Blooming Onion Dip
Blooming onion dip is an easy, no-bake dip that has all the flavors of that classic appetizer from that local restaurant. A creamy base, full of spicy onion flavor, and topped with crunchy fried onions to mimic that crispy coating you love so much! Perfect for parties, game day, potlucks, or when you want all the flavors of a blooming onion in an easy dip you can scoop with bread or chips. Ready in 15 minutes with no cooking, it makes 4 cups and costs under $15 using simple ingredients.
When we go out to eat, I love to eat just appetizers or the small plates. That way I can have more than one thing and have a few bites of each. One of my favorite apps is the blooming onion!
I just love the onion flavor, the crispy coating, and the yummy dipping sauce it comes with. I could make that my whole meal. So instead, I turned it into a dip!
It’s cream, full of tangy onion flavor, and topped with fried onions so you get the whole package, but without all the fuss.
No deep frying an onion, no battering and breading, no messy oil. Just mix everything in a bowl and you’re done. It’s similar to French onion dip and green onion dip but with blooming onion flavors everyone recognizes.
More Party Dip Recipes
- Fried Pickle Dip – Tangy dill pickle in creamy base
- Crab Rangoon Dip – Crab filled cream cheese classic
- Hoagie Dip – Deconstructed Italian sub in dip form
- Million Dollar Dip – Loaded bacon, cheddar, almond cruncd
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
- Cream cheese – Let it soften to room temperature so it whips smooth without lumps.
- Mayonnaise – Use your favorite brand. I love to use Duke’s because it’s the creamiest.
- Sour cream – Use regular, low fat, or fat free. Or substitute plain Greek yogurt.
- Horseradish – The prepared horseradish is best but you can also use the horseradish sauce. I don’t recommend grating your own from fresh. It’s too strong.
- Worcestershire sauce – Don’t leave this out, it adds depth and a little smokiness.
- Onion – Yellow or white onion works best. Be sure to dice it very fine so there are no big chunks.
- Panko breadcrumbs – This mimics the crispy coating on fried blooming onions. Regular breadcrumbs work but panko is crunchier.
- Fried Onions – Use the canned French-fried onions you find near green bean casserole ingredients.
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How To Make Blooming Onion Dip
- In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, horseradish, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce to a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until completely smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Add the diced onion, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
- Mix again until everything is well combined. Pour the dip into a serving bowl and smooth the top evenly with a spatula.
- Top generously with fried onions right before serving. Serve with toasted French bread slices, chips, pretzels, or crackers.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The onions release moisture as they sit so the dip gets thinner after the first day but still tastes good. Just give it a good stir before eating.
Add Toppings Fresh: Top with fried onions right before serving. If you add them too early, they get soggy from absorbing moisture from the dip.
Make-Ahead: Make the dip up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate covered. Top with fried onions and serve when ready.
Not Freezer-Friendly: Don’t freeze this dip. The cream cheese and mayo separate when thawed and the texture becomes grainy.
Variations
- Extra Spicy: Increase cayenne pepper to ½ teaspoon or add a dash of hot sauce for more heat.
- Milder Version: Skip the cayenne pepper and reduce horseradish to 1 teaspoon for less spicy kick.
- Add Bacon: Stir in ½ cup crumbled cooked bacon for smoky richness.
- Cheese Lover’s: Mix in ½ cup shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese.
- Baked Version: Spread in a baking dish, top with cheese and fried onions, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes until bubbly.
- Greek Yogurt: Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt for tangier, higher protein dip.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers instead of panko.
Serving Suggestions
- Toasted French Bread: Slice French bread, brush with butter, and toast until golden. These give it the flavor closest to original recipe.
- Chips: Potato chips, kettle chips, or pita chips all work great for scooping.
- Pretzels: Pretzel rods or pretzel crisps provide crunch and a little extra salt.
- Crackers: Water crackers, butter crackers, or club crackers are great.
- Vegetables: Carrot sticks, celery sticks, bell pepper strips, or cucumber slices.
- Bagel Chips: Store-bought or homemade bagel chips add sturdy crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Make the dip base up to 24 hours ahead, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Top with the fried onions right before serving so they stay crunchy.
Beating with a hand mixer removes lumps and creates smooth, creamy texture. Stirring by hand leaves chunks of cream cheese which is no fun to bite into. Plus, beating with an electric mixer saves all your arm muscles.
You can! Spread in a baking dish, top with shredded cheese and fried onions, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes until bubbly. It’s a little different but still just as delicious.
Reduce it to 1 teaspoon or skip it entirely. The dip won’t have that signature spicy kick but will still taste good with the other spices.
The fried onions add essential crunch and look like the fried onion at the restaurant. Fresh onions on top would be too sharp and wouldn’t have that crispy texture.
Add them right before serving. If you top the dip too early, they absorb moisture and lose their crunch.
I don’t recommend it. The cream cheese and mayo separate when you that it and the texture gets grainy and can separate.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Soften cream cheese to room temperature before mixing. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy no matter how much you beat it. Use a hand. mixer for best results.
- Dice the onion very fine so it you don’t get a big chunk.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
- Use panko breadcrumbs for the best texture. They’re crunchier than regular breadcrumbs and stay crisp longer.
- Let the dip come to room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving if it’s very cold.
- Add fried onions right before serving. They get soggy if added too early.
- Serve in a shallow bowl rather than a deep one. This makes dipping easier.
This blooming onion dip recipe is easy and creamy with a little kick. Topped off with fried onions, it tastes just like a blooming onion from the restaurant!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Blooming Onion Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 1 ½ tablespoons ketchup
- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1 cup fried onions for topping
- french bread sliced, toasted, for dipping
Instructions
- Start by finely dicing your onion and set it aside. To a bowl add your cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, horseradish, ketchup, and Worcestershire.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Beat with a hand mixer or whisk until completely combined.
- Stir in the diced onion, bread crumbs, garlic, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Mix once more until combined.
- Pour into a serving bowl and smooth out evenly.
- Top with the fried onions.
- Serve with toasted French bread, chips, pretzels, or crackers. Enjoy!
Notes
- Soften cream cheese to room temperature before mixing. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy no matter how much you beat it.
- Use a hand mixer to get the mixture creamy and save your arm muscles.
- Dice the onion very fine so you don’t bite into a big chunk.
- Add fried onions right before serving. They get soggy if added too early.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. Different brands of horseradish can vary in the level of heat.
- Use panko breadcrumbs for the best texture. They’re crunchier than regular breadcrumbs and stay crisp longer.
- Toast French bread for the most authentic blooming onion experience. Butter the slices before toasting.
- Let the dip come to room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving if it’s very cold.
- Make it spicier or milder by adjusting cayenne and horseradish to your taste.
- Serve in a shallow bowl rather than a deep one. This makes dipping easier.
Nutrition
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