What Is Onion dip and How Can I Use It?
Onion dip is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 2 recipes to get you started.
Key Points
- A creamy party dip of sour cream and dried onion, often a packet of onion soup mix.
- The 1950s "California dip" is one soup-mix envelope folded into two cups of sour cream.
- Built for chips and crudites, but also a spread for potatoes, burgers, and mash.
- Mix it an hour or more ahead so the dried onion rehydrates and flavors meld.
- Keep refrigerated 3 to 4 days; discard dairy dip left out over 2 hours.
What is onion dip?
Onion dip is the classic creamy party dip built from sour cream and dried onion, usually a packet of onion soup mix stirred straight into the sour cream. It is cool and tangy, heavy with savory allium flavor.
The famous version is the back-of-the-box "California dip" from the 1950s: one envelope of onion soup mix folded into two cups of sour cream. A from-scratch version swaps the packet for deeply caramelized onions, which tastes far better but takes real time.
Either way, the point is the same: a thick, scoopable dip carried by onion.
How to Use Onion Dip
Its home is the snack table, with potato chips, ridged crinkle-cut ones especially, plus crackers and raw vegetables for dipping. The cold tang and sturdy body are built for scooping.
It also works as a spread or a sauce. Smear it on a baked potato, dollop it on a burger, or fold a spoonful into mashed potatoes for instant oniony richness.
It does the same job inside Easy Spam Triangles, and the same caramelized-onion flavor base drives a dish like French Onion Baked Chicken.
The biggest mistake is serving it right away. Mix it at least an hour ahead, ideally several, so the dried onion rehydrates and the salt and flavor spread through; fresh from the bowl it tastes flat and reads gritty.
Substitutes
For the soup-mix shortcut, stir together dried minced onion, onion powder, a little garlic powder, and salt, then fold that into the sour cream. You control the salt this way, which the packet does not.
Greek yogurt stands in for some or all of the sour cream when you want it lighter and tangier, though it thins the body. Mayonnaise blended with caramelized onion gives a richer, less tangy take.
Buying & Storage
Tubs of prepared onion dip sit in the refrigerated case near the sour cream and hummus; check the date and pick the freshest.
Homemade or opened onion dip keeps in a covered container in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. It is dairy-based, so don't leave it on the counter; discard any dip left out longer than 2 hours at room temperature.
Stir before serving leftovers, since the dip weeps a little liquid as it sits.
Quick facts
- In Chinese
- 洋葱浸
- British (UK) term
- Onion dip
- en français
- trempette à l'oignon
- en español
- salsa de cebollas
Recipes using onion dip
There are 2 recipes that contain this ingredient.
French Onion Baked Chicken
Five-ingredient baked chicken slathered in French onion dip and topped with buttery crushed crackers. The ultimate retro casserole-aisle dinner with a crisp golden crust.
Easy Spam Triangles
Easy Spam triangles: hand-pie pockets filled with Spam, smoky Gouda, diced apple, and onion dip in flaky pie pastry. Retro party appetizer with surprising flavor.
