French Onion Dip

Every time I bring this dip to a party, people always ask for the recipe. I'm always happy to share, but the real secret ingredient here is time.

Like all good things, caramelizing the onions takes some time. Don't try to rush it by cranking up the heat; you'll just burn them (nobody likes burned onions). Have patience, and you'll be rewarded by deeply flavorful, melt-in-your mouth onions.

The other secret ingredient in this French onion dip is sherry vinegar. Many French onion soups include dry sherry or cognac. Sherry vinegar adds some of that aged alcohol flavor without actually adding any alcohol to the recipe (the vinegar also helps cut the richness of the onions and sour cream).

Learn how to make homemade French onion dip, and make this for your next party. But be warned—you won't be able to go back to store-bought. Just ask my friends.

What's the Difference Between French Onion Dip and Caramelized Onion Dip?

The difference between the typical French onion dip and a Caramelized Onion Dip comes down to complexity and seasoning. Most caramelized onion dips are made with a simple combination of sautéed onions and sour cream, mayonnaise, and cream cheese (or some combination of those three). French onion dip, on the other hand, is usually far more savory and flavorful, with the addition of ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and more.

Ingredients for French Onion Dip

While this ingredient list might be a little longer than some other great dip recipes, it uses a lot of pantry staples. Here's what you'll need to make French onion dip:

• Unsalted butter: For sautéing the onions.
• Yellow onions: Onions really cook down so you'll start out with far more than you might think you need. They'll be transformed into silky, deeply savory onion pieces.
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper: For seasoning.
• Sherry vinegar: The sherry vinegar is a little out of the ordinary, but I really like using it in French onion recipes because you get that aged wine flavor without any actual alcohol.
• Worcestershire sauce: This adds extra umami richness to the onion mixture.
• Sour cream and mayonnaise: These form the cream base of the dip. A lot of other French onion dip recipes use cream cheese, but I like the combination of sour cream and mayo instead so it stays easy to dip even after it’s been chilled.
• Onion powder garlic powder: Two seasonings that quickly add a lot of flavor to the dip's creamy base and help intensify the flavor from the cooked onions.
• Smoked paprika: Adds more flavor to the dip, with the added depth of smoke and a bit of heat.
• Fresh chives: For garnish, and optional, but a great way to contrast the rich dip with a bit of something fresh.
• Potato chips: You can't have French onion dip without plain, ruffled potato chips. We didn't make this rule; we just abide by it.

How To Make French Onion Dip

As with anything that involves caramelized onions, it's worth taking the time to make sure the onions are fully browned before removing them from heat. Rushing the onions will mean you miss out on that good caramelized flavor in the dip.

Here's a brief outline of the process; the full recipe is further below:

• Step 1. Cook the onions: Melt butter in a large skillet, then add onions, salt, and pepper. Cook until onions are deeply brown, about 40 to 45 minutes. As the onions begin to brown, you can reduce the heat so they don't burn.
• Step 2. Add seasonings: Once the onions are deeply browned, add the sherry vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Then, stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Remove the onion mixture from the heat.
• Step 3. Cool onions: Move the onion mixture to a mixing bowl, and let cool about 15 minutes.
• Step 4. Finish dip: To the onions, add the sour cream and mayonnaise, and stir to combine. Garnish with chives before serving if desired, and serve with potato chips.

What Homemade French Onion Dip Tastes Like

Homemade French onion dip tastes like that tub of dip you know and love—but so much better. The Worcestershire sauce and sherry vinegar give it a savory depth that you don’t get just from the onions on their own. The chives are entirely optional; the fresh onion flavor is nice, and the bit of green looks nice sprinkled on the dip, but you really don't need them.

Ways To Serve French Onion Dip

French onion dip should be served with potato chips, and if we had our druthers, they'd be ruffled, plain potato chips. But you can also serve this dip with scoopable vegetables like baby carrots and celery or other crunchy crackers and chips.

Can You Make French Onion Dip Ahead of Time?

This dip is even better the next day, so if you can make it ahead and let it sit overnight, we highly recommend that (though it's still tasty right after it’s made). It'll keep easily in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

How To Store French Onion Dip

Store any leftover dip (or dip you've made ahead of time) in an airtight container up to 5 days. We do not recommend freezing French onion dip. As it thaws, the texture of the dip will change and won't be as creamy as you expect.