Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip
This easy Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip has simple ingredients and will be the crowd-favorite appetizer at any party. You can prep it in advance and even customize it with your favorite herbs and spices. Makes 3 cups dip.
Servings: 12 to 18
Calories: 176kcal
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
Tara's Tips:
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.
Makes 3 cups dip.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 386IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 0.2mg
