This easy Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip is creamy, savory, make-ahead friendly, and uses simple ingredients. It will be the crowd-favorite appetizer at any party. It has golden caramelized onions and crispy bacon folded into a tangy cream cheese and sour cream base—and you can even customize it with your favorite herbs and spices.
I developed this recipe as a magazine food editor, and have made it for parties for years. It's been tested and tasted to perfection.
Whether you're hosting game day or a holiday gathering, this caramelized onion and bacon dip will steal the appetizer-table spotlight.
I’m the guest who happily socializes—as long as the dip is within arm’s reach. If you know, you know.
I can't get enough of classics like Grilled Corn and Crab Dip and 7 Layer Dip. Load me up with all the delicious dipping options!
Why you'll love this recipe
As the consummate hostess I'm usually in and out of the kitchen, refilling plates and dip bowls. This caramelized onion bacon dip disappears fast — here's why it works every time:
- Incredible flavor: It's so delicious with the salty bacon, cream cheese tang, and sweet but savory caramelized onions.
- Great make-ahead recipe: It only needs little prep time and minimal kitchen equipment. Make it hours (or a full day) ahead, with next-to-no clean up time.
- Perfect for entertaining: People say this dip is irresistible! Serve the creamy bacon goodness with fresh veggies and other dippers, like pita chips, potato chips, toast points, and bread sticks.
- Simple ingredients: The base of the dip is made with cream cheese and sour cream, plus crumbled bacon and savory caramelized onions. Add a little vinegar, herbs, salt, and pepper, and you're set!
Jump to:
Omg this dip was so decadent and delicious!! We made it for a get together with friends this past weekend and everyone loved it!
- Anjali
Ingredients and substitutions
Here's everything you'll need to make this bacon onion dip. Don't forget to check the recipe card for quantities.
- Olive oil
- Yellow onions: You'll need 1 pound or about 2 medium onions.
- Cream cheese: It's best to soften the cream cheese to room temperature before making the dip.
- Sour cream
- Bacon: I call for thick-cut bacon because it gives each bite a bit more meaty chew. However you can use any bacon you have on hand (turkey or vegan is fine). It's even good with a black pepper or maple smoked bacon. You can swap in real bacon bits if you'd like but the texture and overall flavor won't be the same.
- Red wine vinegar
- Fresh thyme: You'll use the leaves to balance out the flavors in the dip and can use additional sprigs for garnish. Swap for chopped chives or scallions, or try rosemary or oregano.
- Kosher salt
- Ground pepper: Swap for smoked paprika or cayenne for heat.
How to make caramelized onion bacon dip
Don't waste a minute getting started on this appetizer. Pro tip: caramelize the onions ahead to save prep time later.
Check out these step-by-step instructions to get started. Full instructions in the recipe card below.
- Step: Cut and cook bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once crispy, remove pan from heat and transfer bacon to a paper towel to drain and cool.
- Step: Remove all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat from the pan. Place the pan back on the stove at medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and onions.
- Step: Cook until onions are soft (stir frequently). Reduce heat to medium-low, place lid on pan, and cook until deep golden brown (stir occasionally). Cool.
- Step: In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth with the seasonings.
- Step: Set aside 2 tablespoons of bacon for garnish and mix the rest into the cream cheese mixture. Also add cooled onions.
- Step: Chill at least 30 minutes. Serve, sprinkled with reserved bacon and garnished with thyme sprigs, if desired.
- Step 1: Cut bacon into ½ inch pieces.
- Step 2: Cook bacon slowly to render the fat and crisp the bacon pieces.
- Step 3: Drain and cool bacon on a paper towel, and reserve bacon fat in the pan for the onions.
- Step 4: Cook the onions in the same skillet, stirring, until soft.
- Step 5: Cover the onions and cook, uncovering and stirring often, until they turn golden brown.
- Step 6: Let the onions cook until very golden and caramelized.
- Step 7: Cool onions before adding to the dip.
- Step 8: Stir the onions, bacon and seasonings into the dip mixture.
Tara's top tips
How to caramelize onions: Cook the onions in oil for a minute then cover the pan to steam and soften. Once soft, uncover and stir often until onions are golden brown.
Cool hot ingredients: Cool the caramelized onions and bacon before adding them to the cream cheese mixture. If you don't, they will melt the dip.
Dairy substitutions: Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt, low-fat or non-fat sour cream, etc. Likewise, you can replace the cream cheese with other low-fat, non-fat, or even vegan varieties.
Bacon substitutions: This recipe works equally well with turkey or non-meat bacon. Just add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan to cook the onions to replace the bacon fat.
Seasoning: Feel free to add your preferred pepper, like cayenne or chili flakes, or swap the thyme for another herb like rosemary or oregano.
The perfect potato chip dip
Creamy onion bacon dip is the perfect potato chip dip for casual parties. My favorite chip are the ridge potato chips for a classic flavor and crunch.
Much like it's cousin French Onion Dip, this onion bacon dip is great with veggies, crostini, pita chips, bread sticks or soft French bread. French onion dip is made with onion soup mix, but this dip has fresh, caramelized onions, and real bacon.
Equipment
I like to caramelize the onions in a nonstick pan to make cleanup super easy. The onions shrink a lot, but you have to start with a large skillet. I like this ceramic nonstick skillet. It doesn't scratch like Teflon and holds plenty of onions!
Use an electric hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until very smooth.
Storage
Store onion bacon dip tastes even better after sitting for a bit! Store prepared or leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
The flavors will continue to develop. Stir before serving and refresh the garnish if desired. Don't freeze the bacon and onion dip. The texture will not hold up once frozen and thawed.
FAQ
If your onions are burning instead of caramelizing, the heat is likely too high or you’re not stirring often enough. Caramelizing onions for the dip is a slow process—keep the heat at medium-low after the initial softening stage, stir occasionally, and use a heavy-bottomed or nonstick pan to prevent scorching.
To keep the bacon crisp, cook it until deeply golden and let it cool completely before mixing it into the dip. Reserve some for garnish just before serving—this keeps it out of the creamy base so it stays crunchy.
If your dip turns out too thin, one of two things likely happened:
The onions or bacon were added while still hot and melted the cream cheese base.
The cream cheese wasn’t fully softened, causing uneven mixing.
To fix it, chill the dip for 30 minutes to an hour to firm it up. You can also mix in a few more tablespoons of softened cream cheese if needed.
Not quite! French onion dip is typically made with dry onion soup mix and sour cream, while caramelized onion bacon dip is made from scratch with real onions slow-cooked to sweet, savory perfection—and of course, bacon! The flavor is richer, deeper, and more gourmet.
More easy appetizer recipes
From game night to dinner with friends, you'll love these easy bites for your next gathering:
Rate this recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scroll to the bottom of the page to rate and comment on this recipe. Leaving comments, questions, and ratings helps other too!
📖 Recipe
Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound yellow onions (about 2 medium onions)
- 8 ounces (1 block) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 6 thick-cut bacon strips (cut into pieces and cooked, see Note)
- 4 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped (plus sprigs for garnish)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Cut bacon into ½-inch pieces. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove pan from heat, transfer bacon to a paper towel to drain and cool, and remove all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat from the pan.
- Cut peeled onions into thin strips, then into 1 to 2-inch pieces. Return the pan to medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the reserved bacon fat, and onions. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are soft, about 15 minutes. Cover pan with a lid and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring onions occasionally, until deep golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
- Remove onions to a bowl or plate to cool completely before adding to dip.
- In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. (Use a hand mixer for easier blending).
- Set aside 2 tablespoons cooked bacon for garnish. Stir crumbled bacon into the cream cheese mixture with the cooled onions, red wine vinegar, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Chill at least 30 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved bacon and garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired. Serve with vegetable crudités, crackers, bread, or ruffled potato chips! Even delicious as a sandwich spread.
- Can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!
Anjali says
Omg this dip was so decadent and delicious!! We made it for a get together with friends this past weekend and everyone loved it!
Tara Teaspoon says
Great! Happy to hear it.