French Onion Dip

5 from 18 votes

This homemade recipe for French onion dip is healthier than the store-bought kind and made with sweet caramelized onions - perfect for chips!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This is probably not the french onion dip you grew up eating. In fact, it’s not the one I grew up eating either. It’s a homemade version made with caramelized onions, sour cream, chives and a few seasonings. It’s lower in fat and calories than the store-bought version but just as creamy and crave-worthy!

Skinny French Onion Dip in a white bowl with sliced vegetables
Want to save this recipe?
Just type your email below and I’ll send it to you. And as a bonus you’ll get delicious new recipes from me!

How to make french onion dip from scratch

  • Add the onions to a pan with a little oil.
  • Cook until caramelized and add in the garlic during the last minute of cooking.
  • Add the onions to a bowl with the other ingredients.
  • Stir to combine.
4 image collage showing how to make the recipe

Then, slice up your favorite veggies and dig right in or set it in the fridge for an hour before serving. There will be enough to serve a crowd!

Close up shot with potato chip dipping into french onion dip

Tips to make this easy dip

  1. Be sure to fully caramelize the onions. This creates the deep flavor for the dip so have a little patience. It could take up to 45 minutes. Grab my tips for how to caramelize onions for the full rundown.
  2. Swap some of the sour cream for Greek yogurt. This will give a tangier flavor as well as some added protein with less calories.
  3. Add water if you prefer a runnier dip. Once you have mixed the ingredients together, add a tablespoon of water at a time until you get the consistency you want. I prefer the thickness of it without water though.
  4. Let the onions fully cool before mixing them with the sour cream. If the onions are still warm, the cream can split.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it keep?

Once you have made the dip, keep it tightly covered with plastic wrap. It will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Don’t freeze this dip as the sour cream will split and becoming liquidy when thawed.

What are the best onions to use?

I used yellow onions for this dip. They have a slightly sweet and bold flavor when caramelized. White onions will create a sharper taste and red onions will create a milder flavor. You could also use thinly sliced shallots!

Can you use low fat sour cream?

For this recipe, I prefer to use a full fat sour cream, it is richer in flavor and less watery in texture. You can use a low fat sour cream if you prefer but the dip will be thinner.

For more dips, check out:

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Homemade French Onion Dip recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

preorder MY book

The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook is now available everywhere books are sold!

French Onion Dip

This homemade recipe for French onion dip is healthier than the store-bought kind and made with sweet caramelized onions – perfect for chips!
5 from 18 votes
Servings 6 servings
Course Snack
Calories 125
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Potato chips for serving

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a sauté pan on medium high heat. Add the onions to the pan.
  • Stir periodically for 10 minutes, allowing them to color.
  • Reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook, stirring frequently for about 10 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to low and continue to cook until evenly caramelized, about 15 more minutes. If the onions start to stick to the pan, add a couple tablespoons of water to deglaze the pan. When there is one minute left, add the garlic and saute until fragrant.
  • Transfer the caramelized onions to a medium bowl and allow to cool. Add the sour cream, chives, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix and serve immediately or chill for up to 24 hours before serving. Serve with your favorite potato chips or veggies.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 3-4 days in the fridge. 
Make Ahead Tips: You can make the caramelized onions up to 3 days in advance. Then store in the fridge and mix the dip about an hour before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 125kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 129mg, Potassium: 81mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 282IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Snack

Rate and comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. So good!! Used vegan sour cream and added jalapeños for a little kick. This is my family’s new favorite dip!

  2. Made this last night and WOW! YUM! Super simple and super good. I added a few dashes of Worcestershire to amp up the flavor even a little more. I will definitely make this again… like soon!

  3. I made this last night and it was delicious!! Instead of using 1 cup of sour cream I used 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt and it tasted great. I would just recommend letting the dip sit for at least 30 minutes before eating, to let the flavors incorporate. I will definitely make this again!

  4. I happen to try this recipe, it tasted amazinggg…
    My family n I have been making yogurt dips since a long time and I thoroughly loved the texture and flavour of this one. And the fact that it’s so simple to make 🙂
    You just need some basic ingredients which are usually available at home.
    N that’s it 🙂
    I had this with fresh cut veggies and also with some freshly baked garlic bread sticks. It was yummm!!!