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Caramelized Onion Dip Feature

Caramelized Onion Dip

This Caramelized Onion Dip is rich, creamy, and packed with sweet, savory flavor from slowly cooked onions. Made with cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and fresh chives, it's an easy appetizer that's perfect for serving with potato chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 1.5 cups

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 2 yellow onions
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 Tbsp chives sliced
  • ¼ tsp salt or to taste
  • ¼ tsp black pepper or to taste

Instructions
 

  • Peel the onions, then slice them into thin, even slices so they cook evenly.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and turn golden. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring every few minutes, until the onions are deeply caramelized and jammy, about 20 to 40 minutes.
  • While the onions are cooking, add the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  • Let the caramelized onions cool for about 5 minutes, then add them to the food processor. Pulse a few times until the onions are evenly incorporated while still leaving a little texture. Stir in the sliced chives.
  • Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and serve with your favorite potato chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables.

Notes

  • Take your time with the onions. The key to great caramelized onions is cooking them low and slow. Resist the urge to turn up the heat, as this can cause the onions to brown or burn before they've had a chance to develop their natural sweetness.
  • Stir occasionally, not constantly. Let the onions sit for a few minutes between stirs so they have time to caramelize. Stirring too often can slow the browning process.
  • Be patient. Depending on your skillet and the thickness of your onion slices, caramelizing can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes. The onions are ready when they're deeply golden brown, soft, and jammy, not just lightly browned.
  • Don't rush the cooling step. Let the onions cool for about 5 minutes before adding them to the dip. This helps prevent the cream cheese mixture from becoming too warm and thin.
  • Make it ahead. This dip tastes even better after chilling for a few hours, giving the flavors time to meld together.
Keyword Dip
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