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Indulge in the ultimate party dip with our baked caramelized onion and bacon dip recipe – the perfect appetizer for game day or any gathering!
There's nothing quite like a delicious dip to elevate your snack game. And if you're looking for something that packs a punch of flavor, look no further than this tasty dip! This delicious spread features the sweetness of onions cooked low and slow until golden brown and paired with savory and salty bacon, cream cheese and sour cream. This bacon onion dip will surely be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering or party.
Why You Should Make This Recipe
Flavor: The caramelized onion and gruyere dip blends sweet, savory and creamy notes into one robust flavor. Your taste buds won't know what hit them!
Versatility: This versatile dip can be served with crackers, chips and vegetables or spread onto toast. It is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next party or gathering.
Easy to Make: It's surprisingly simple to whip up this bacon and onion dip and it's made in one dish - a large oven-safe skillet!
Crowd Pleaser: Bring this dip to any party, and you're guaranteed to leave with empty plates and full stomachs!
Bacon Onion Dip Ingredients Needed
- bacon (I prefer thick-cut bacon)
- garlic cloves
- onions (any sweet onions like yellow, Vidalias, Walla Wallas and Mauis)
- cream cheese (use block cream cheese, not whipped or from a tub)
- sour cream
- balsamic vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Gruyere cheese
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- chives
- parsley
See the printable recipe card below for exact quantities.
How to Make Baked Caramelized Onion and Bacon Dip
This warm Gruyere bacon and caramelized onion dip is the ultimate super easy appetizer that is filling and delicious!
- Preheat the oven.
- In a large skillet that is oven-safe, cook the bacon and remove. Dice into small pieces.
- Caramelize the onions.
- Add the minced garlic, balsamic vinegar, sour cream, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese, salt and pepper.
- Next, mix in the chives and most of the parsley.
- Add most of the diced bacon into the mixture, and reserve some for sprinkling on top.
- Add the remaining cheese and reserved bacon to the top of the dip.
- Bake until the cheese is hot and bubbly and garnish with remaining parsley before serving.
- Serve warm with chips, crackers, veggies, baguettes or pretzels.
- See the printable recipe card below for exact recipe instructions.
Recommended Equipment & Tools
Cast iron skillet, cutting board, chef's knife
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip Variations
- Swap Gruyere with Swiss, sharp cheddar or Asiago cheese if needed. Parmesan cheese would also be a great addition to this dip!
- Vegetarians can substitute bacon with mushrooms for a similar umami kick.
- Don't have chives, use green onions.
- Make it hot with 2 teaspoons of Tabasco sauce.
Tips for Recipe Success
- Quality Ingredients: Choose quality bacon and a good Gruyere cheese for the best flavors.
- Take Your Time: Allow your onions to caramelize slowly to extract the maximum sweetness, which will take a little time.
- Stir Occasionally: Stir the onions occasionally to prevent them from burning and ensure even caramelization.
More Dip Recipes You'll Love
FAQs
Yellow, Vidalias, Walla Wallas and Mauis are the best sweet onions for this recipe. I used yellow onions. Red onions can also be sweet, but I have yet to test this recipe with that particular variety.
Traditional French onion dip is often a simple mix of onion soup mix and sour cream. This caramelized onion dip steps up the game by slowly cooking onions until they're caramelized and sweet. And we add bacon…because you can never go wrong with bacon!
If stored properly in an airtight container, your caramelized onion and bacon dip should last up to 4 days. But let's be honest, it's so delicious that it won't last that long!
It's a beautiful blend of caramelized onions, crispy bacon, cream cheese and Gruyere cheese. The dip is then baked to bubbly perfection.
To soften cream cheese, leave it out at room temperature for about an hour or so. If you're short on time, you can also soften it in the microwave by heating it for 10-15 seconds.
We love using colorful tortilla chips, as you'll see in this recipe. Potato chips are also a classic choice, but feel free to experiment! Vegetable sticks, pretzels, baguettes and pita chips also work well too.
Patience is key! Caramelizing onions is a slow process that can take time. Be sure to cook them over medium-low heat and stir occasionally.
If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram and use the hashtag #homesweetfarmhome. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with our community. Cheers!
Recipe Card
Baked Caramelized Onion and Bacon Dip
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon
- 2 large sweet onions thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature (use block cream cheese, not whipped)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups Gruyere cheese shredded and divided
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chives
- 2 tablespoons parsley plus more for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a 10-inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crispy.
- Remove bacon from skillet and place on a paper towel-lined plate to let cool. Do not clean out bacon grease from the skillet.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low heat, add the onions to the skillet, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often, until brown and caramelized.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
- Next, add the cream cheese, sour cream, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese, salt, pepper, chives and parsley.
- Next, chop bacon into small pieces and add most of the bacon to the mixture, reserving some for sprinkling on top of the dip.
- Add the remaining cheese and reserved pieces of bacon to the top of the dip.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is hot and bubbly. Garnish with parsley before serving.
- Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, baguettes or pretzels.
Rita Pardini says
Perfect for potlucks – always a hit with a crowd. My go-to recipe for any appetizer when I'm feeding a group.