Sometimes, I want to spend time in the kitchen. I want to smell and chop and stir and taste and really EXPERIENCE cooking. Sometimes, I want to go about my life. I want to watch the Superbowl, go to work, read to my daughter, talk with my husband, play with the new puppy. But just because I don’t want to spend time cooking doesn’t mean I want to eat bad food. I still want to eat good, homemade food, made from scratch.
If I want onion dip for a Superbowl party, I could use the classic recipe: open a packet of Lipton’s soup mix and a container of sour cream, mix them together and have a fat bowl of MSG, corn syrup and unpronounceable things with a side of my entire RDA of sodium. Or I could make onion dip from scratch, controlling the ingredients myself, adding the right amount of salt, and slowly caramelizing the onions to add depth of flavor. Of course, caramelized onions require a long period of cooking them in a skillet, stirring frequently to make sure they don’t scorch, waiting for those Maillard reactions to hurry up and happen. Or you could just use a crockpot.
A crockpot is the perfect vessel for caramelizing onions — it cooks long and slow and consistently, and it retains liquid so the onions don’t scorch. Best of all, you don’t have to babysit it — you just add the onions, turn it on, and walk away. It’s really only one step removed from opening a packet, and it tastes better and is better for you. A super bowl of dip for the Superbowl (OK, I couldn’t resist the pun.)
- 2 large onions, finely chopped (about 3 cups chopped onions)
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 T butter
- large pinch salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ c. mayonnaise
- 1 small pinch cayenne pepper
- salt to taste
- Place onions, oil, butter and pinch of salt into a slow cooker, and stir to coat. Cook on high for 8 hours, or until onions are deep caramel brown.
- Drain any liquid off the onions. Combine half the onions with remaining ingredients in a small bowl, salt to taste. Serve with potato chips and enjoy the Superbowl.
I’ve been looking for something simple to take to a Super Bowl party I’m invited to and this will be perfect! This crowd is not very open minded about food, so goat cheese anything wouldn’t work.
This is absolutely perfect.
Hang in there sweetie, grief sucks!
xxoo,
RMW
Sounds absolutely delish. I will def. be making this. This may be a silly question, but how would I go about making the onions into French onion soup? It’s one of my favorite soups!
Caramelized onions=heaven. Such a perfect appetizer!
I never knew you could carmelize onions in a crockpot, that makes life so much easier! Plus I bet it smells delicious! I’ll definitely keep this in mind for the superbowl!
Brilliant. I’ve made real French onion dip before, and while it was totally worth it, it was kind of a pain, particularly because I always get impatient with onions and subsequently burn them. But I refuse to ever ever open up a packet of onion soup.
I might have to go out and buy a crock pot just so I can caramelize some onion-for dip and other things, like sausages and pizza.
But is it a good enough reason to buy a crockpot if you don’t have one?
Just made this today…and it is truly magnificent. The smell wafting through the house all day was good enough, but now having tasted the dip – I will never use onion soup ever again! Thank you for this recipe.
Okay I have resisted a crock pot mostly because I figure what’s it do that my dutch oven and simmer plate can’t do. Well you just answered my question. Onions. I wonder if they male a tiny crock pot? GREG
This dip is delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
Great recipe! I made mine with all sour cream (no mayo) and used plenty of garlic salt. Delicious!
do you serve this warm or do you chill it?
Mary – I chill it. It can be served warm, though.