Caramelized French Onion Dip
If you love classic French onion soup, this baked Caramelized French Onion Dip is about to become your new favorite recipe. Slow caramelized onions folded into a creamy cheese base and baked until golden and bubbly. You can also omit the baking part and serve chilled. Either way, everyone will be scraping the pan clean!
Why you'll love my recipe
Make-ahead friendly
The holiday planning can get crazy. Prepare this dish the night before and bake before serving.
Serve chilled or warm
This creamy dip is versatile. If you prefer a lighter dip or want to skip using the oven, omit the mozzarella entirely and serve chilled. This will keep the dip smooth and spreadable.
Minimal ingredients
Only 4 main ingredients – onions, mozzarella, sour cream and cream cheese!
Perfect for gatherings
It’s warm, rich and comforting. People gravitate towards that. Serve with chips or veggies.
Ingredients and substitutions
Sour cream: Full fat works best but you can use light.
Cream cheese: Cream cheese creates a rich and tangy base.
Mozzarella: Mozzarella makes the dip extra gooey and stretchy. If serving chilled, skip the mozzarella completely. This recipe is versatile and good no matter how you serve it!
Onion salt: Just for a little bit of flavor.
Onions: Yellow onions caramelize from their natural sweetness. As they cook, they transform into sweet ribbons that give this dip its iconic taste and texture.
Worcestershire sauce: This adds a savory, umami flavor to the onions and mimics the broth flavor of classic French onion soup.
For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe index card below!
What are caramelized onions?
If you’ve ever had an In-N-Out burger Animal Style, you know exactly just how good it is and I’m not only talking about the sauce. Caramelized onions are a delicious, sweet and savory condiment made by simply cooking onions over low heat until they turn golden brown and develop a rich, sweet flavor.
How to make Caramelized French Onion Dip
The section below is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. For full details, see recipe notes card below!
Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Make the caramelized onions
Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add thinly sliced onions and sprinkle with salt. Cook 30-40 minutes, stirring frequently while the onions become deep brown and caramelized.
Make the creamy base
In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream and heavy together. Mix until smooth.
Mix everything together
Stir in caramelized onions and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Mix until fully combined and evenly distributed.
Note: If you prefer a lighter dip or want to skip using the oven, omit the mozzarella entirely from the base and the topping and serve chilled. This will keep the dip smooth and spreadable.
Bake
Transfer to a baking dish or small skillet. Top with the remaining mozzarella. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Broil for 1-2 minutes at the end for a golden top. Serve with kettle chips, pretzel crisps or fresh veggies. Best served immediately.
Expert tips from my test kitchen
Room temperature ingredients
If the sour cream and cream cheese are not both at room temperature, the dip may curdle when mixing.
Don’t rush the onions
All of the flavor of this classic dip recipe comes from the caramelized onions. Don’t rush it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
Yes! Simply make the dip and store in the fridge until ready to bake and serve. Best served hot out of the oven.
Do I have to bake this dip?
No! If you prefer a lighter dip or want to skip using the oven, do not add the mozzarella at all and serve chilled. This will keep the dip smooth and spreadable. It’s delicious both ways.
How do I store leftover French Onion Dip?
Once the dip is completely cooled, transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. If re-heating dip made without cheese, re-heat in the microwave at 15 second intervals. If re-heating dip made with cheese, place in a small saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop. Heat until creamy and warm. Adjust creaminess by adding a splash of cold water when reheating.
I hope your family loves this easy appetizer recipe! As a recipe developer, your feedback is valuable to us. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. If you try my recipes and love them, please take a moment to leave a five star rating. Thank you for being part of the Bake Cook Repeat community! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Subscribe on YouTube for more new recipes.
Caramelized French Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1½ cups sour cream
- 3-4 large yellow onions (or 6-7 small onions) thinly sliced or diced
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon onion salt, plus additional adjust to taste
Optional toppings for the baked dip:
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella for the dip
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella for the topping
- fresh chives, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat the oven
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Make the caramelized onions
- You can serve this dish cold or warm. See notes below for directions. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add thinly sliced onions and salt. Cook 30-40 minutes, stirring frequently while the onions become deep brown and caramelized. Add the Worcestershire sauce at the end and stir to combine.Note: It may seem like a lot but the onions cook down into a jammy paste. The more, the better.3-4 large yellow onions (or 6-7 small onions), 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon onion salt, plus additional adjust to taste, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Make the creamy base
- In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream and heavy cream together with an electric mixer. Mix for at least 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy.8 ounces cream cheese, 1½ cups sour cream, 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
Mix everything together
- Mix in caramelized onions. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Mix until fully combined and evenly distributed. At this point, mix in the mozzarella but if you prefer a lighter dip or want to skip using the oven, skip the mozzarella entirely (do not add to the dip or as a topping) and serve chilled. This will keep the dip smooth and spreadable.1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
Bake
- Transfer to a baking dish or small skillet.1/4 cup shredded mozzarella, fresh chives, for garnish
- Top with the remaining mozzarella. A little bit of cheese goes a long way!
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Broil for 1-2 minutes at the end for a golden top. Serve with kettle chips, pretzel crisps or fresh veggies. Garnish with fresh chives. If making ahead, prepare the dip in the baking tray and refrigerate until ready to bake and serve. Do not keep in oven to stay warm for extended time or the dip will curdle. Best served immediately.
Notes
- If you prefer a lighter dip or want to skip using the oven, skip the mozzarella entirely (do not add to the dip or as a topping) and serve chilled. This will keep the dip smooth and spreadable.
- If making ahead, prepare the dip in the baking tray and refrigerate until ready to bake and serve. Do not keep in oven to stay warm for extended time or the dip will curdle. Best served immediately.
Nutrition
The provided nutritional value above is an estimate per serving. 100% accuracy is not guarenteed. Please see Nutrition Information Disclaimer in our Privacy Policy.
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
4 Responses
I love recipes with so many onions. I love this one. Very good dip.
Thank you!
Love french onion anything. This dip is so good
Thank you for the lovely review!