This Caramelized Onion Dip with chives is rich, creamy, and deeply flavorful—a step above your usual onion dip. Sweet, golden onions get slowly caramelized, then blended into a velvety mix of cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo. Perfect for chips, veggies, crackers, and party platters.
This dip is a retro classic turned gourmet favorite. While onion dip started with soup packets and sour cream, this homemade version uses fresh, caramelized onions for big, savory payoff. It's a favorite at holiday spreads, Super Bowl parties, and even cozy movie nights. Make it once, and you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff!
This onion dip pairs beautifully with Crispy Air Fryer Beet Chips or Parmesan Broccoli Chips.
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💖 Why This Recipe Works
- Sweet and savory balance: Caramelized onions add rich, complex flavor.
- Easy but elevated: Simple pantry ingredients, big flavor payoff.
- Party-perfect: Always a hit at game day, potlucks, or cozy nights in.
⭐ Star Ingredients
- Yellow Onions: Caramelized low and slow for unbeatable flavor. I always use two large ones—they’re the soul of this dip.
- Cream Cheese: I let it sit out to soften while the onions cook—it blends like a dream.
- Sour Cream: The tang that lifts everything and gives the dip a lighter texture.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Yogurt swap: Sub Greek yogurt for sour cream for a lighter dip.
- Add cheese: Stir in sharp cheddar or Parmesan for more depth.
- Make it spicy: Add cayenne, hot sauce, or smoked paprika.
- Fresh herbs: Try thyme, parsley, or dill for a fresh twist.
If you love this, you’ll also enjoy my Whipped Feta Dip, Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip, or a scoop of Smoked Salmon Dip on crostini.
🔪 How To Make Caramelized Onion Dip
- Step 1: Peel the yellow onions and slice them thinly.
- Step 2: Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and stir occasionally. As they begin to brown, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for about 20-25 minutes until they are golden and caramelized.
- Step 3: While the onions cook, add cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to a food processor.
- Step 4: Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Step 5: Let the caramelized onions cool for 5 minutes. Add them to the food processor with the creamy mixture.
- Step 6: Pulse just a few times to mix in the onions, ensuring there are still small chunks for texture.
- Step 7: Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Garnish with sliced chives and serve with chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.
- Step 8: Garnish with sliced chives and serve with chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.
💡 Hint: For even deeper flavor, caramelize onions for 40+ minutes on very low heat.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Room temp cream cheese blends easier for a smooth dip.
- Cook onions slowly to avoid bitterness and bring out natural sweetness.
- Make it ahead—flavors meld and improve overnight.
💭 FAQs
This dip uses sweet, golden caramelized onions instead of raw or dried onion flavoring, giving it a deep, rich sweetness that elevates the classic recipe.
Yes, red onions can be used, but they will impart a slightly different flavor—less sweet and more tangy. Yellow onions are preferred for their natural sweetness when caramelized.
Caramelizing onions typically takes 20-25 minutes over medium-low heat. Be patient and cook them slowly to develop their full sweetness.
Absolutely! In fact, the flavors improve if you make it a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Just give it a good stir before serving.
No, it’s not recommended to freeze this dip as the creamy base can separate and alter the texture when thawed.
💖 Serving Suggestions
Here are some sides to serve with this Onion Dip:
- Crackers: Serve with crispy Homemade Bagel Chips or Parmesan Breadsticks for variety.
- Veggies: Pair with carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or bell pepper strips for a fresh option. Check out our Veggie Train.
- Bread: Serve with slices of Baguette or toasted pita for a hearty accompaniment.
- Charcurterie: This dip would go great in a New Years Charcuterie Board or Christmas Charcuterie Board.
🍽 You'll Want To Try These Dip Recipes
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Caramelized Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 2 Yellow Onion
- 4 oz Cream Cheese
- ½ Cup Sour Cream
- ¼ Cup Mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- 1 tablespoon Chives Sliced
- ¼ teaspoon Salt Or To Taste
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper Or To Taste
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice the yellow onions. Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and stir occasionally.
- Once they begin to brown, lower the heat to medium-low and cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized.
- In a food processor, combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
- Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Let the onions cool for 5 minutes, then add them to the food processor with the creamy mixture.
- Pulse a few times to combine, leaving some small onion chunks for texture.
- Transfer the dip to a bowl, garnish with sliced chives, and serve with chips, crackers, or fresh veggies.
Love this caramelized onion dip! The slow-cooked onions give it such a rich, sweet depth—and the chives bring just the right pop of freshness. So addictive!