This caramelized onion and bacon dip is a rich and flavorful blend of sweet onions, crispy bacon, and creamy sour cream. Mixed together with fresh lemon juice and a couple of simple spices, it can be served warm or chilled, making it a versatile dish for any gathering. Paired with salty kettle chips, this dip is the perfect Southern appetizer for any occasion! Serves 10-12.

Creamy Caramelized Onion and Bacon Dip in a white bowl with a bunch of potato chips around it.

It has been a bit of a cold dip recipe party over here at Fueling a Southern Soul the last couple of months. We have been LOVING some pimento cheese dip and spread along with Kentucky Style Beer Cheese and cucumber cream cheese dip with dill! But this dip....this one takes the cake!

Onion-bacon dip has been our jam! I cannot get enough of it - it's mildly embarrassing but not really. It's just one of those "oh my gosh, I need one more bite" kinda dips, and I am here for it!

Let me show you how I have found the best way to make this at home!

The First and Most Important Step

Caramailized onions! Ok, hear me out, this step takes a while. I am sorry in advance. But I am not sorry for the result it produces in the end. Just have it going while you're doing some other cooking, folding laundry, doing the dishes, some work - whatever adulting things you need to do. You can multitask during this hour, but don't rush this step - it's key to the success and flavor of the recipe!

⭐️After making this recipe NUMEROUS times for myself and friends, the key to caramalizing onions is doing it LOW AND SLOW... and with lots of butter. But I wouldn't be a proper Southern cook without butter in the recipe right? J/k (kinda 😉)

Chopping onions on a cutting board. — Thinly slice onions. You can use a sharp knife, but a mandolin is super helpful here!

Caramelizing onions in a pan and frying bacon in another pan on a stove. — Add to a large skillet with the butter and turn the stove to medium low heat. (You can crisp up the bacon during this time too).

Caramelizing onions in a skillet on the stove. — This will take close to an hour. Stir with a wooden spoon every 5-10 minutes throughout the process. You will know they are done when they have become soft, translucent, and a rich caramelized brown color, and smell very fragrant. Remove from heat when finished.

salting onions in a skillet on the stove. — This is a more accurate picture of the finished product and color from the onions after cooking for an hour when I just made this dip this past weekend (at the time of writing). I like a deep, rich amber color.

crispy bacon bits on a paper towel lined plate. — Once the bacon is cooked, place on a plate lined with paper towels to cool (and break up into bits if not already).

All ingredients needed for onion and bacon dip in a big bowl. — After the bacon and onions are finished cooking, put them in a large bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

Stirring together onion and bacon dip in a clear bowl. — Stir all together. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge until needed.

A hand dipping a chip in onion and bacon dip with chips all around it.

This can be made a day in advance if you need to, but I personally think it's best made the day you're planning on serving. That way, the bacon is crisp. I have done both, though just depending on my schedule and day. Serve these with salty crunchy kettle chips and go to town! It will serve about 10-12 guests.

Recipe

Creamy Caramelized Onion and Bacon Dip with Sour Cream,

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Author: Heather Bilyeu
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 10-12 1x
Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

Ingredients

Scale

4 Tablespoons Butter
4 Small Sweet Onions (or 3 large) - thinly sliced
½ Pound Bacon
8 Ounces Sour Cream
½ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon White Pepper Pepper
½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
2 Tablespoons Chives - finely chopped
½ Lemon - juiced

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Instructions

Caramelized Onions

Thinly slice the yellow onions. Add to a large skillet and place on the stove over medium-low heat with the butter.
Slowly saute for 45-60 minutes - stirring occasionally (every 5-10 minutes). Caramelizing onions takes a while - this is a process that should be done slowly over low heat so as not to burn. Keep an eye out on them as you stir. You will know when they are done when they have become soft, translucent, caramelized brown in color, and smell very fragrant.
Remove from the heat when finished.

Bacon Bits

While the onions are cooking, prep the bacon.
Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium to medium-low heat. Remove when finished onto some paper towels to let cool.
Chop the cooked bacon into small bits and add to a large bowl.

Dip Assembly

To the large bowl the bacon is in, add the caramelized onions.
Add in the sour cream and the rest of the ingredients. Stir to incorporate everything evenly.
Spoon into a serving bowl and serve immediately or chill until needed. Serve with kettle potato chips.

Notes

This dip can be enjoyed immediately after assembly, still slightly warm (from the onions), at room temp, or chilled.
Keep leftovers stored airtight in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Cooking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 scoop
Calories: 253
Sugar: 2.8 g
Sodium: 334.4 mg
Fat: 20.8 g
Carbohydrates: 9.7 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 7.4 g
Cholesterol: 45.4 mg

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Creamy Caramelized Onion and Bacon Dip with Sour Cream