Real Sour Cream & Onion Dip
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The unfortunate consequence of being deprived of chips and dip as a child is that I am the girl at parties hovering over the crock pot filled with queso dip, piling more than a manageable amount of hot crab spread into my Tostitos scoops, and destroying the poor bowl filled with spinach-artichoke dip.
In addition to childhood deprivation, part of my love for these sorts of dips, I suspect, stems from the fact that I never make them.
As many of you know, so many of these most-adored party dip recipes call for opening a pack of soup mix filled mostly with dehydrated ingredients, two days worth of the recommended salt intake, MSG and a host of nitrates and preservatives. While this knowledge never seemed to prevent me from eating these dips — all willpower dissolves when confronted face to face — for many years it prevented me from making them.
With the recent success of a homemade sour cream-and-onion dip, however, I am hoping homemade queso dip along with a few other classics might be in my future, with any luck before the Super Bowl. Who knew that real sour cream-and-onion dip is astonishingly easy to prepare and far more delicious than its dried-soup variation?
While caramelizing onions takes time — time, not work — throwing together this dip couldn’t be much more difficult than opening a box of instant soup. One bite of this sweet-and-tangy dip atop a salty Ruffles potato chip allayed my fears that my Super Bowl guests, upon observing the spread — my mother’s olivata, my aunt’s whipped feta with roasted red peppers, and not a crock pot in sight — might run out the door.
If you feel like going this homemade-sour-cream-and-onion-dip route, rest assured that your guests will feel right at home watching the game. Just don’t forget the Ruffles… for some things there are no substitutes.
PS: Another favorite, easy crowd-pleasing party spread: Black Olive Tapenade
PrintReal Sour Cream & Onion Dip
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 1.25 cups
Description
Inspired by a recipe in Sally Schneider’s The Improvisational Cook
Notes: When researching recipes for this dip, I came across a ton of variations, many of which called for additional ingredients such as goat cheese, mayonnaise, dried onion powder, etc. While I thought for sure the goat cheese variation would win me over, none of the variations I tried was as good as this simple combination of equal parts caramelized onions and sour cream, some sort of member of the green onion family — scallions, chives, etc — and a little freshly squeezed lemon juice. I know how hard it is to resist trying out those flashy recipes, but I highly recommend giving this simple recipe a go first.
Ingredients
for the caramelized onions:
- 4 cups diced onion (from about 3 to 4 small to medium onions)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vinegar, anything you have on hand
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
for the dip:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 scallions* or a bunch of chives, thinly sliced (to yield about 1/4 cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon (or more) freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, season with a pinch of salt and cover the pan. Cook covered for about 15 minutes.
- Remove the cover, and increase the heat slightly. Continue to cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the onions are not sticking. Sprinkle the sugar overtop and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, stirring more frequently now, until the onions have turned a nice deep brown. Pour in the vinegar, turn off the heat, and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon or spatula to remove any browned bits. Take pan off the heat and transfer onions to a large bowl to cool.
- This mixture should yield about 1 heaping cup of onions. When the onions have cooled, stir 1/2 cup of them into the sour cream. Taste. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold in scallions or chives. Add the lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, lemon juice or more caramelized onions if desired. Save any remaining caramelized onions to add to omelets or pasta or more sour cream-and-onion dip.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dip
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
178 Comments on “Real Sour Cream & Onion Dip”
By far my absolute favorite dip, the one I get the most requests for and the easiest to make is Reuben Dip in a pumpernickle bread bowl. It has to have 10,000,000 calories in every bite ummmm must be why I love it!! Will be having it instead of dinner on Super Bowl!!
There’s a spinach dip recipe from the Kraft website that I’ve been making (and LOVING) for years, but lately I’ve been really into salsas and little taco cups as appetizers.
Spinach balls with homemade ranch!
My favorite dip is spinach artichoke dip. and toasted pita chips to scoop it up.
My go to dip recipe for parties is taco dip. It’s like a meal in dip form.
I love making Guy’s Carmelized Onion Dip but I’m going to give this one a try. Looks YUMMY!!!!
Love your site!
I love making Guy’s Carmelized Onion Dip but I’m going to give this one a try. Looks YUMMY!!!!
I think spinach artichoke dip is a favorite for the Super Bowl. Hummus isn’t bad, either!
I love to have bruschetta, olives, cheese diced tomatoes also a cheese ball!
I love making Guy’s Carmelized onion dip but I’m definitely trying this one.
Love your website!
Guacamole!
I was a chip and dip queen when I was younger. I can’t believe my parents let me eat like that! I am planning on making buffalo hummus and pita chips this year.
We love homemade hummus and toasted pita chips! My husband was dubious at first and now it’s one of his favs and homemade spinach and artichoke dip is always a hit around here, no calorie counting allowed! This weekend we’re going to try the recipe for real sour cream and onion dip….I’ll probably never buy the stuff at the store again….smile! Love your blog!!
Oh, it is the predictable chicken/frank’s hot sauce crack dip!
I love making homemade salsa!
Oh, salmon dip with pita chips!! And a side of guacamole and pico de gallo!! Thank you for the opportunity.
Meatballs!!!
Caramelized onions are one of the top ingredients of all time. This dip sounds delightfully tasty!
I love spinach dip with pumpernickel.
I’m a big fan of date-walnut spread: just toss roughly equal amounts of pitted dates and walnuts in a food processor and blend until the mixture looks almost like a nut butter. It’s amazing on bread or crackers, especially accompanied by some goat cheese (humboldt fog is my favorite!).
I love making Jalapeño poppers wrapped with bacon!!!! Yummy!!!! ❤
P.S. I have made your scrumptious Fontina Cheese dip three (3) times since you posted it!!!! ❤❤❤
One of my favorite dips is simply pico de gallo and cream cheese mixed together and served with tortilla chips. I am definitely trying this sour cream and onion dip though. I’ll eat pretty much anything that has caramelized onions in it!
I’m from Texas. Super Bowl Sunday wouldn’t be complete without Rotel dip; Velveta and Rotel. If I’m feeling fancy I’ll toss in a pound of cooked sausage then garnish with sour cream and guacamole. Delish!
My favorite dip is spinach artichoke dip served with pita chips. Yumm!
On another note, it’s really cool to see more people who regularly read your blog come out and post enticed by a giveaway 🙂
Hummus definitely, I may even try peeling the beans this time!
I really do love a good onion dip. I will have to try out this recipe:)
I really like small pizza bites with a spicy kick to it.
just give me some chips and guacamole 🙂
Chicken Wing Dip – so simple and soooo addicting!