This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.
My Hot Onion Dip Recipe is the easiest appetizer ever with only 3-ingredients! Sweet Vidalia onions, Swiss cheese, and mayo are baked until hot and bubbly. Serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, baguette bread, or even fresh veggies if you want to keep it low carb. Want another crowd pleasing cheesy dip? Try my Spinach Artichoke Dip!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Hot Onion Dip recipe is probably one of my favorite dips to make when I’m asked to make a last minute appetizer for game day, holiday buffets or any occasion! It’s creamy, warm, cheesy and oh so good! It’s surprisingly the first thing to go on any appetizer table and most people don’t even know they’re eating onions!
What are Vidalia Onions?
The Vidalia is a type of sweet yellow onion. They are different from other types of yellow onions because they have a high sugar content and low sulfur content. Most onions contain about 5 percent sugar, while Vidalias contain an impressive 12 percent which makes them taste “sweet”.
Raw vs Cooked Onions in Dips
Many recipes for hot dips instruct you to caramelize the onions before adding to the rest of the ingredients. This is done to bring out the natural sweetness in the onions. While I love caramelized onions, my recipe doesn’t use that method. When you use sweet onions, like vidalia onions you really don’t need to. They have a sweet and mild flavor that I love for my hot onion dip. Vidalia onion season is typically April-ish to September. If you can’t find them specifically in your grocery store, any sweet onion variety will work just fine.
Ingredients Needed for Hot Onion Dip
Ok onion lovers, here is what you need to make this recipe:
- sweet vidalia onion– these are sweet onions similar to walla wallas. They have a mild onion flavor. If you can’t find Vidalia specifically, any sweet onion variety will work.
- swiss cheese– shredded. Alternate cheese options are cream cheese, mozzarella or parmesan cheese.
- mayonnaise– the real stuff. Holds all the ingredients together. A good substitute for mayo is sour cream or plain greek yogurt.
- chives– optional.
- pita bread, pita chips, baguette, tortilla chips, crackers, fresh veggies or my homemade kettle chips – for serving.
How to Make This Hot Onion Dip Recipe
With just 3 ingredients and about 10 minutes of prep time, you’re about to make one of the easiest hot dip appetizers ever! For full recipe details including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step by step what you can expect when making this recipe:
Preheat Oven
First thing, preheat your oven to 400° F. Set aside a 9×7 (or 8×8) casserole dish.
Combine All Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine diced Vidalia onions, shredded swiss cheese, and mayonnaise. Mix until all incorporated.
Spread Mixture into Baking Dish
Spread mixture into a 9×7 (or 8×8) casserole dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until hot and bubbly and the top is JUST beginning to become golden brown.
Pro Tip: Once you see the top browning, remove from oven immediately. If you let it go much longer, the mayonnaise will break (meaning the oil will separate) and you’ll be left with an oily mess instead of a nice thick dip.
Garnish + Serve Warm
Garnish with fresh chives if desired, and serve warm with your favorite dippers-pita bread, pita chips, baguette, tortilla chips, crackers, corn chips, fresh veggies, etc.
Storage + Make Ahead Directions
Allow any leftover onion dip to cool to room temperature. Store covered in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use leftovers for an afternoon snack or as a spread for hamburgers or sandwiches.
Reheating Leftovers– reheating in the microwave is my preferred way for this dip. Usually 20-30 seconds does the trick! Alternately you could reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat until hot and bubbly. Just keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
Make Ahead– Because this dip is so easy to throw together, making it ahead of when you want to serve it is simple! I would suggest combining ingredients and placing in the baking dish. Cover it with plastic wrap and store in the fridge up to 2 days, until you’re ready to bake!
FAQ for Hot Onion Dip
Yes. You can use 2 cups of plain greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise. You could also do 1 cup of both.
Yes! I would use a 9×13 baking dish for a double batch.
Yes, that sounds delicious! Pre-cooked bacon crumbles would be a good addition. I would cook raw bacon before adding to the dip mixture, to get it nice and crispy.
If you bake your onion dip too long and the mayonnaise “breaks”, meaning the oil separates, all is not lost! Simply dap the excess oil with a paper towel (or pour it off if you’re talented) and then give the dip a nice stir using a whisk until the oil is once again combined with the rest of the ingredients. Place under the broiler to get a new golden brown top (just a minute or so) and you should be good to go.
More Delicious Dips to Try!
I hope you make this next time you are in need of an easy appetizer! With the holiday season coming up you may need a few new side dishes up your sleeve. 😉 It really is the best dip! The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
Hot Onion Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Vidalia onions diced
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 2 cups Swiss cheese shredded
- chives fresh, diced (optional)
- pita bread, pita chips, baguette, tortilla chips, crackers, fresh veggies, etc. for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Spread mixture into a 9×7 (or 8×8) baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until hot and bubbly and the top is JUST beginning to brown.*
- Garnish with fresh chive if desired and serve warm with pita bread, pita chips, baguette, tortilla chips, crackers, fresh veggies, etc.
