caramelized onion bacon dip;
Originally posted August 7, 2015. Updated March 6, 2021 for content and clarity.
This caramelized onion bacon dip is amazing, perfect for game nights, sports ball, or just to treat yo self! Discovering this recipe has been amazing, because it came on the heels of some dud recipes. Nothing horrible, but nothing great either. I tried some cube steak with a bisquick ranch topping, and have roasted several flavors of nuts. But this caramelized onion bacon dip just packs a punch of flavor that’s heavenly!
The yummy goodness of caramelized onions is present throughout. And who doesn’t love cheesy wonderfulness? I also love that this cheese-heavy dip is lightened up with some greek yogurt. I personally usually keep 0% fat greek yogurt on hand and it works well. Because you’re mixing it with full fat cheese and sharp punches of onion and bacon flavor, you really don’t miss the fat. So why not? Save yourself a few calories, because believe me, you’re gonna want to eat the whole dish of caramelized onion bacon dip.
Another thing I love about this caramelized onion bacon dip is its simplicity. It lends itself to multitasking, and only requires a few ingredients that I typically have around my house. The most exotic ingredient is the cheese, if you want to follow the recipe exactly. We love using a chipotle gouda or gruyere if you can find it at your grocery.
If you can’t find a good chipotle melting cheese that you like, then opt for a smoked flavor. Sometimes those are little easier to find. I’ve made this recipe with a smoked gruyere before and it’s delicious. If all else fails, use a sharp (and I mean sharp!) cheddar. You can never go wrong with cheddar, in my opinion. Trader Joe’s also carries a caramelized onion cheddar that would obviously pair deliciously as well.
The chipotle option is still our favorite though for this caramelized onion bacon dip. I was worried that the combination of sweet caramelized onions and spicy chipotle gouda might clash, but it was actually wonderful. This has become a great go-to dip recipe that we bring out again and again!
It’s so versatile for serving as well. If you expect vegetarians in your midst, feel free to leave out the bacon. This is definitely not vegan friendly, because you can’t have caramelized onion bacon dip without the cheese! But the dip is delicious served with warmed french bread, crackers of any kind, or veggies for a healthier option!
Recipe adapted from Whole Yum by Mariah.
Secrets to Success;
- Cheese is the key here! I love a good chipotle gouda or chipotle gruyere–whichever you can get your hands on. If those options aren’t available, try a smoked gruyere. Or if all else fails, go for a sharp (and I mean sharp!) cheddar. But chipotle gruyere is my favorite.
- Make this vegetarian by dropping out the bacon! Take the recipe from “caramelized onion bacon dip” to “caramelized onion dip”.
- Serve with warmed french bread, crackers of any sort, or veggies for a healthier option. For crackers, I like plainer crackers to showcase the flavorful dip. I recommend wheat thins, or water crackers. For veggies, I like a variety of colors. So I’ll go with different colored peppers, green beans, broccoli, and carrots. You’ll want some heartier vegetables since this dip is a little thick.
Looking for other easy appetizers?
- Perfectly poppable pretzel bites would be perfect dippers for this caramelized onion bacon dip.
- You can’t get easier than three ingredients in a crockpot: crockpot jelly bbq meatballs.
- Try this jalapeno popper stuffed bread for a twist on a classic!
caramelized onion bacon dip;
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (or red wine)
- 4 strips cherrywood bacon
- ½ lb Dofino chipotle gouda cheese or chipotle gruyere
- 1½ cups plain Greek yogurt
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 Tbsp paprika
- scalllions, chopped (for garnish)
- crackers for dipping
Instructions
- Add butter and olive oil to pan as it heats over medium heat.
- Cook onions for 15-20 minutes until caramelized and nicely browned. Add vinegar and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, then remove to dish.
- Add bacon to pan and cook until crisp. While bacon cooks, grate the gruyere cheese and prepare yogurt and cream cheese.
- Remove bacon to paper towel to blot. Drain excess oil from pan.
- Turn down heat and allow pan to cool for a minute or two. Add grated cheese first (reserving some for garnish, if desired), followed by the yogurt, cream cheese and paprika. Stir to combine as they melt.
- Once mixture is fairly gooey, add in the onions and crumble in about ⅔ of the bacon. Stir to combine, then remove to serving dish.
- Bake @ 375° for 15-20 minutes. If desired, garnish with scallions, reserved cheese, and reserved bacon before serving.
5 Comments
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