Homemade Sour Cream and Onion Dip

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Sour cream and onion dip is so easy to make from scratch! With a sneakily lightened-up base, this homemade sour cream and onion dip is bursting with caramelized onion and has the classic flavor you know and love. Perfect for Game Day.

A bowl of sour cream and onion dip on a plate surrounded by ruffle chips.

The secret to some people's sour cream and onion dip is using a box of dried soup mix. The secret to mine is that it's half Greek yogurt.

I considered naming this recipe "healthy sour cream and onion dip", but I don't even think it needs that modifier. You won't even know the Greek yogurt is in there, and that's coming from someone who's pretty cautious with subbing plain yogurt in recipes because I feel like I can always taste it.

In the absence of soup mix we have lots of onion flavor coming from not only two diced-and-caramelized onions (see how to caramelize onions for the classic sliced way) but dried onion flakes, as well. Combined with other pantry staples, this flavorful French onion dip makes a great appetizer for watching the game or any time!

Reasons to Love This Recipe

This sour cream and onion dip recipe tastes JUST like the soup-mix shortcut version (delicious!), except it's made with fresh onion and less-processed ingredients.
As it's best when the flavors have time to meld, this is a great option to make ahead of time for a party.
Subbing in Greek yogurt for half of the sour cream reduces the fat and increases the protein content for a better-for-you dip (see also cottage cheese ranch dip!).

Recipe Ingredients

Labeled sour cream and onion dip ingredients in separate containers.

Onions: Either white or yellow onions work.
Butter/olive oil: Using a blend to caramelize the onion means you can enjoy the advantages of both: delicious flavor (from the butter) with a lower likelihood to burn (from the oil).
Sugar: The tiniest bit amplifies the sweetness of the caramelized onions.
Soy sauce: It may look out of place, but I peeped the ingredients in the dried soup mix and there it is. It adds a background umami note that ties the flavors together.
Dried onion: Found in the spice aisle, this can also be called dehydrated minced or chopped onion. It's an easy way to add an extra dimension of onion flavor.
Chives: A great sour cream accompaniment, these also provide a pop of color.
Sour cream: Classic! Since it's cut with Greek yogurt I prefer to use full-fat sour cream, but light can work if it's your preference to reduce the fat even further. I would not use fat-free sour cream.
Greek yogurt: I go with whole milk (around 5% milkfat) or low-fat (2%-ish), depending on what I have on hand.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Dice up the onions. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then stir in the onions. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper.

Diced onion pieces in a pan with a wooden spoon.

Reduce the heat to low and cook until deep golden to golden-brown, around 45 minutes to one hour. Stir them up now and then throughout the cook time.

Caramelized diced onion in a pan with a spatula.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the dried onion and garlic powder. Let everything cool down.

Caramelized diced onion mixed in a pan with dried onion flakes and garlic powder.

Add the sour cream and Greek yogurt to a bowl, then whisk in the soy sauce. Stir in the onion mixture and chives. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours until chilled and ready to serve.

All of the dip ingredients in a bowl before being stirred together.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

While there would be nothing wrong with eating this sour cream and onion dip shortly after it's chilled, letting the flavors meld for several hours or overnight is recommended for the best flavor.
If you'd rather, you can absolutely use all sour cream instead of half sour cream/half Greek yogurt. I have not tested this French onion dip with all Greek yogurt, but it would probably work just fine if that's to your taste.
It can be tempting to crank the stovetop heat to speed up the onions cooking, but try not to do that. They need low (heat) and slow (timing) in order to properly caramelize, otherwise they'll end up more like sautéed onions with crisp edges.
Dairy-free variation: Use all olive oil for caramelizing the onions (or replace the butter with refined coconut oil), then use dairy-free alternatives for the sour cream and yogurt.
Gluten-free variation: Replace the soy sauce with tamari or liquid aminos.

Sour cream and onion dip in a serving bowl with wavy chips around it.

Recipe FAQs

How far in advance can I make sour cream and onion dip?

This dip is best made the day before you'd like to serve it, though it's totally fine to eat earlier once it's chilled. Extra time allows the flavors to meld even better.

What can I serve with it?

Ruffled potato chips are a classic onion dip pairing, but vegetables such as baby carrots, celery sticks, cucumber rounds, and bell pepper strips are also good options.

How long does it stay?

This dip will stay for around 3-4 days (kept refrigerated). The onions may release a bit of moisture, so give leftover portions a nice stir before serving. Because it's dairy-based, this dip is not a good candidate for freezing.

A chip being dipped into the bowl of french onion dip.

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