnight is better!
- Serve at room temperature, garnished with chopped chives if desired. Best served with crinkle cut plain potato chips!
Recipe Notes:
a) Original recipe called for 4 tbsp butter + 1/4 cup oil. I reduced it to just 3 tbsp of butter. This is very rich as it is - you don't need any more!
b) Original recipe also called for 1/2 cup of mayonnaise. I found this too rich so I reduced it to 1/4 cup.
c) Original recipe said to beat the cream cheese (at room temperature) with the mayonnaise and sour cream using a stand mixer. I tried this once and it is a bit fluffy at first but then it becomes denser after refrigerating it. So I make this by softening the cream cheese or even heating the cream cheese very gently in the microwave if necessary then simply stirring it with the other ingredients. Works perfectly, it's creamy and lump free (other than the onions of course!)
d) I added onion powder as an optional extra because I like the extra kick of onion flavour.
e) Original recipe called for 1 tsp of salt. I find this slightly too salty so I reduced it to 3/4 tsp. 3. Nutrition per serving assuming 8 servings.
Nutrition Information:
Originally published July 2015. Updated with new photos, brand new video, process step photos and of course the most important thing – new Life of Dozer section added!
Life of Dozer
No onion dip for Dozer – onion is bad for dogs! How about some carrot instead?? 😂 (He looks so keen, he hasn’t gotten a sniff of what it is yet!!)
And from the first time I published this recipe:
Dozer assuming his usual position while I shot the dip. Patiently waiting for a big dollop to land on the ground. Didn’t happen. Never will – onion is bad for dogs!!
Elizabeth says
Hi, I was just wondering, if there’s butter in this, and you refrigerate it, wouldn’t there be little hard chunks in it?
Nagi says
Hi Elizabeth, no there’s not as you are cooking the onions in the butter – N x
Estelle says
Can’t wait to try your recipe! If I want to double the recipe will it will it change the ingredient measurements?
Nagi says
Hi Estelle, you can scale the recipe up using the servings slide bar – N x
J says
This dip I’ll have to try sometime N bc it looks sooo yummy!
It’s so much easier to just make an onion dip with the mix though! Lol. Sometimes I’ll dip with the tostitos instead of the ruffle potato chips!
I’m making a spinach dip this weekend to munch on! Yum!
Have a fantastic weekend with Dozer! My dog chews wood and everything else near him too! If a bug flies by him, he will eat it! Yuck! 😂
Nagi says
I’d dip anything into this dip it’s just that good 😂
Michelle says
Hi Nagi,
Thank you for another great recipe. A quick question for you here, the recipe says to use cayenne pepper but in the youtube video, it says to use paprika. Which one is correct? Thank you!
Nagi says
Thanks for picking that up Michelle, it should be cayenne pepper!
Theresa says
This looks sooo yummy! Definitely making this!
Nagi says
You’ll love it Theresa!
Christine Kirchmayer says
Okay, short and sweet
Oh, yum, yum, yum.
N’uff said.
Nagi says
🙌 thanks Christine!
Steve Schaff says
Kind of surprised about your “too salty” comment. Maybe because Ina’s recipe calls for kosher salt and yours uses table salt?
Just wondering…
kellie says
Greetings Nagi,
Your recipe seemingly does not include any beef flavoring which I associate with French Onion Soup/Dip. This (to me) reads more like a caramelized onion dip and good just the same but not what I’d call French Onion. I think I’ll omit the salt and add 1/2 beef bullion cube. Thanks for all your great recipes, I’m really enjoying your site. Hugs to you and belly rubs to Dozer!!
Tony says
This recipe was not Ina’s at all. Been making this over 20 years ago. This TV ppl take our recipes and make hundreds of thosands of dollars.
Wendy says
Growing up in Canada, we ate tubs of French Onion or Dill Pickle Dip with plain ripple chips. Puzzled this hasn’t caught on in Oz. They also used to poke fun at me for eating chips with my sandwich rather than after but I digress. This sounds amazing and I’m going to try it. I might even have a go st homemade dill pickle dip using the creamy mixture you used. The bought stuff just doesn’t taste the same as it used to.
Tania says
Alright Nagi. Made this today while making yr falafels. Unbelievable dip. My kid won’t get out of the pot. Ty so much. Another winner
Nagi says
Awesome! Thanks so much for letting me know what you think Tania! ❤️
ChrisRS says
Sounds good.
If these dips are too stiff when cold stirring in a little milk helps.
To save calories/fat try using blended low-fat cottage cheese in place of sour cream/mayo/cream cheese. (Blend until smooth, adding milk if too thick.)
Flavor profile is a bit different, but not very noticeable if the add-ins have a lot of flavor.
I grew up on cottage cheese and Lipton onion soup dip.(Added milk needed.) Do not blend mix – stir into blended cheese and milk.
Another good one: Blend cottage cheese and canned green chilies. Season with salt, garlic powder and a little ground cumin. (1 part chilies to 2 or 3 parts cottage cheese. (No milk. there is enough moisture in the chilies.)
Nagi says
Great tips Chris! Thanks for sharing!
Ceccato says
Hey! This looks great! How long do you think it would keep in the fridge?
Nagi says
Hi Ceccato! This keeps for days in the fridge – 4 maybe 5 days? 🙂
Brigette says
Hi Nagi
I’ve been looking at loads of your recipes since a friend recommended your site (so many I want to try!).
This is the first one I’ve made. Whipped it up for nibbles before lunch yesterday.
It was yummo! And made a huge portion.
Thank you for coming to the rescue with a delish dish. I can’t wait to try a recipe with your tenderised beef next!
Nagi says
Oooh glad you enjoyed this Brigette! Hope you try and enjoy many more! 🙂 N xx
Jay Hill says
I made this for a family spring party over the weekend, I was a hit and well liked. I saved a little back to share with my coworkers the following work day. I have been asked to make this the next department pot luck lunch we have.
I plan on making this often just to have at home from time to time. I had to share the recipe with others. this was super easy to make.
Nagi says
Love hearing that Jay! So pleased you enjoyed this 🙂 N x
Schmoops says
I made this for a christmas bbq today and served with vegie sticks. delicious and easy. no need for the onion salt. another keeper. thanks Nagi. hope you have a great Christmas.
Nagi says
That’s terrific to hear Schmoops! So glad you enjoyed this, thanks for letting me know – N x ❤️
Libby says
Ohmygoodness, I made this today and it is sensational, thank you for the recipe – I will definitely make this again!
Nagi says
WHOOT WHOOT!!! 🙌🏻
Madfelice says
I experimented and pureed about a third of the caramelised onions and added to the cheese mixture before adding the rest. It really picked it up and gave it a more intense onion flavour! No onion salt needed! Great recipe!
Nagi says
I’m so pleased to hear that Madfelice! Thanks for sharing your feedback! N x 😊
wendy williams says
Well what can I say other than this dip is sensational. Instead of using salt I added my homemade french onion soup mix. I will cut back on the cayenne but thats just my preference everyone else like it. I think it tastes better the next day. Will be making this one often. The onions are so sweet, love the method of cooking them with heaps of butter. Yummo!
Nagi says
Fantastic to hear Wendy!! And you are absolutely right, this definitely tastes better the next day. Hope you have a great weekend! N xx
Diana Sharp says
Does this dip hold up to potatoes chips
Nagi says
Yes! Just make sure it’s at room temperature because it hardens when it’s cold 🙂 N xx
Lynn Berry says
I followed the recipe to a tee, timing the onions! FABULOUS!!!!!!! first time I ever made homemade french onion dip and I will never consider checking out any other recipe!!! I had a house full of guest and new neighbors for a holiday happy hour, had fresh veggies and various breads and crackers. this dip was a perfect compliment to my cheese fondue, where all the breads and veggies could go with either the onion dip or the cheese dip!!
actually snacking on some right now, (I saved myself a tiny bit because I knew it would be gone).
Thank you ever so much!
Lynn
Nagi says
WOO HOO! I’m so happy to hear that, thanks for letting me know Lynn! N xx
William says
When I was a little boy, Saturday night was family night for watching Hockey Night in Canada on TV. Mom and Dad sitting on the couch and my big brother and I sharing a bowl of chips and our Mothers home made French Onion Dip. Those are great memories and I still love French Onion dip, pass me a tissue please….
Nagi says
I love hearing that this brings back memories William 🙂 I bet your mother made a mean French Onion Dip ❤️
Rhiannon says
Hi just wondering if this recipe is suitable for freezing?
Nagi says
Hi Rhiannon, I’m afraid not 🙁 Cream cheese doesn’t do so well in the freezer