Last Updated on February 4, 2021 by Betty Davies
Creamy, rich and bold, this easy red onion dip is made for sharing. Simple to make and bursting with layers of flavor, it’s the perfect game day appetizer!
I love the classic French onion dip, so creamy and rich! If you love that, you will love this red onion version!
Slightly milder in flavor, but by no means bland, this creamy caramelized red onion dip is all kinds of delicious, and is one hell of a dip to share with friends and family.
This simple dip is a real crowd pleaser, you’ll have a hard time not liking the bowl clean!
If you love onions, check out my whole roasted onion recipe!
Why you will love this recipe!
- Easy: You just need a few basic ingredients to make this recipe, and it’s ready to serve in just a few simple steps.
- Perfect for a crowd: This recipe will easily serve 4, and it’s easy to double the recipe if you are serving more.
- Make ahead: This is a great option if you are planning to serve it as part of a big feast as you can make it a day or two ahead of time.
- Dietary Info: This red onion dip is gluten-free, vegetarian and low carb.
Ingredients
- Butter: Use salted butter to cook the onions. If you use unsalted, add a little extra salt.
- Red Onions: Finely diced. Red onions are sweeter than yellow or white and result in a milder flavored dip.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce.
- Brown Sugar: A little brown sugar adds a rich sweetness that compliments the red onions.
- Mayonnaise and Sour Cream: For the creamy base.
- Fresh Chives: To enhance the onion flavor.
How to make red onion dip
Be sure to scroll down for the whole recipe!
- Place the onions, butter and seasonings into a pot (photo 1).
- Cook the onions until soft (photo 2).
- Mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise and chives (photo 3).
- Mix in the red onions (photo 4).
Recipe Variations
This red onion dip is pretty delicious as it is, but there are a few easy swaps you can make if you like:
- Leave out the brown sugar. The brown sugar adds a nice layer of flavor to it, but if you want to cut back further on the carbs, you can omit it, or use a low calorie sweetener if you like.
- Make it with yellow onions if you prefer a classic onion dip.
- Swap the chives for another fresh herb. Parsley would work well.
- Make it healthier. Use oil rather than butter to cook the onions and use a low fat mayo. You can swap the sour cream of plain or Greek yogurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
This red onion dip is a great make ahead appetizer and will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, although it is best served within two. Once you have made the dip, keep it tightly covered in the fridge.
This dip is not freezer friendly as it is made with mayonnaise and sour cream, which will separate when frozen.
It’s recommended that homemade mayonnaise based dips aren’t left at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
Serving Suggestions
I served this red onion dip with pita chips which worked great. Any chips will work well, as will bread sticks or crostini. Keep it low carb by serving it with vegetable sticks.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Don’t skip the time it takes to caramelize the red onions. This is how we get the deep flavor, so be a little patient!
- Let the onions cool completely before mixing them with the sour cream and mayo.
- Let it rest to really allow the flavors to develop. Leave it for at least 2 hours if you can.
More Sauces and Dips
If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!
Red Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 red onions (diced)
- ½ teaspoon salt and black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives (chopped)
Instructions
- Add the butter, sliced red onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce into a pot and place on a medium heat on the stovetop.
- Stir the pot a few times as the butter melts.
- Cook the onions down for about 30 minutes until they are softened. Stir occasionally.
- Take off of the stovetop, and let the onions cooled completely.
- Mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream and fresh chives in a bowl.
- Stir in the cooled onions, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Taste and season if needed, and serve with a sprinkle of fresh chives.
Notes
- Don’t skip the time it takes to caramelize the red onions. This is how we get the deep flavor, so be a little patient!
- Let the onions cool completely before mixing them with the sour cream and mayo.
- Let it rest to really allow the flavors to develop. Leave it for at least 2 hours if you can.
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