Football season is back, and with it the promise of tailgating and all the food that comes along. Whether you are setting up a full spread under a tent or keeping it simple at home, this dip is built to please any fan.
Store-bought is fine. Homemade is better, and the only hard part is patience while the onions caramelize.
Ingredients
- 2 sweet onions (like Vidalia), finely diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped, for garnish
Method
Step 1. Caramelize the onions in butter over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until soft and golden. This takes about 30 minutes. Do not rush it; that is where the flavor comes from. Set aside and let cool for 10 minutes.
Step 2. In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise until smooth. Fold in the cooled onions along with the garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper.
Step 3. Top with the chopped chives and serve with kettle chips, toasted baguette slices or fresh vegetables. Serve it slightly warm, or refrigerate overnight for even more flavor.
Make it your own
- Change the base. Swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt to lighten the calories without losing creaminess.
- Add bacon. Fold in crispy bacon bits for more savory depth.
- Turn up the heat. Fold a diced jalapeno in with the onions while they caramelize, or stir in a dash of hot sauce at the end.
This story appears in the September 2026 issue of Stroll Quail Hollow.