Heavenly French Onion Dip Recipe: Ina Garten’s Party Winner

Creamy, tangy, and utterly irresistible, this Ina Garten French onion dip recipe promises to be the star of any gathering.

Sour cream and cream cheese blend seamlessly with caramelized onions, creating a luxurious dip that melts in your mouth.

Every bite delivers a rich, complex flavor profile that elevates simple snacking to a gourmet experience.

The secret lies in carefully browning onions until they reach a deep golden hue, releasing their natural sweetness.

Caramelization adds depth and complexity that store-bought dips can never match.

Serve this dip with crisp vegetables, crackers, or chips for an instant crowd-pleaser.

Get ready to become the ultimate party hero with this irresistible appetizer that everyone will be talking about.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 8

What You’ll Need for Ina Garten French Onion Dip

• Butter: Provides rich, velvety foundation for deeply caramelizing onions and building complex flavor layers.
• Onions: Sweet yellow varieties create deep, mellow golden color and intense umami taste when slowly cooked.
• Salt: Draws moisture from onions, helping them caramelize beautifully and enhancing overall seasoning.
• Black Pepper: Adds gentle warmth and subtle spicy undertone to complement sweet onion profile.
• Onion Powder: Intensifies natural onion essence and provides consistent background flavor.
• Cayenne Pepper: Introduces gentle heat and vibrant complexity to the caramelization process.

• Cream Cheese: Creates luxurious, smooth texture and tangy richness that binds ingredients harmoniously.
• Sour Cream: Delivers bright, zesty notes and silky consistency to the dip's base.
• Mayonnaise: Adds subtle richness and helps create ultra-creamy, spreadable texture.

• Chives: Provides fresh, delicate onion-like garnish with elegant green color and crisp herbal brightness.

Tools to Prepare Ina Garten French Onion Dip

• Frying pan: Ideal for caramelizing onions evenly on medium heat.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for blending cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo smoothly.
• Microwave: Useful for softening cream cheese quickly.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring onions and mixing ingredients without scratching the pan.
• Measuring spoons: Essential for accurate seasoning with salt, pepper, and spices.
• Knife: Needed for chopping onions and optional chive garnish.

Directions for Ina Garten French Onion Dip

French Onion Comfort Dip

• Butter Bath: Warm a skillet and let butter melt into a silky golden pool, creating a delicious foundation for the onions.
• Onion Transformation: Sprinkle onions with seasonings and let them slowly dance in the pan, turning soft and caramel-colored while releasing their sweet, rich essence. This process takes patience, transforming ordinary onions into a flavor powerhouse.
• Creamy Canvas: Blend cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo until they become a smooth, luxurious mixture that will cradle the caramelized onions perfectly.
• Flavor Fusion: Gently fold the golden onions into the creamy base, allowing each ingredient to whisper its deliciousness into the next.
• Flavor Development: Tuck the dip into the refrigerator, letting the flavors mingle and deepen overnight. Before serving, let it rest at room temperature to awaken its full potential.
• Party Ready: Scatter some fresh chives on top and serve alongside crispy potato chips, creating an irresistible snack that'll have everyone coming back for more.

Tips and Flavors for Ina Garten French Onion Dip

• Caramelization Secrets help intensify the onion's natural sweetness and create deeper flavor complexity.
• Adjust cayenne pepper to match your heat tolerance, adding a pinch for mild warmth or more for a spicier kick.
• Experiment with kettle-cooked, ridged, or wavy potato chips that provide extra crunch and surface area for scooping the creamy dip.
• Prepare the dip up to 3 days in advance, allowing flavors to meld and develop a more robust taste profile in the refrigerator.
• Sprinkle fresh chopped herbs like thyme, rosemary, or parsley for an aromatic twist that complements the caramelized onions.

Serving Suggestions for Ina Garten French Onion Dip

• Dip into Game Day Delights: Serve this French onion dip during football watch parties or sports gatherings. Crinkle-cut chips create the perfect crunchy companion for this creamy, caramelized treat.
• Elevate Veggie Platter Pleasure: Pair the dip with fresh, crisp vegetable sticks like carrots, celery, and bell peppers. The rich, sweet onion flavor complements raw vegetables beautifully.
• Create Gourmet Sandwich Spread: Use this luxurious dip as a sophisticated condiment for sandwiches, burgers, or grilled cheese. Its depth of flavor transforms ordinary lunch items into extraordinary meals.

Storing Ina Garten French Onion Dip

• Refrigerate Wisely: Store the French onion dip in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Keep it sealed to maintain freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors.
• Prepare in Advance: Make this dip 1-2 days before your gathering to allow flavors to meld and intensify. The longer it sits, the more delicious it becomes.
• Freeze with Caution: While possible to freeze, the texture might slightly change. If freezing, use within 1 month and thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Stir well after thawing to restore consistency.
• Serve Smart: Take the dip out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to soften and enhance its creamy texture. Room temperature allows the flavors to bloom and taste more vibrant.

Effortless Ina Garten French Onion Dip Recipe

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4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s french onion dip delivers creamy, caramelized goodness with sharp cheddar and sweet onions. Home cooks will savor this classic party appetizer that brings comfort and rich flavor to any gathering.

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Ingredients

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• 2 ½ cups (590 ml) onions, diced (2 to 3 onions) (brown, yellow, or white)
• 4 oz (120 g) cream cheese, cold, cut into cubes
• ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream (full-fat preferred, but low-fat or yogurt can be used)
• ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
• 3 tbsps (45 ml) butter
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

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Instructions

1. Caramelize Onions: Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add sliced onions with salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir continuously for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions transform into a deep golden, sweet delicacy.
2. Cool Onions: Remove caramelized onions from heat and let cool to room temperature, allowing flavors to intensify and settle.
3. Prepare Creamy Base: In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Briefly warm cream cheese in microwave if needed to achieve a smooth consistency.
4. Combine Ingredients: Gently fold cooled caramelized onions into the creamy mixture, ensuring even distribution without overmixing.
5. Chill and Rest: Transfer dip to a sealed container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to develop a complex flavor profile.
6. Serve: Remove dip from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to reach room temperature. Garnish with finely chopped chives and serve with crinkle-cut potato chips for optimal texture and taste.

Notes

• Master Caramelization Technique: Slow cooking transforms onions from sharp to sweet, requiring patience and low heat to develop rich, complex flavors without burning.
• Chill for Flavor Depth: Refrigerating the dip overnight allows ingredients to marry, intensifying the taste and creating a more harmonious blend of creamy and caramelized notes.
• Temperature Matters: Bringing the dip to room temperature before serving ensures smooth texture and maximizes the full spectrum of flavors locked within the ingredients.
• Texture Enhancement Tip: Choosing crinkle-cut potato chips provides the ideal crispy contrast to the smooth, creamy dip, elevating the overall eating experience.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 6 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg