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Vegetables Appetizers Snacks

Slow cooker caramelized onion and cream cheese dip

Published: 05.23.2021 » Last updated: 05.23.2022

Imagine French onion soup as a dip. Thick, creamy and absolutely tasty. It takes about 12 hours to make it, but there's very little work involved. It's patience that's required and it will be amply rewarded.

Slow Cooker Caramelized Onion and Cheese Dip Sprinkled with Parsley and Chili Flakes

My husband’s work, perfected. He has made this caramelized onion and cheese dip at least three times in search of perfection. And he did it on the third attempt. Neighbors who have tried it encourage him to sell it in small tubs but he wants to make it only for family and friends.

Why use a slow cooker? It takes a long time for the onions to soften and caramelize. If you do this on the stovetop, you will need to stir the onions often to make sure they don’t scorch. Who wants to hover over the stove for an hour or longer to cook onions? Softening them in the slow cooker is the smarter choice.

Caramelizing onion slices with butter in a slow cooker

Because onion is naturally watery, expect a pool of liquid to form at the bottom of the cooker. You will need to separate the onion from the liquid. After straining the softened and caramelized onions, save the buttery liquid. It’s so aromatic and flavorul. Use for making gravy or soup. If not using immediately, transfer to a covered container and freeze.

Stirring cream cheese into caramelized onions

After 12 hours, the onion slices are fully caramelized and they are ready to meet the cream cheese. To make blending easier, cut the cream cheese into small pieces then just stir in. Another 15 minutes of slow cooking will melt the cheese completely.

Adding mayo and parsley to cramelized onions and cream cheese

The onion and cream cheese mixture will be a bit dense so mayo is added to make it fluffier. For color and flavor, chopped parsley is stirred in too.

Stirring thyme, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce into caramelized onion and cream cheese

A little thyme joins the parsley to give the dip a herby taste and aroma. And, finally, a little soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce to round up the flavors. The dip is done at this stage buy, to allow the flavors to fully develop, it needs to sit in the fridge for a few hours.

Full recipe below

Slow Cooker Caramelized Onion and Cheese Dip

Connie Veneracion
Sweet mildly flavored onions are best for making this dip. In my part of the world that means large yellow onions.
Consume the dip within three to four days.
Slow Cooker Caramelized Onion and Cheese Dip with Toast
Print Save! Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 hrs 30 mins
Total Time 10 hrs 45 mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Fusion
Servings 2 cups

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ kilograms sweet yellow onion - peeled and very thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons butter - melted
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 250-gram pack cream cheese
  • ½ teaspoon soy sauce - (Kikkoman is recommended)
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise - Tip: Japanese mayo is tastier and firmer, and it yields better overall results
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves - plus more to garnish
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme - or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 2 pinches chili flakes - to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Drizzle the melted butter in the slow cooker.
  • Add the sliced onion, toss well to coat each piece with butter, then stir in the salt and pepper.
  • Set the heat to LOW and cook the onion slices until browned, about 10 to 12 hours, stirring the onions every three hours or so.
  • Strain the onion slices well and return to the slow cooker.
  • Cut the cream cheese into small cubes and add to the onions.
  • Turn on the slow cooker again, still on LOW, and cook the onion slices with the cream cheese for about 15 minutes.
  • Turn off the slow cooker and stir the onions and cheese until blended.
  • Add the mayo and parsley and stir to combine.
  • Stir in the thyme.
  • Drizzle in the soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and stir until the coloring is even.
  • Cool the caramelized onion and cheese dip then transfer to a covered container. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

Notes

Adapted from a Betty Crocker recipe.
Print Save! Saved!
Keyword Cheese, Dip

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Connie Veneracion, Chiang Mai, 2020

Hi, I’m Connie!

Welcome to Umami Days, a blog that advocates innovative home cooking for pleasurable everyday dining. No trendy diets, no food fads and definitely no ludicrous recipe names like crustless quiche, noodleless pho or chocolate lasagna.

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