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You don’t need to rely on a packet of soup mix to create this delicious French Onion Dip from Scratch. It takes just minutes to put together with ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.
There was a time, long, long ago, when you pretty much couldn’t plan a party menu without including classic French Onion Dip among the appetizers. You know, the one with the Lipton Onion Soup Mix and sour cream. I have such strong memories of this dip being everywhere in 1970’s suburbia.
I’ve been craving those nostalgic classics lately so I headed to my pantry to see if I could come up with a homemade French Onion Dip that doesn’t rely on the packet of soup mix. Friends, you won’t believe how easy and how delicious this made from scratch version is!
If you have 5 minutes, you have enough time to make this dip.
The History of French Onion Dip
Lipton started including the recipe for what they originally called “California Dip” on their packaging in the late 1950’s. Countless home cooks had magazine clippings of the recipe stashed in their recipe boxes and the easy dip took off like wildfire over the course of the next decade. Over time, the name evolved from California Dip to French Onion Dip and it became firmly entrenched as classic American party fare.
Ingredients
- Just like the original version, the base of this French Onion Dip from Scratch is light or regular sour cream. I used light sour cream in all of my recipe tests and was thrilled with the result. Low calorie, low fat and super tasty. Every little bit helps, especially when potato chips are involved! Use what you like best.
- A mixture of dry seasonings creates a copycat onion soup mix flavor that is pretty darned spot-on! Dried minced onions are tiny bits of dehydrated onion that are packed with flavor and a vital component to this dip. If you don’t already have them in your pantry, you’ll find them in the spice department of your grocery store. In addition you’ll need a little granulated garlic, onion powder, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- I added a small amount of low sodium soy sauce to finish it off. It doesn’t add a soy sauce flavor, just a hint of savory umami that really hits the nail on the head in the flavor department.
How to Make Homemade French Onion Dip
- Combine all the ingredients in a mixing and mix until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for an hour or more before serving.
Serving Suggestions
I can’t serve French Onion Dip without classic ridged Ruffles potato chips. There’s just something about those ridges! Such a nostalgic pairing.
Assorted vegetables are also a great choice. Baby carrots, celery sticks, and sliced cucumber are a great start. Add any vegetables you love – cherry tomatoes, sliced radishes, and sliced bell peppers in assorted colors will add a pop of color to your platter.
Storage
Store French Onion Dip from Scratch covered in the refrigerator. I recommend transferring it to an airtight container to keep it as fresh as possible. Homemade dairy based dips are best consumed within 3 to 4 days.
More Classic Appetizer Ideas
- Southwestern Ranch Dip
- Cheesy Artichoke Dip
- Crock Pot Cocktail Meatballs
- Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket
- Cheesy Hot Crab Dip
French Onion Dip from Scratch
Ingredients
- 16 ounces sour cream light or regular
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon dried minced onions or to taste (see Recipe Notes below)
- 1/2 teaspoon reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt I use fine ground sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Optional for Serving
- baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced cucumber and Ruffles Potato Chips (a must!)
Instructions
- Add all the dip ingredients to a medium mixing bowl and stir well to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour for minced onion to soften a bit and for flavors to develop.
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