Sourdough Onion Dip Bowl (Printable version)

Caramelized onion dip served in a sourdough loaf with bread cubes and veggies for dipping.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 1 large round sourdough loaf, approximately 1 pound

→ Onion Dip

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 large yellow onions, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
08 - 1 cup sour cream
09 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
10 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional

→ For Serving

15 - Reserved bread cubes from the hollowed loaf
16 - Fresh vegetables such as carrot sticks, celery, and cucumber slices, optional
17 - Crackers, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice the top off the sourdough loaf and carefully hollow out the center using a serrated knife, leaving a 1-inch thick shell intact. Cut the removed bread into bite-sized cubes and reserve for dipping.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are deeply golden and caramelized, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, softened cream cheese, fresh chives, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika if using. Stir until the mixture achieves a smooth consistency.
04 - Fold the caramelized onions and garlic into the cream mixture until evenly distributed. Adjust seasoning to taste with additional salt and pepper as needed.
05 - Spoon the onion dip into the hollowed bread bowl. Place the filled bread bowl on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until warmed through.
06 - Remove from oven and garnish with additional fresh chives. Serve immediately with reserved bread cubes, fresh vegetables, and crackers for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The bread bowl is genuinely impressive and totally edible, so there's zero waste and maximum wow factor.
  • Caramelized onions taste like pure comfort, and somehow they make this dip taste fancier than the five ingredients you actually need.
  • You can prep the dip the day before and just bake it right before guests arrive, which means less stress and more time to enjoy the party.
02 -
  • Do not rush the caramelization process—I once cranked the heat to medium-high to save time and ended up with burnt onions that tasted bitter and sour, ruining the whole batch.
  • Softening the cream cheese is non-negotiable; cold cream cheese will create lumpy streaks that nobody wants, so leave it out for 30 minutes or microwave it for 10-second bursts.
03 -
  • Toast your bread cubes in a 375°F oven for 10 minutes with a light olive oil spray to make them crispy and less likely to fall apart when dipped into the creamy dip.
  • If your bread bowl starts to feel fragile while hollowing, use a smaller knife and work from the edges inward rather than stabbing downward—treat it like you're carving, not excavating.
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