This delicious caramelized onion dip is a true crowd pleaser…and the perfect appetizer! Made with golden caramelized onions, cream cheese, sour cream and the ideal blend of herbs and seasonings, this flavorful veggie dip is delicious served with chips, crackers or veggies — and is the perfect dish to serve for a gathering, bring to a potluck, or for an at-home-date-night!

A bowl of caramelized onion dip topped with chives with a spoon on a plate on a table. Purple, red, and orange peppers, sprigs of thyme, cut pieces of celery, and crackers surround the bowl of dip on a plate. A napkin is sitting on the table, set to the side.

While I am all about veggie-loading, I don’t ever feel the need to overdo it.

When it comes to snacks and appetizers, my motto is to keep it simple! But simple doesn’t need to lack panache! Pairing veggies and dip is not a new idea, of course. A classic in its own right! But caramelizing the onions that are in this dip, while requiring a bit of time and effort, adds MAJOR depth of flavor and is a game changer to this traditional crudite tray mainstay!

I know it can be tempting to want a veggie-filled dip for your crudite platter (a nutrition “power-up” as it were). And, I do have a handful of veggie dips chock full of…veggies (think roasted eggplant dip + roasted carrot hummus)! But, I also LOVE creating delicious, non-veggie dips to use as a tool in my veggie-loading toolbox (and just because they taste so good!!).

This creamy caramelized onion dip with cream cheese uses an entire 10 cups of sliced onions (about 3 medium onions)! It also incorporates Greek yogurt, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, garlic, and seasoning — is vegetarian (when you omit the optional Worcestershire sauce) + nut-free — and uses only one skillet and a food processor for easy cleanup! Generously serving 8 people, it is ideal to serve as an appetizer or to bring to a potluck. This dip is wildly delicious day of but even better (IMO) when you make it a day ahead and the flavors have had a chance to merry together in the fridge.

Ingredients for creamy caramelized onion dip on the table before being cooked together.

Ingredients: olive oil, sweet onions, kosher salt, garlic cloves, fresh thyme, black pepper, cream cheese, Greek yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, fresh thyme

How to make this onion dip: Step-by-step visual guide

Sliced raw onions in a dutch oven sitting on a whitetable.
Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until the onions have cooked down and started to get light brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Cooked sliced onion, garlic, thyme, pepper, and salt in a dutch oven sitting on a white table.
Stir in the garlic, minced thyme and pepper and remaining salt and continue to cook and stir until the onions are a golden brown and very soft, another 20-25 minutes.  This step might take longer depending on the size of your pan and how crowded the onions are. If the pan starts to get too brown on the bottom, add a Tablespoon or two of water, lower the heat and continue to cook and scrape the bottom of the pan.
Cooked, seasoned caramelized onions in a dutch oven sitting on a white table.
Allow the onions to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cream cheese, yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce in a food processor sitting on a white table.
While the onions cool, add the cream cheese, yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce to a food processor. Blend until smooth.
Caramelized, seasoned onions and cream cheese mixture in a food processor sitting on a white table.
Once onions have cooled to warm, add them to the food processor and pulse until the onions are chopped into the cream cheese mixture. Don’t fully puree because you still want some larger bits of onions in the dip.
Pureed combination of caramelized onions and cream cheese mixture in a food procesor sitting on a white table.
Taste the dip and add more salt and pepper as needed. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl or container.
A bowl of caramelized onion dip topped with chives with a spoon on a plate on a table. A purple pepper, sprigs of thyme, and crackers surround the bowl of dip on a plate. A napkin is sitting on the table, set to the side.
Garnish the top of dip with fresh thyme leaves or snipped cheese and serve with crunchy vegetables, chips, and/or crackers

Suggested adaptations + recipe tips

  • Make ahead! You can make the caramelized onions a day or two ahead and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make the dip.
  • Speed it up! To speed up the caramelization process, divide the onions between two large skillets. Caramelizing onions is no joke! A labor of love, if you will! I find the only way to speed up the process while keeping that lovely flavor is to spread the onions out between two pans so that they aren’t too crowded. This allows the onions to cook faster and can shave about 10 minutes off of the cooking time.
  • Swap out the dairy? While I have not tested a dairy-free version of this recipe, I think using dairy-free versions of cream cheese and yogurt/sour cream should work just fine. Be sure to taste and adjust the seasonings as needed to account for any flavor differences.
  • Give it time to set! This dip is delicious when freshly made. But, once the ingredients have had a chance to sit together in the fridge for a day, this dip becomes extra tasty!
A bowl of caramelized onion dip topped with chives with a spoon on a plate on a table. Purple, red, orange and yellow peppers, carrots, sprigs of thyme, cut pieces of celery, and crackers surround the bowl of dip on a plate. A napkin is sitting on the table, set to the side.

How to store this recipe:

This caramelized onion dip can be stored in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing as this changes the texture of the dip.

I actually find that I enjoy the dip even MORE the day after making it — as the flavors have a chance to meld together a bit more.

Other dip recipes for all those yummy veggies!

Loving this creamy caramelized onion dip recipe and hungry for more?

Sign up so that my newsletter is delivered straight to your inbox. And be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all kinds of veggie-loaded and healthy living ideas!

A hand holding a piece of celery being dipped into a white bowl of caramelized onion dip. The bowl is sitting on a plate on a table and is surrounded by out-of-focus red and purple peppers, celery, sprigs of thyme, and crackers.
5 from 4 votes

Creamy Caramelized Onion Dip

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
cooling time: 10 minutes
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Author: Taesha Butler
This delicious caramelized onion dip is a true crowd pleaser the perfect appetizer. Made with perfectly golden caramelized onions, cream cheese, sour cream and the perfect blend of herbs and seasonings. This flavorful veggie dip is delicious when served with chips, crackers or veggies and the perfect thing to serve for a gathering, bring to a potluck, or for an at-home-date-night.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

Ingredients
 

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced (about 10 cups)
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided + or to taste
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 8 ounces block cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, optional but really bumps up the flavor
  • Fresh thyme leaves or chives, for garnish, optional

Instructions
 

  •  Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until the onions have cooked down and started to get light brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the garlic, minced thyme and pepper and remaining salt and continue to cook and stir until the onions are a golden brown and very soft, another 20-25 minutes.  This step might take longer depending on the size of your pan and how crowded the onions are. If the pan starts to get too brown on the bottom, add a Tablespoon or two of water, lower the heat and continue to cook and scrape the bottom of the pan.
  • Transfer the onions to a plate and allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • While the onions cool, add the cream cheese, yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce to a food processor. Blend until smooth.
  •  Once onions have cooled to warm, add them to the food processor and pulse until the onions are chopped into the cream cheese mixture. Don’t fully puree because you still want some larger bits of onions in the dip.
  • Taste the dip and add more salt and pepper as needed. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl or container
  • Garnish the top of dip with fresh thyme leaves or snipped cheese and serve with crunchy vegetables, chips, and/or crackers.
    You can make the caramelized onions a day or two ahead and store in the refrigerator until making the dip.
Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 119kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.001g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 809mg, Potassium: 276mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 30IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 157mg, Iron: 1mg