Vidalia Onion Dip

Vidalia onion dip is our all time favorite hot dip for parties or game day. It uses just a few simple ingredients, but when combined they are amazing. What could be better than sweet onions and gooey cheese!

Whether you’re having friends over or want something special for date night, this hot Vidalia onion dip is an easy recipe that’s always a hit. Simple to make with just a few ingredients but an appetizer that everyone will be asking for.

Sweet Vidalia onions are the star of this hot homemade onion dip.

What are Vidalia onions

If you’re not from the South you may not be familiar with Vidalia onions. They are a sweet onion that is grown in Vidalia Georgia. It seems that the soil in that area produces a sweeter less pungent onion. These onions are milder than a standard onion which means it’s great to serve on sandwiches or salads.

They have a higher sugar content and lower sulfer content than yellow onions which gives them their great flavor without making your eyes water.

These mild and sweet qualities make them perfect for a hot onion dip.

This creamy Vidalia onion dip is best served warm, so if you’re making it for a party, a chafing dish is helpful. At our house, this crowd-pleasing dip doesn’t stay around long enough to get cold. If it does, you can warm it in the microwave.

Since it’s a thicker dip, similar to an artichoke dip, or bacon cheese dip, you’ll want to serve it with crackers or toasted baguettes or strong tortilla chips. It’s also great on homemade herbed pita chips which are super simple to make.

Why you’ll love it

• Warm dips are great for parties or game day
• The sweet mild onions add flavor without making your eyes water
• You can prep this ahead of time
• Leftover dip can be heated in the microwave

What you’ll need

• Vidalia Onions – Grate with a cheese grater or food processor and be sure to squeeze them dry, they will have lots of water and that will make the dip soupy.
• Swiss cheese  – you don’t need an expensive aged cheese for this dip.
• Mayonnaise – my favorite is Hellman’s
• Sriracha – a little hot sauce adds flavor without making it spicy, you could use any brand that you like. If you don’t want hot sauce, you could substitute Worcestershire sauce
• Parmesan cheese – this adds flavor
• Paprika – this is sprinkled on the top and adds a little flavor but also come color

How to make this Vidalia onion dip recipe

Step 1

First you need to grate the onions. A food processor is handy but you can also use a cheese grater. Once grated, place it in a colander to squeeze out the onion juice, then press it with a paper towel to absorb as much liquid as possible.

Pro Tip: A food processor works great to grate both the onions and the cheese. Just drain out the liquid from the onions before grating the cheese.

Step 2

Combine the onions and mayonnaise along with the parmesan and Swiss cheeses in a medium bowl.

Pour into 8×8 casserole dish. Sprinkle the top with paprika.

Step 3

Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until brown and bubbly

Try serving this before your next dinner party, or have it on hand for Sunday afternoon football.

Pro tip: You can prepare this the day before and bake it before you’re ready to serve.  

This recipe was given to me by Reto Biaggi who is a fantastic chef and caterer in Greensboro.  He has a shop on the corner of Walker and Elam where you can pick up prepared meals for dinner and where he prepares food for catered events.  He made this for our Derby party several years ago and when the girls begged him for the recipe, he was generous enough to share it with me.

FAQ and tips

What can you serve with sweet Vidalia onion dip?

This warm dip can be served with crackers, toasted baguettes, tortilla scoops, corn chips, pretzel chips, or pita chips. Traditional potato chips will be to thin for this dip.

Can this cheesy dip be served at room temperature?

This onion dip is best served warm but is still delicious at room temperature. If it gets cold you can microwave it.

Can you substitute Greek yogurt for mayo?

You will not have the same flavor or texture if you substitute yogurt or sour cream. This recipe needs mayonnaise. If you want a dip without mayonnaise, try hot pimento cheese dip.

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