Southwestern Onion Dip

This easy Southwestern Onion Dip only takes ~10 minutes to make – and it’s delicious! Make a batch and invite some friends over this weekend.

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This Southwestern Onion Dip is an easy but delicious homemade dip recipe! We love dips around our house, and we’ve been known to turn dips into meals. Yup, that happened. More than once. Recently, we played around with southwestern flavors and created this dip. It’s the ultimate party dip recipe…and it only takes ~10 minutes to make!

The base of this dip is sour cream with just a bit of cream cheese for texture as well as a bit of a tangy flavor. The real star of the show real is the onion that gets sauteed and mixed into the dip. Add a handful of classic seasonings, and you’re all set for an easy party recipe!

Southwestern Onion Dip

The roasted onions add so much flavor to this recipe. We opted to puree the mixture to create a smooth dip, but if you prefer a chunky dip, then you could absolutely skip that step. Aside from the actual ingredients in the recipe, the most important part is to let the dip chill for several hours (preferably overnight) in the fridge.

Like most dips, the flavors in this Southwestern Onion Dip will meld together into something magical at they sit in the bowl together. This dip will still be tasty if you serve it right away…but I do recommend letting it chill for a couple hours if possible.

Ingredients

• Yellow Onion, Garlic and Olive Oil. The sauteed onion adds such a deep flavor to this dip. While the diced onions and garlic are sautéing on the stovetop, go ahead and mix the rest of the ingredients together.
• Cilantro. A handful of chopped cilantro gets blended into this dip, and it adds a bright, fresh flavor to the dip. If you don’t like cilantro (~10% of people think cilantro tastes like soap!), feel free to omit it.
• Sour Cream and Cream Cheese. The combo of sour cream and cream cheese creates the perfect base for this dip.
• Lime Juice and Seasonings. A bit of citrus juice adds a vibrant flavor and all of the spices really turn this dip into something magical.
• Green Onions. Let’s face it. This dip is an olive brown color. It’s not terribly appealing visually. Sprinkling chopped green onions on top adds a fresh taste as well as a pop of color.

Instructions

• Sauté Diced Onions and Garlic in Olive Oil until softened – roughly 7-8 minutes.
• While the onions are sauteing, Add the remaining ingredients to a medium mixing bowl. Once the onions and garlic are ready, add them into the bowl, too.
• Grab an immersion blender and Puree the Dip until Smooth. A food processor could also work here. Or feel free to skip this step entirely if you prefer a chunkier texture to the dip.
• Refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight. This allows the dip to firm up a bit, and it also allows the flavors to meld together.

What to Serve Onion Dip With

• Pita Chips.
• Thick Tortilla Chips. Make sure to use sturdy tortilla chips so they don’t break apart when you’re scooping!
• Fritos Scoops.
• Veggies. This dip would go well with an assortment of vegetables, including celery, sliced bell peppers, carrots or even broccoli and cauliflower florets.

Variations

Like most dips, this Southwestern Onion Dip really lends itself to other additions and variations. For a spicy twist, feel free to add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or 1-2 tablespoons of hot sauce. Feel free to add in a can of diced green chiles or diced tomatoes (drained) to bulk up this dip a bit. You could even add a can of black beans (drained) or corn kernels (also drained), although I might consider adding those after pureeing the other ingredients together.

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover dip should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing any leftovers.

If you’re looking for an easy (and delicious) dip recipe, then I highly recommend this one. It only takes ~10 minutes of active time, and then it’s off to the fridge. Then you just have to pull it out once friends arrive. Cheers!

Did you make this Southwestern Onion Dip recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!

Southwestern Onion Dip

This easy Southwestern Onion Dip only takes ~10 minutes to make – and it's delicious! Make a batch and invite some friends over this weekend.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Chilling Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 92kcal

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Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• ½ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
• ¾ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup cream cheese
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• chopped green onions for garnishing
• pita chips tortilla chips, corn chips and/or veggies, for serving

Instructions

• Using a large skillet, add olive oil and place over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the diced onions. Sauté for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until onions have softened.
• Add minced garlic; continue sauteing for 1 more minute.
• Transfer mixture into a food processor and add all of the remaining ingredients.
• Pulse until mixture is smooth.
• Transfer mixture into serving bowl and garnish with chopped green onions.

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