The Best Sour Cream And Onion Dip Recipe

Name: The Best Sour Cream and Onion Dip Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 packet onion soup mix (or 6½ tablespoons onion soup mix); 2 cups sour cream

Creamy and flavorful onion dip that comes together in minutes and tastes amazing with chips, crackers and veggies.

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close up of a bowl of sour cream and onion dip

This simple recipe for the best sour cream and onion dip only uses 2 ingredients and is ready to serve in just 5 minutes. You will get the best flavor using homemade onion soup mix for this dip, but store-bought onion dip mix works well too. Homemade onion dip tastes amazing with fresh veggies, chips, pretzels or crackers. California dip, as it is also called, is a huge crowd pleaser that can be served at any special occasion, such as parties, game day, brunch or bbqs.

Table of Contents

bowl of sour cream and onion dip with a chip in it

What is Sour Cream and Onion Dip?

Sometimes also referred to as “California Dip“, this flavorful dip is a simple combination of sour cream and onion soup mix. Either store-bought spice packets or homemade French onion soup mix can be used to make this dip. The homemade version of beefy onion soup mix traditionally contains dried onion flakes, powdered beef broth, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and celery seed.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: creamy dip with rich onion flavor that tastes amazing with chips, crackers and fresh-cut veggies
Main Ingredients: onion soup mix, sour cream
Cooking Method: no bake
Nutrients: low carb dip that is rich in dietary fiber when eaten with fresh vegetables
Cooking Time: 5 minutes of prep time
Pairs well with: plain potato chips, crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, fresh veggie sticks, pretzles
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, vegetarian
Special Equipment Needed: small mixing bowl, spoon or spatula

bird's eye view of a bowl of dip with chips and veggies

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this homemade French onion dip recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this onion dip recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Sour Cream And Onion Dip Ingredients

1 packet onion soup mix (or 6 ½ tablespoons onion soup mix)
2 cups full fat sour cream

Variations and Substitutions

Soup Mix: We recommend using homemade onion soup mix for this dip. It does not contain any additives and tastes amazing. Store-bought soup mix also works well.

Sour Cream: If you like you can substitute plain greek yoghurt or non-fat greek yoghurt for the sour cream base.

Fresh Herbs: Add some freshly chopped herbs such as fresh chives to this great dip.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this easy homemade dip recipe, try it with our Homemade Onion Soup Mix. You’ll love it because it is free of additives but bursting with rich flavor.

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Mixing Bowl — For best results use a clean and dry glass or porcelain bowl to mix your own homemade onion dip.

Instructions

This section shows how to make the best sour cream and onion dip, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MIX INGREDIENTS: Firstly, combine all dip ingredients in a medium bowl. Then stir together with a spoon or spatula until smooth. Afterwards, transfer the finished dip to a serving bowl and serve with chips or a tray of fresh veggies.

finished sour cream and onion dip with chips

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love rich French onion flavor then you’ll love Stef’s French Onion Chicken Skillet. It is a delicious one-pan meal consisting of juicy chicken breasts nestled in rich and thick onion gravy, topped with melted cheese!

Make Ahead

You can make this classic onion dip several hours or up to 2 days ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to use.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best creamy onion dip.

Tip: Use homemade onion soup mix for this simple recipe.
Tip: Using full-fat sour cream adds immense flavor to this dip. Furthermore, it gives it a great consistency.
Tip: Top the dip with green onions or chives.

More Homemade Spice Blend Recipes

It is surprisingly easy to make the most delicious homemade spice blends with pantry staples that you probably already have at home. They are so much better than the store-bought version. Here are some of our favorite seasoning blends:

More Dip Recipes

If you love this easy dip recipe, then you’ll enjoy our 7 layer dip or nacho cheese dip as well as these delicious dip recipes:

Stef says….

In my family, easy veggies and dip are usually always on the menu for special occasions. This Creamy Dill Dip is always a winner, since it goes great with veggies, potato chips and fresh bread, too!

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store homemade sour cream and onion dip leftovers in an airtight container, ziploc bag, other covered container or small bowl covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

bowl of onion dip with a chip in it, chips and veggies around the bowl

Common Questions

What are the best vegetables to serve with this great dip?

Our favorite dippers with this homemade dip are carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber slices and bell peppers. However, you can serve this best onion chip dip with whatever fresh produce you prefer.

How can I make this dip a bit thicker?

You can make this good dip a bit thicker in consistency by adding some cream cheese. Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before adding it to the dip. That way it blends in easily.

Is it possible to make this easy dip a bit thinner?

Of course. If you prefer a thinner consistency try adding a little milk or buttermilk to the dip. Additionally you can try adding a little bit of mayo to thin out the dip.

Can I add any toppings to this easy appetizer?

By all means!! Try topping your dip with some freshly chopped chives or sliced green onions. Super delicious!!

Can I add fresh onions to this easy dip recipe?

Yes! On a cutting board, chop 2 fresh white onions, red onions or yellow onion. Then heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions to the pan and stir to coat. Then add about 1 teaspoon salt. Over medium heat cook onion mixture to preferred consistency, about 30 minutes. In case they start sticking to the pan, deglaze with a little water or broth. Let them cool completely before adding to the dip. Adding caramelized onions will greatly increase the onion flavor of this sour cream dip.

5 from 1 vote