Creamy Baked Onion Dip — A cheesy, comforting, and easy dip that everyone loves! Made with cream cheese and sweet Vidalia onions!
Hot Cream Cheese Onion Dip Recipe
I used to say I hated onions, but I guess I don’t because I loved this dip. It’s ridiculously good and dangerously easy to make.
Given what’s in it, it’s impossible that it would be bad. We’re talking pure, unadulterated comfort food. It’s fattening, full of sodium, creamy and rich, with some soft texture from the onions, and a tiny bit of heat to keep you going back for more.
And the more you have, the more you want. Seriously addicting. Normally I don’t feel this way about savory foods and reserve this only for sweets, but it’s worth running extra miles for.
Because I used a sweet Vidalia onion, it’s not overly ‘oniony’. Of course there’s onion flavor, but in a good way, not in a I just ate onions and cannot be around others who haven’t for at least two days type way.
I added a pinch of cayenne and it provides some very gentle heat, but if you’re not into heat at all, omit it.
I’m a dip lover extraordinaire. As in, I can skip the entree and just eat dip at a restaurant or a party, and this is exactly the kind of dip that’ll make me do it. After a pound of cream cheese and cheese, who needs anything else?
It reminds me a lot of Loaded Baked Tater Tot Dip, minus the tater tots, and incorporates elements of various onion dips and spinach and artichoke dips I saw online.
It’s a perfect dip to serve at football or sports parties, as an appetizer at any dinner party, serve it as a Thanksgiving or holiday side dish, or make it just because it’s Wednesday night.
After we gorged on half the batch, I put the remainder into an airtight container, refrigerated it, and the next day nuked it for a minute and it was good as new.
No tripod and a freehand shot of me going after all the stretchy, golden cheese. The last time I did a shot like this it was with marshmallows. This was better than marshmallows and that’s saying a lot given my mouthful of sweet teeth.
What’s in Baked Onion Dip?
To make this cream cheese onion dip, you’ll need:
- Cream cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Cheese
- Sweet Vidalia onion
- Salt and pepper
- Cayenne pepper
How to Make Baked Onion Dip
To make it, simply combine cream cheese, mayo, grated cheese, sweet onion, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper, in a bowl and give it a stir.
Turn it out into a pie dish, top with a handful of cheese, and bake until it’s golden browned and bubbly.
The wafting scent will force you to rip it from the oven and just dig in.
What to Serve with Homemade Onion Dip
Anything salty and carb-y will work with this dip. Here are some of my favorites:
- Pretzels
- Tortilla chips
- Potato chips
- Pita chips
- Pretzel chips
- Pita bread
- Sliced baguette
What Type of Cheese Should I Use?
I used Kerrygold’s Blarney Castle cheese, but most any cheese or shredded cheese blend from Parmesan to a 4-cheese blend will be lovely. It’s cheese. There’s no wrong answer.
Can I Make This Dip in Advance?
Yes! You can assemble the dip, cover it with plastic wrap, and chill until you’re ready to bake it off.
Tips for Making Hot Onion Dip
I used low fat cream cheese and low fat mayo to try to keep it somewhat healthier but of course, you can use full-fat products if you prefer a truly gluttonous dip or love cardio.
You could add a couple handfuls of frozen spinach and artichokes to make onion-dip-meets-spinach-and-artichoke-dip. I’m going to try that next time. You could add a cup of corn, beans, or pre-cooked rice, too, to beef it up.
Although I haven’t tried it, you could probably use vegan products for the cheese, cream cheese, and mayo.
Pin This Recipe
Creamy Baked Double Cheese and Onion Dip (gluten-free)
This dip is pure, unadulterated comfort food. It’s fattening, full of sodium, creamy and rich, with some soft texture from the onions, and a tiny bit of heat to keep you going back for more. It’s dangerously easy to make and addictively good. The more you have, the more you’ll want. I used light cream cheese and mayo; use light or regular. I grated a block of gouda cheese, but any cheese from Parmesan to a 4-cheese blend will be lovely. Optionally, you could add in a couple handfuls of frozen spinach and artichokes, or corn, beans, or pre-cooked rice to beef it up. It’s perfect for football or sports parties, as an appetizer at any dinner party, as a holiday side dish, or make it just because. Leftovers reheat well in the micro. Although I haven’t tried it, you could probably use vegan products for the cheese, cream cheese, and mayo.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (light is okay, I used TJ’s Soft Spreadable Light
- 1 cup mayonnaise (light is okay, I used Best Foods Light Mayo
- 6 to 8 ounces grated cheese, divided (I used 7-ounces Blarney Castle
- 1 medium/large sweet Vidalia onion, peeled and diced (about 1 heaping cup)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9-inch pie dish (or 1o-inch, or similar-sized oven-safe baking dish) with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large bowl, add all ingredients (except reserve about 1/2 cup cheese to be sprinkled on top) and stir to combine.
- Turn mixture out into prepared dish, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
- Evenly sprinkle reserved 1/2 cup cheese over the top.
- Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes, or until top is golden browned, bubbly, and dip is done to your liking (I baked for 47 minutes). Allow dip to cool momentarily before serving. Dip is best warm and fresh, but extra will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Gently re-heat in micro before serving leftover portion. Read product labels to ensure all products are gluten-free if that’s a consideration for you. Serving Suggestions – chips, bread, crackers, bagel chips, pita chips, Fritos Scoops, mini toasts, carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber sticks, zucchini sticks, jicama, bell pepper wedges, mushrooms, your favorite crudites, or eat by the spoonful.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 356Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 499mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 7g
More Easy Dip Recipes:
The Best Spinach Artichoke Dip — This baked spinach artichoke dip is rich, creamy, and it’s a crowd FAVORITE sure to disappear at parties!! It’s so cheesy thanks to both mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses! It’s just THE BEST!!
Easy Cheesy Chili Dip — This is the fastest and easiest dip ever. Just a few ingredients, five minutes, and it’s ready, but don’t let that fool you because it tastes amazing.
Jalapeño Popper Dip with Bacon — Same great flavor as bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, minus the work!! Creamy, CHEESY, loaded with bacon, and topped with CRISPY jalapeños! Fast, EASY, perfect for parties!!
Beef Queso Dip — Caramelized onions, ground beef, taco seasoning, and CHEESE in this EASY queso dip everyone loves!! Great for game days, PARTIES, holidays, and events!!
Creamy Ranch and Cheese Bread Bowl Dip — I love dips and this one hits all the elements. Fast, easy, no-bake, creamy, cheesy, and loaded with ranch flavor.
Layered Beef Taco Dip — A FAST and EASY layered dip with taco-seasoned cream cheese, sour cream, ground beef, black beans, cheese, tomatoes, and more!! Perfect for your next FIESTA and a guaranteed WINNER with everyone!!
Baked Triple Cheese and Tortilla Chip Dip — This easy chip dip recipe is made with corn tortilla chips, salsa, and three types of cheese. It can be assembled in advance and baked just before guests arrive!
Do you think this would turn out ok if it was assembled the night before and then baked right before serving?
Although I haven’t tried it, I do think that you could assemble it, cover it with plastic wrap, refrigerate, and then bake the next day. If you try it let me know how it works out for you!
I would love to double his recipe…would you suggest I just double everything?
Yes
This dip is crazy good!
I’m glad you loved it!
I made this for our New Years Eve party with friends and it was devoured immediately, every bite! We loved it with Wheat Thins. Made it with Greek yogurt cream cheese, light mayo and colby-cheddar blend shredded cheese. Couldn’t even taste the difference in using the reduced fat products. Definitely adding this to my recipe book for future use. Thanks so much!
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad it was devoured! I love this dip too! Score for the lighter products not even being detectible!
I would love to double his recipe…would you suggest I just double everything?
Yes.
I just made it again with 1 teaspoon of pepper and it was very good. I noticed that salt was not in the original recipe I found on pintrest but now I see that it is included here. Did you add salt when you changed the black pepper amount? I generally like salt but am not sure it is necessary in this recipe because the cheese is salty . I added 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco and thought it was a positive addition.
Glad it worked out great for you this time around! Both salt and pepper are very personal so I usually list a ‘suggested’ amount, but depending on preferences, and in this case, how salty the cheese you used is, will dictate if you want to add some, none, more, less, etc.
I just made the creamy baked double cheese and sweet onion dip and I can not imagine that the black pepper was supposed to be 1Tablespoon , it has to be 1 teaspoon because it is barely edible and I like lots of black pepper.
My wife and daughter could not eat it. I do think it will be good when I make it again with 1/3 less pepper.
I apologize for the typo and thanks for trying the recipe.
Do you really mean 1 tablespoon of black pepper or is it supposed to be 1 teaspoon? 1T is an F of a lot!
I updated the recipe to 1 teaspoon, to taste. Enjoy!
Do you think this would turn out ok if it was assembled the night before and then baked right before serving?
Yes I think you’d be fine. Just make sure to wrap it super well in clingwrap so your fridge doesn’t smell like onions for days later :)
I made this yesterday for the Super Bowl. It was unbelievably delish! I used Gouda and Swiss cheese and I added some jalapeños along with the onions. It was a crowd pleaser for sure!
Gouda & Swiss sounds so good with the jalepenos. Omg I bet you were the star of the party :) Sounds awesome & thanks for LMK what you tried!
Ugh love love love. Tho I hate cooked onions ha. Might sub another veg/artichoke. I want it in my mouth asap along with your tater dip!
Question the pretzel like snack for the dip in your photo – is that homemade it looks better than store bought!
Pretzel Thins. They sell them at most groc stores. Enjoy the dip! It’s amazing and artichokes would be a great sub for the onions if you absolutely dont think you want onions but I used to hate hate onions and this isn’t too oniony, if that makes sense. It kinds of works out in the oven :)
This looks good too. I am finally catching up on my feed list, and your posts are KILLING me right now. Can you tell I’m hungry ;)?
Love that top layer of caramelized cheese. Mmmmm.
Knowing you, I can see you liking this one! It’s pure cheesy comfort food!
Wow, that is one of the most amazing onion dips I have ever seen! I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when I made Alton Brown’s Homemade Onion Dip. I will definitely make this for Christmas snacks!
Hi! Would this amazing looking dip be moderately improved by caramelizing the onions before adding them to the mixture? Thanks!
You know possibly but that would involve another 15-30 min step and another pan which defeats the purpose of the easiest, stir-together, fast, one-bowl dip ever – Just depends if it would be worth it to you. It wasn’t to me. LMK which way you try it!
Love hot cheese onion dips and this one sounds amazing!
You are the gooey, cheesy, amazing dip king! I want all of them!
Oh my, does this look addicting! Yum :)
Well, hello there awesome looking dip! Holy cow girl! This is heaven in a dish for sure! I have a feeling I would eat that entire plate right now if only it was here!!! love the stringy cheese shot!!!!
And thanks for pinning, too! This was soooo good. Dangerously so :)
oh man , this looks heavenly! Cheese…onions….right up my alley!
I’m like that; I don’t like onions but I would love this. This is a dip my husband would leave me for you for. Seriously.
This is a total man-bait dip. I won’t lie. LOL
Oh wow, sorry I missed this post.
This would be good with those rye crackers at Trader Joe’s or just a spoon. LOL!!!
I love onions, what an irresistible dip!
YES. love the idea of this + spinach/artichoke. MMMMM!
Now that is definitely my kind of dip! Will have to give it a try for sure!
Definitely my kind of comfort food! You know Jason and I are CRAZY about dips right now, especially during game season!
Girl make this dip. I am not kidding. One of the best dips I’ve ever had and it’s essentially work free. You will go NUTS for it!
Happy thanksgiving!!
You too, Jolene!! :)
I could totally destroy this dip! Looks so good, Averie! Pinned!
I did destroy it. LOL
Thanks for pinning!
I eat a lot of raw onions and garlic because I love them and believe they keep me healthy so you’re comment about not being able to be around people made me lol! This looks amazing!
Raw onions and garlic have huge immune-boosting properties. Any raw foodie or yogi will tell you that and I totally agree with them – I really am not a garlic person at all and onions have got to be cooked and sweet for me to get on board, but from a health perspective, raw onions & garlic are great – just not great for you know, going on dates afterward…LOL :)
What an easy and delicious looking dip! MmmmMMM….cheese!
As with cheese there is no wrong answer with dip! Yum! Happy Thanksgiving!
You got that right :) Happy TG to you too!
Your pictures make me feel like I can SMELL this dip cooking in my kitchen, they are so vivid!! I have an event coming up where I will be serving several appetizers and this will fit in perfectly! Thank you for sharing and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I could do major damage to this dip, Averie! All that cheese! The black pepper! The sweet onion! I don’t like onions too much myself, only if their caramelized or the sweet variety. I am so full right now from a huge dinner and these pics are making me hungry! Beautiful shots too, you make all brown/orange dip look irresistible!
There’s nothing harder to shoot than comfort food that’s white, mushy, devoid of color, no texture, and semi translucent. Can be kind of a photographic nightmare :) So thank you for saying that about these pics. And then throw in the orange, too (which as you know can get so orange, so fast in editing). And I hope your meal was awesome & that you have a super calm day tomorrow! I am cooking 100% of the whole thing myself and eating none of it :) Not my kinda food but it’s what mom’s do..cook TG feasts :)
Gluten free, huh? That’s a huge load off what’s left of my mind. ( Smiley face implied).
Yum! This looks amazing :)
That photo of you holding up a stringy onion? AWESOME.
These are all great photos, Averie! To make something that could easily be a bland, boring photo and make it pop like you did. TALENT, my friend. TALENT.
There’s nothing harder to shoot than comfort food that’s white, mushy, devoid of color, no texture, and semi translucent. Can be kind of a photographic nightmare :) So thank you for saying that about these pics. And please send this recipe to your mom. This is straight up Wisc love in a bowl. They’ll go NUTS for it and it comes together in like 5 mins. They can’t even order takeout this fast or easy :)
When I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for cheese my soul to keep,
If my tummy growls at night,
Grant this dip my soul to eat.
Holy moley Averie!! This dip is dreamy!
This looks decadent and fattening in the best way possible!!
thanks (and your comments were going into mod b/c you put that HTML code in – you don’t have to do that in the future)
Yum! I definately think this is worth the calories!
Oh yum! I’ve always loved onion dip, even when it isn’t oozing with warm, melted cheese. I have a feeling that I could eat the whole dish myself…and then need to run a marathon to make up for it!
The marathon part. Yeah, I hear you :)
This looks fantastic! I could eat that entire bowl. I love onion dips so much, I even put one in my book. Fabulous job!
Ok I have your book and now I need to go look it up! And your spinach dip today…I want to marry our two dips and live happily ever after!
I love dip too, it’s just that much more fun to eat when you get to use your hands. This one looks awesome and perfect for holiday parties. I have the same pyrex glass dish :-)
I’ve had this Pyrex for at least 15 years. My mom gave it to me when I was in college and it collected dust for a good 5-7 before I started using it :)
You had me at double cheese! This dip has to happen soon! Pinning!
thanks for pinning :)
Okay, I’m not an onion fan either (I think we discussed this) but who can resist cheese and spices melted in one happy union! Besides, Vidalia onions are not That bad. :D
My husband hates onions, but they are my absolute favorite. I’ll have to make this dip when he’s out of town and eat it all by myself haha!
Um, okay that didn’t work. Anyway, my wish is to cram my face into that entire plate. Happy Thanksgiving!
My Thanksgivi
Cheesy baked onion dip is a new favorite for me too! I just got into onions this year, but I love them most caramelized (extra step, but so good!) and with lots of cheese! I am still looking for recipes tomorrow and this looks awesome for an app!
Serious comfort food indeed–and I was thinking that some corn or spinach would be really good in there too! Love your choice of gouda. This is the type of dish my husband’s family would go for– they all love cheese. We’re getting together over the weekend so I may just bring some of this–it can bake while I’m getting my salad together.
Paula they will love you even more if you bring this. Seriously…soooo good. You can pre-assemble at home and just bring and bake. (traveling with onions is a little stinky..LOL) But I am not even usually into serious onion and cheese stuff like this – normally the dips I like have more veggies and texture, but that all went out the window with this one :)
Oh man this looks amazing! I would love to have this New Year’s day when we are all relaxing in the house, watching football, and snacking!
Sounds like a perfect plan!
Oh my goodness, you had me at creamy, cheese and onion! Those are 3 words that can never be wrong in one sentence together. This dip looks like pure comfort in a baking dish! Plus, I love how easy it is. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning and yes, it was pure comfort in a dish. So.good.omg.
Talking about comfort food! This dip is seriously something to warm the heart and fill the tummy. I would totally make this for me and Jay, if he wasn’t lactose intolerant… guess that’s not worth the fun ;) instead I will wait for the girls to come around to enjoy this with some baguette and vino. Perfection!
You could probably buy vegan products for the cheese, cream cheese, and mayo (Daiya, Toffutti, and Veganaise) and try it out!