Last Updated May 21st, 2023 at 11:53 pm by Lisa
Onion Dip aka California Dip or Sour Cream Dip is the easiest dip ever, with only 2 ingredients! Made in minutes, serve with a large bowl of your favorite potato chips and assorted fresh-cut veggies.
This is a classic iconic American party food dip that has earned a respected place in many people's hearts with its savory onion flavor. Okay, this really isn't a recipe. But, people always ask how to make it, so here you go...
By the way, this glass chip bowl set was from my parents, a wedding gift to them in 1960. I cherish it, and it takes me back to how we ate this back in the 70s in Southern California!
Sour Cream Homemade Dip Recipe
Our family loved this sour cream onion dip, and my Mom served it on many Super Bowl game days and parties. She always used Knudsen sour cream, because my Aunt was a Home Economics spokesperson for Knudsen in the 60s and 70s, and they make the very best sour cream in the Los Angeles area.
Mom's favorite way to serve this onion chip dip was with pantry staples of a bag of Lay's potato chips and celery sticks. Simple, yet divine.
- 1 package Lipton onion recipe soup and dip mix
- 2 cups Knudsen sour cream (or brand of choice)
Mix the sour cream and soup mix in a bowl, that's it! You can make it a day ahead, and then give it a stir before serving.
Sour Cream: Use a full-fat sour cream or full fat homemade sour cream.
Onion Soup Mix: Use a generic onion soup mix or one labeled French onion soup mix.
California Dip History
As the story goes, in 1954, two years after Lipton introduced its dry onion soup mix, a now-unknown housewife in Southern California stirred a dry soup packet into a pint of sour cream and made a savory creamy dip.
Her recipe was reprinted in newspapers countless times, and by the end of the 1950s, this classic onion dip had become a house-party classic, perfectly suited for mid-20th-century America’s new style of informal entertaining on the patio or in the family room.
The most popular way to eat this dip is with plain potato chips or ruffled potato chips. Some other dippers to try are pita chips, bagel chips, carrot sticks, celery sticks, cut broccoli, cauliflower florets, sliced cucumbers, mini bell peppers, or jicama sticks.
Homemade onion dip is often served at room temperature at parties and as a classic holiday party offering with potato chips. It has been described as an American classic. Try this easy dip recipe as a spread on hamburgers, sandwiches, tacos, or top a baked potato.
More Dips For Parties
These are my all time favorite easy recipes to serve for party dips. Good dips have fresh ingredients, and there are so many delicious dips to make for celebrations and holidays.
- Cocktail or New Years Parties Have a few hot appetizers, they go first!
- Game Days I have lots of recipes for Super Bowl and Football!
- Holidays - Thanksgiving or Christmas Parties I always double this recipe.
- Birthdays
- Graduation Parties
- Cinco de Mayo The jalapeno zing is so good in this melty hot dip.
- Halloween Parties With cooler weather, it feeds a hungry crowd!
Jalapeno Popper Dip is always a hit! Make this melty hot appetizer for parties with simple pantry ingredients and scoop up with large corn chips. This homemade French Onion Dip recipe is an easy appetizer with real fresh onions that are caramelized for a deep rich flavor. This party appetizer tastes even better if made ahead and garnished with fresh chives.
Drizzle Avocado Salsa is often served on Mexican foods like tacos, burritos, taquitos, or served with tortilla chips. Many people call it Taco Sauce or Salsa de Aguacate.
Make this easy Caramel Apple Dip that has crisp green apples, salted caramel sauce, and crushed Health bars. A beloved simple recipe and pot-luck holiday parties for Thanksgiving, Halloween, and all through Autumn apple season
For a spooky Halloween dip, make this Tombstone Halloween Dip. A spooky graveyard scene served with crackers loved by both kids and adults. Black pepper is the secret to the gravestone!
Tomatillo Salsa is made in 20 minutes. A homemade dip like salsa is so good, and just 6 ingredients; chiles, onion, tomatillos, tomato, salt, and garlic. You can use Anaheim, Hatch, or Poblanos peppers with a Jalapeno in this recipe.
Authentic Guacamole has a little bit of fresh lime juice, grated onion (one of my top original recipe secrets), chopped tomato, hot sauce, and spices.
Crudités with Green Goddess Dip is an easy appetizer. Serve veggie cups and a purple cabbage "bowl" for a unique relish tray with celery, cucumber, jicama, and carrots a fun way to serve a dip at your party!
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Sour Cream Onion Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package Lipton onion soup mix
- 2 cups Knudsen sour cream (or brand of choice)
Instructions
- In large bowl, combine onion soup mix and sour cream. Stir to blend.
- Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving, but tastes better after a couple of hours. Serve with dippers like potato chips and cut veggies: celery, carrots, mini bell peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, and cauliflower.
- Store leftover onion dip in a covered container, small bowl with plastic wrap, or an airtight container, and refrigerate and use in 3-4 days.
Notes
serve with:
- potato chips -plain or ruffled
- carrot sticks
- celery sticks
- cut broccoli
- cauliflower florets
- sliced cucumbers
- mini bell peppers
- jicama sticks
So easy, so good! We love this dip.