Easy Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe (2024)

Published: Jan 11, 2016 · Modified: Feb 8, 2024 by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Get your snack on with this super easy caramelized onion dip recipe. This dip is so easy to put together and guaranteed to be a real crowd pleaser.

Why you'll love it

This easy caramelized onion dip recipe is adapted from Mark Bittman'sKitchen Matrixand I can't get enough of it. It's creamy, but light and the caramelized onions give a welcome balance of sweetness. The ingredient list is short, letting the onions really shine with just a few well-chosen ingredients to highlight them perfectly. It makes it the perfect party dip, especially for the Super Bowl.

While I prefer sweet onions like Vidalia onions because they make the best delicious golden caramelized onions, you can use just about any large onions you like.

The creaminess and simplicity of the dip means it is great to dip just about anything in it like salty potato chips, pita chips, or crudite.

Key ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this dip. They're all very simple ingredients and you can find them all at your local grocery store. You can find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.

Onions -This caramelized onion dip works with any types of onions. Yellow onions or Spanish onions work very well, but so does Vidalia and Walla Walla. I love red onions, but they aren't my favorite to caramelize, but they also work really well. I recommend using what you like the most.
Yogurt -To give the dip an irresistible creamy texture and lovely tang, I like using plain Greek yogurt. You can substitute some or all of it with sour cream. Some people also like to add in an ounce or two of softened cream cheese.
Seasoning -The dip is seasoned with only a few ingredients to really let the onions shine. Roasted garlic adds to the sweetness and adds more depth. Thyme and lemon add earthiness and brightness. A small splash of Worcestershire sauce gives a subtle meatiness and depth of flavor. You can play with the seasonings to add more dimension. A splash of balsamic vinegar in place of the lemon can add a deeper flavor, for example. You can also garnish with crispy fried onions or green onion for added flavor.

How to make

The good news is that it is very easy to make this tasty dip. It does take a long time to caramelize the onions so it does require a little patience, but after that, it comes together in minutes.

Slice your onions into smaller pieces and place in a large cast iron skillet with extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Cook until the onions begin to turn translucent, then switch to medium-low heat.
Continue to heat until the onions begin to turn a deep golden brown color. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan occasionally to prevent the onion from burning. As the onions begin to brown, add the minced onion.
Remove from heat and allow it to cool fully to room temperature.
Mix in the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, thyme, salt, pepper, and yogurt.
Enjoy!

How to caramelize onions

Caramelizing onions is a very simple process, if you've never tried it before.

Chop your onions. Usually, they're better sliced, but since this is for a dip, you want pieces that are smaller.
Heat your oil on a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cast iron works the best because it gives you steady, even heat. Any heavy-bottomed skillet will work.
Add your onions and cook, stirring occasionally just until the onions become translucent.
Turn the heat down to medium-low to low, all while frequently stirring them. The trick to caramelized onions is to cook them low and slow so the natural sugars in the onions will release and caramelize. This can take up to 15 minutes sometimes.
Make sure you scrape the sides and bottom of the pan to keep the onions from burning. They will turn a deep golden brown. If any part of them turns black, they're burnt and you should remove those pieces.

How to serve

This creamy caramelized onion dip is the perfect dip to use with just about anything. I love it to dip in thick-cut potato chips and pita chips. Bagel chips and pretzel crisps are another great choice. If you want to keep things like, carrots, celery, and other crudite is great for dipping. If you want to get creative, you can even use it as a sandwich spread.

It is a dip that gets eaten up quickly! If you do manage to have leftovers, keep it in an airtight container for up to three days.

Other dips to try

Whipped Feta Dip with Za'atar
Bacon Beer Cheese Dip
Creamy Margarita Dip
S'mores Dip

Recipe Card