Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese

Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese is a revamped and homemade version of the classic onion dip. This dip has tons of flavor thanks to the addition of blue cheese and plenty of crumbled bacon.

It is a perfect appetizer to enjoy while watching football, or any of your favorite sports on game day for that matter.

Click HERE to save this recipe for Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese to Pinterest!

Making this Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese Recipe

I had this awesome bag of kettle style potato chips staring me in the face. They’re great served on their own but I really wanted to pair them with a dip.

I had the idea in my head that I wanted to pair the flavors of blue cheese, bacon, and caramelized onions for a Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese, but quickly discovered that not only did I not have bacon, I was also out of sour cream and red onions.

Enter a modern day rendition of an adult “Stone Soup.”

Knowing that my neighbors are always happy to chip in with my recipe experiments, as long as they get to taste test the results, I made my rounds asking a couple good friends if they had any of the ingredients I needed.

Of course they did, so before I knew it I was deep in recipe experimentation. It was fun to share the little bits of the leftover recipe to share with my friends who helped me with the missing ingredients.

I can’t wait for the next opportunity for a get together to bring a big bowl of this to share.

Caramelized Onion Dip Ingredients

This dip is loaded with red, caramelized onions, crispy bacon bits, chunks of tangy blue cheese, and a hint of fresh rosemary in a creamy sour cream base.

How to Make Caramelized Onion Dip

This recipe is relatively simple to prepare, it just takes some time to caramelize the onions (and that isn’t something you want to skimp on).

First, you are going to caramelize the onions in a heavy skillet. I recommend using cast iron. I like that it has a natural non-stick ability (minus the teflon) when cast iron is seasoned properly, it also retains and conducts the heat well and evenly.

If you’ve never caramelized onions before, it might sound complicated. Don’t worry, it isn’t. To caramelize onions, you are going to start by sautéing the onions over medium heat.

After 7-10 minutes of sautéing, you are going to turn the heat down to low. Continue cooking the onions over low heat, stirring only every 5 minutes, for about 30 – 45 minutes. You’ll know the onions are done when they are a deep golden color (not burnt), very tender, and slightly sweet tasting.

While the onions cook, combine the sour cream, blue cheese, bacon (reserve some for garnish), rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

After the onions are done, stir in the balsamic vinegar to combine with the onions. Then, add the onion mixture to the sour cream mixture.

Tips for The Best Caramelized Onion Dip

This Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese is so good! It is worth the time to make it, and I promise you will never want to go back to store bought onion dip again! Follow these tips for the best results:

Make sure you caramelized the onions really well. The caramelization process adds a ton of flavor and natural sweetness to this recipe. Raw onions or sautéed onions would not work the same.

Don’t use prepackaged bacon bits. Freshly cooked bacon will make a huge difference in the quality of the flavor and the texture. Be sure to check out my tips on how to make your own perfect bacon bits because you are going to want them for this recipe.

This recipe stores for up to 3 days refrigerated. Make sure to cover it well or store it in an airtight container for optimal freshness. It can be made ahead, but I recommend that you reserve the garnishes for just before serving for the best presentation.

What to Serve with this Caramelized Onion Dip

This Caramelized Onion Bacon Blue Cheese Dip goes awesome with kettle style potato chips (my favorite!).

I love this style of potato chip because they are crunchy and sturdy, perfect for pairing with a rich, thick dip.

But, if you’re trying to add something healthier in with the dip it also goes really great with a veggie tray. Carrots, mini bell peppers or bell pepper slices, sugar snap peas, or broccoli florets would be great!

Caramelized Onion Dip Substitutions

Can I use Yellow Onions instead of Purple? Yes! I like the added color of using purple onions, but yellow onions are fine in this caramelized onion dip recipe.

Can I use Plain Greek Yogurt instead of Sour Cream? I haven’t tested this substitution yet, but it is on my to-do list because I think it would be a great substitute to enhance the protein content of this recipe. I would recommend first starting with a 50/50 substitute using half sour cream and half Greek yogurt to test.

Can I omit the Bacon? If you don’t eat meat, feel free to leave the bacon out. Alternatively, if you only avoid pork, you can substitute for turkey bacon when making this caramelized onion dip recipe.

Do I have to Use Blue Cheese? I personally LOVE Blue Cheese, but if you aren’t a fan, you can try substituting other cheese varieties (I haven’t tested this), or you can leave out the cheese all together when preparing this Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese Recipe.

Click HERE to save this recipe for Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese to Pinterest!

More Recipes for Football Appetizers

I think the best thing about watching the Super Bowl is all the awesome appetizers to go along with it.  Here are a selection of my favorite game day appetizers, dips, and finger foods.

Make sure you browse the Recipe Index for more ideas to serve along side this Caramelized Onion Bacon Blue Cheese Dip!

Classic hummus is transformed into this Roasted Salsa Verde Hummus with the addition of roasted poblano, jalapeño, tomatillo, onion, cilantro, and lime. Try serving it with these Smokey Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges for dipping.

5 Minute Basic Guacamole is always a fan favorite and easy dip appetizer! I like to serve it with these Easy Baked Wonton Chicken Taquitos.

These Ultimate Easy Nachos whip up in a pinch and make Super Bowl appetizers super simple to prepare (and serve), leaving you with more time to socialize, eat, and enjoy the game!

Slow Cooker Southwestern Pulled Pork or Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken are the perfect additions to the nachos if you want to make it more of a meal.

Do you like Guacamole? Give this Deconstructed Guacamole a try for something different.

A loaded baked potato bar would be great with this Braised Short Rib and Bacon Chili that is easily made in your slow cooker. Find the instructions for the Perfect Baked Potato here.

Can’t decide if you want Pizza or Easy Nachos? Have both with this Easy Black Bean Mexican Pizza.

Strawberry Mango Salsa and Easy Cinnamon Sugar Chips is perfect for something fresh and healthy (but still tasty!). Try it!

Last, but not least, Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nuts and Mocha Roasted Almonds are the perfect snack to have in a bowl for easy munching.

What are your football appetizer plans?

Love this recipe for Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese
Sign up for Good Life Eats email updates and never miss another recipe!

Be sure to follow Good Life Eats on Instagram. Tag @goodlifeeats and include the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see what you’re cooking up in YOUR kitchen!

Click HERE to save this recipe for Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip with Blue Cheese to Pinterest!