A tasty base of cream cheese, cottage cheese and caramelized onions makes this homemade onion dip simply irresistible! Forget store-bought and make this easy onion dip at home, serve with your favourite chips and watch it disappear!
Hey friends!
Remember those caramelized onions I share a little while back?
Today I’m sharing ’em in a homemade onion dip!
With it being the holiday season, it means lots of parties, get togethers and impromptu visits. It’s always good to have an easy dip recipe in your back pocket…and this one always goes over so well!
Though this is an indulgent dip, it is lightened up somewhat with light cream cheese and cottage cheese instead of sour cream or mayo.
It has all the delicious flavours you love in an onion dip recipe—>it’s creamy, flavourful and totally chip-dippable without being too too heavy….feel me 😉 ?
So ditch those store-bought packets of onion powder and make a delicious onion dip from scratch! Let’s make it!
How to Make Onion Dip
1: Caramelized those onions! This is the longest part. After that, there’s nothing to it!
2: In a food processor, combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, chili flakes, salt and pepper.
3: Blitz until smooth and combined.
4: Add caramelized onions and fresh parsley.
5: Cover and pulse until incorporated.
Tip: The reason why we ‘pulse’ here is that we don’t want the onions totally blended up. You want some texture left.
Then, it’s just a matter of scooping into a serving dish and garnishing, if you like.
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Can I Caramelize Onions Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! Prep your onions a day (or two) ahead of time, store (covered) in the fridge and make the dip when ready.
Alternatively, make the dip, cover and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Tip: This French onion dip, like most cream cheese dips, will firm slightly in the fridge. Allow it to sit out for 15 to 20 minutes to soften. The flavours are better, in my opinion, this way.
Are Fried Onions The Same Thing?
No.
The thing about caramelized onions is that that are cooked low and slow.
What does that mean?
Tender onions.
Depth of flavour.
A lovely caramel colour.
A touch of sweetness.
Don’t get me wrong…fried onions are great! But caramelized onions work best in this dip.
Can I Serve As A Hot Onion Dip?
Absolutely!
Pour onion dip into an oven safe dish (reserve any onion garnish and parsley for after) and heat in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 20 minutes or so until warmed through.
Garnish, as desired.
Can I Make Without a Food Processor?
Yes!
If you don’t have a food processor, use a hand mixer along with a mixing bowl to blend everything together.
When it’s time to add the onions, chop them before mixing in.
More Tips & Variations
Cottage cheese was used here to lighten things up a bit (versus using sour cream or mayo). Having said that, if you want to treat yourself, go ahead and use either of the latter.
You want your cream cheese softened so it blends up nice and creamy.
Chili flakes were used for a touch of spice, but you can omit if you like or replace with cayenne to taste.
Caramelized onions were reserved for garnish. You can skip this if you like and just put them in the actual dip.
Want to keep things vegetarian? The Foodie Affair has a vegan worcestershire sauce recipe. Alternatively, you can purchase a store-bought vegan/vegetarian variety.
More Dip Recipes You May Enjoy
- Spinach Artichoke Dip – Baked in a skillet with buns, these is not only a lovely presentation, but tasty too!
- White Bean Dip – Healthy, hearty, budget friendly and tasty…this white bean dip is always a crowd pleaser.
- Buffalo Chicken Dip Mini Stuffed Peppers – Delicious buffalo chicken dip stuffed into mini peppers – fun and tasty!
Hope you love this homemade onion dip as much as we do!
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon,
Dawn
Make this caramelized onion dip? That’s awesome! Love it if you left a comment below. Many thanks!
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Homemade Onion Dip (lightened up a little)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup to 1 cup cup caramelized onions (depending on how much onion flavour you want. Plus 1 to 2 tablespoons for garnish)
- 250 grams light cream cheese , softened & cut into cubes
- 1 to 1.25 cup cottage cheese (I used 1% milk fat)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (regular or vegan/vegetarian version)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley , roughly chopped (or baby arugula)
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
- In a food processor combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and red chili flakes. Cover and blitz until smooth and combined.Note: Start with 1 cup of cottage cheese and blend in an additional 1/4 cup if you want things looser. Also, stir your cottage cheese before measuring.
- Stop and add caramelized onions (3/4 to 1 cup, depending on how much onion flavour you want) and parsley (or baby arugula). Cover and pulse until just combined. Don't over mix. Taste for seasoning.
- Pour into serving container and garnish with additional parsley and extra chopped caramelized onions, if desired. Enjoy with chips, crackers or veggie sticks! Serves 8 to 10. Nutrition (estimate only) based on 10 servings.
Notes
- Time includes caramelizing onions. You can do that a day ahead, if you like.
- Cottage cheese was used here to lighten things up a bit (versus using sour cream or mayo). Having said that, if you want to treat yourself, go ahead and use either of the latter.
- You want your cream cheese softened so it blends up nice and creamy.
- Chili flakes were used for a touch of spice, but you can omit if you like or replace with cayenne to taste.
- Caramelized onions were reserved for garnish. You can skip this if you like and just put them in the actual dip.
- Want to keep things vegetarian? Use a vegan or vegetarian Worcestershire sauce.
Nutrition (estimate only)
I remember being a kid, and Onion dip was the first dip I ever tried! I loved it so much, and couldn’t figure out how onion flavor could be so delicious! Now, of course, I always cook with onions and totally appreciate them. This is an awesome recipe, Dawn! I love the “lightened up:” version!
Same here! We always have on hand! Thank you Laura 🙂
Oh my gosh, YUM!!! Pass me the chips (a whole bag please) and give me a glass of wine and I’m set!
You got it, girlfriend! I like the way you think 😉 Thank you!
During the holidays, any recipe that can be lightened up and still be delicious, is always appreciated.
I think so too 😉 Thanks Karen!
I don’t even need anything to dip in this, just give me a spoon and the bowl! This looks SO GOOD, Dawn! And I love that you lightened it up a bit–that way I really can eat the whole bowl :). Have a great weekend, my dear!
Lol! Good idea 😉 Thank you Kelsie!!
We love onion dip, and snacking on Christmas Eve is a must for us, so I can see adding this to the snack menu for sure! Another great use for those caramelized onions Dawn! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Same!! Thank you Leanne! Merry Christmas to you and yours too 🙂
This is such a great idea! I love how you’ve lightened this up by mixing in some cottage cheese. Onion dip is a regular on our snacking menu and I will need to give your version a try!
Thank you Kathy 🙂 !! Enjoy!
Oh how delicious. And the addition of those caramelized onions is brilliant! I love having those at the ready at all times. YUM! 🙂 ~Valentina
Right??! So much flavour! Thanks Valentina 🙂
I remember I always thought it was so weird how much I loved onion dip as a kid when I was the pickiest eater there is!! That was the kind from the jar….so this homemade version is absolutely calling my name. I would love to demolish this one night with a bag of plain, salted chips! Have a great weekend! XO
Lol! Sounds like a plan 😉 Thanks Katherine! XO
Keith and I are both crazy about onion dip with potato chips. But I hate using dip mixes with all the weird ingredients so I’m so excited to try your recipe!!
Yay! Hope you guys enjoy 🙂 Thanks Marissa!
I love onion dip! That’s totally another guilty pleasure that we let ourselves enjoy during the holidays. A container of onion dip and a bag of ridged potato chips. Yum! Now I want to try your lightened-up version. Plus, we all know that homemade is better! 🙂
Same here!! Thanks David! So true 🙂
Great idea to lighten it up with some cottage cheese Dawn! I can never pass up a caramelized onion dip! So perfect for game day and holiday entertaining!
For sure! Thanks so much 🙂