Name: Caramelized Onion Dip
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 T. extra virgin olive oil; 2 T. unsalted butter; 1 large yellow onion, ends removed and sliced root to tip ¼” thick; 2 t. dried rosemary; Sea salt and black pepper, to taste; 3 T. apple cider vinegar; 2 T. real maple syrup; 4 oz. cream cheese; ½ c. sour cream; 2 T. fresh chives, finely chopped, divided

Onion dips are part of many buffet tables and party menus but what about taking it one sep further? That’s what this caramelized onion dip does by adding the enhanced flavour of caramelized onions into the classic dip recipe. Let’s see what makes it a little different.

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Why you’ll love this recipe

Simple to make: There’s a little cooking to caramelize the onions but otherwise, the dip is easy to make.
Scale as needed: Need twice or three times as much? You can simply double or triple the ingredients and create a bigger batch.
Use the onions you have: We used yellow onions but you can use what onions you have to make the dip.

Ingredients

Yellow onion: Use a large yellow onion with the ends removed and sliced root to tip so it is around 1/4 inch thick.
Cream cheese: Your favourite plain cream cheese will make the dip smooth and creamy.
Apple cider vinegar: This helps to boost the flavour and adds to the colour of the dip.
Sour cream: Pairs with the cream cheese for the perfect dip consistency.
Maple syrup: Go for a good quality one to add a little sweetness to the recipe.
Herbs: Use some dried rosemary and fresh chives in the mixture.

Grab the details and instructions of the full ingredients in the recipe card below!

Substitutions and Additions

Yellow onion: You could use a sweet onion or a red onion if you prefer.
Cream cheese: You could substitute the cream cheese with a vegan alternative of your choice.
Apple cider vinegar: Sub in some balsamic vinegar for slightly different flavour notes.
Sour cream: Replace it with plain yoghurt or labneh if you like.
Maple syrup: Use honey or agave nectar if you don’t have maple syrup on hand.
Herbs: Feel free to play around with other herbs like thyme or oregano.

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the onions

Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and rosemary and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden-brown, approximately 25-30 minutes.

Step 2: Add the vinegar and maple syrup

Deglaze the skillet by adding the apple cider vinegar and gently scraping up any brown bits off the bottom with a spatula. Drizzle the maple syrup on top and stir to combine. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Mix the dip

Transfer the onions to a mixing bowl and add the cream cheese, sour cream, and one tablespoon of fresh chives. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.

Step 4: Garnish and serve

Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining fresh chives. Serve immediately.

Recipe tips

Keep the onion even in size: Avoid slicing the onion too thin to prevent over-browning. Aim for consistent one-quarter inch slices instead.
Serve with tasty sides: Serve with crackers, chips (crisps for us in the UK) or vegetable crudities.

Recipe FAQ

How much cooking does the onion need?

It takes approximately one hour to fully caramelize onions in order to achieve the rich, dark color and incredible flavor that make them such a welcome addition to so many dishes.

However, that dark color won’t work for this recipe. Here, the onions are cooked just until they are a beautiful golden brown and then given a boost of flavor with the addition of apple cider vinegar and real maple syrup. The result is a visually appealing and tasty dip your friends and family are going to love!

Can you use any type of onions?

Whether you’re looking for a delicious addition to your home game night snack table or an unmissable party appetizer, a caramelized onion dip is the ideal choice.

But what kind of onions should you use? The truth is that while yellow onions are typically recommended due to their sweetness and flavor, any type of onion can be used in caramelizing.

From sweet onions to shallots, spring onions or leeks, pick whichever onion you have on hand and enjoy the soft, golden, flavorful result that comes from optimal caramelization! With this dip, all types of onions really are welcome at the table.

Storage & reheating

Fridge: The dip will store in the fridge for 3-4 days, just store it in an airtight container.
Freezer: It isn’t a good idea to freeze the dip due to the cream cheese and sour cream, neither of which really like being frozen. But if you have too many onions, you can easily store them in the freezer for another recipe.

More recipes

Want more ideas? Check out these other related recipes!

Yield: 4-6 portions