With the Super Bowl coming up, it’s time to get thinking about all the yummy snacks and meals to feed a crowd! Super Bowl parties are so fun! I don’t even like football – I’m just here for the food and drinks! This Caramelized French Onion Dip gives all those French onion vibes but actually doesn’t feature any soup mix! Caramelizing those onions and making this dip was super easy! And it was so tasty and fresh! My family loved it, even my littles! This is a total crowd-pleaser, and it features some unique touches! Since it’s served cold, whipping this up and taking it to a party is such a breeze!

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Where does French onion come from and when was it made into a dip?

French onion and French onion dip might share a name, but their backstories are totally different! The actual French part of the story is thanks to French onion soup which originated in the 18th century in France! Traditional French onion soup was made with caramelized onions, wine, broth, and Gruyère cheese! The soup blew up and became extremely popular in Parisian bistros! People loved these flavors so much, decades later – French onion dip was created!

The first place this dip appeared was in California and it was referred to as “California Dip.” Typically, this was made using Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix and sour cream. It became extremely popular, especially among parties, and over time the name morphed into “French onion dip” since it is inspired by those French flavors!

Did you know?

The reason why onions can make people cry when cutting them is due to the onion’s built in defense mechanism! The onions release something called syn-propanethial-S-oxide which is a gas that irritates the eyes! It’s literally the onion saying, “back off!” Isn’t that interesting!? When I was making this, I had to do just that. I had to leave the room for a few minutes and was straight up LEAKING from my eyes. The good news is, the more you’re cryin’, the fresher the onion! That’s because really fresh onions have higher levels of active enzymes and the firmer the walls are, the more gasses there are to release! Pretty interesting!

Onions are also incredibly good for you, with research showing they may reduce the risk of cancer! Diets rich in allium vegetables such as onions, leeks, shallots, and even garlic are associated with lower risks of developing some cancers! They also help to reduce inflammation, improve blood vessel function, and lower cholesterol! So, ditch the gum, embrace the onion breath, and eat more onion! I literally make almost everything with onion! It’s the best flavor ever!

What ingredients do I need to make this Caramelized French Onion Dip?

Onion
Garlic
Sour Cream
Cream Cheese
Butter
Olive Oil
Worcestershire
White Wine Vinegar
Thyme
Salt
Chili Powder
Onion Powder
Black Pepper

For serving:

Chives
Wavy Potato Chips
Kettle Chips
Garlic Crostini, Veggies – or whatever else you like!

What equipment do I need?

How do I make it?

To get started on this dip, first you’ll want to take the cream cheese out of the fridge to soften at room temp. Cut it up into cubes, then start prepping the herbs and veggies. Thinly slice the onions into half-moons, peel and mince the garlic, and mince the thyme.

Next, heat oil and butter in a large skillet on medium low. Add the onions to the skillet and sprinkle in some salt.

Sliced onions in a skillet with some butter and oil

Cook for a while, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and golden brown in color. Next, stir in the thyme and garlic, cook until garlic is fragrant.

Onions, garlic, herbs, white wine vinegar, butter, and oil cooking in a skillet for french onion dip

Next, splash in the white wine vinegar to deglaze the pan and scrape those blackened bits off of the bottom of the pan. This creates deep flavor and brings some richness and complexity to the dish! Allow that to cook off for a minute or so, then remove from heat.

Move onions to a cutting board and allow them to cool for several minutes. Then, roughly chop them up a bit.

A bunch of caramelized onions on a cutting board

In a large bowl add the softened cream cheese, Worcestershire, and sour cream and beat until smooth and incorporated. Stir in the remaining seasonings and most of the caramelized onions, leaving some for garnish.

Ingredients mixed up in a bowl to make french onion dip

Move to a serving dish, then top with remaining caramelized onions and some thinly sliced chives. Cover and refrigerate for a little bit to marry those flavors!

Once chilled, serve Caramelized French Onion Dip with whatever you like best for dipping! We had it with some plain wavy potato chips. Enjoy!

Caramelized french onion dip in a glass dish as some is being scooped out with a chip

Tips:

For an easier version of this dip, simply combine some Lipton Onion Soup Mix with sour cream and softened cream cheese. You could even still caramelize those onions and add the garlic if you want to! Just omit the Worcestershire, thyme, vinegar, and all of the spices. The soup mix contains a lot of sodium already so I would recommend adding any additional spices to taste after you’ve added in the soup packet.
This dip will keep for 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
This stuff is so good, you can even spread it onto a toasted bagel or make breakfast sandwiches with it! That’s what I did with some of the leftovers – YUM!

Looking for more easy dips you can bring to a party? Check these out!

Caramelized French Onion Dip

The Wholesome Spoon

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Course Appetizer, Dips, Snack

Cuisine French-American

Servings

Calories 165 kcal

Equipment