This creamy caramelized onion dip is infused with Porter beer and is easy to make, full of savory, complex flavors, and guaranteed to be a hit at any party.

When it comes to appetizers, I’m a self-professed dip queen. I’ve got so many favorites I love, like my, hot crab dip, cheesy spinach artichoke dip, and clam dip, to name a few. This stellar Porter caramelized onion dip recipe comes from blogger, beer connoisseur, and author Jackie Dodd (of The Beeroness), and is featured in her cookbook The Craft Beer Cookbook, 100 Artisanal Recipes for Cooking With Beer. Caramelizing onions in this classic Porter brew adds a deep malted flavor to the dip, perfectly appointed for a tailgate party, an elegant holiday affair or to have on hand for the morning toasted bagel (highly recommend). After sharing this Porter Caramelized Onion Dip with some of the neighbors and getting rave reviews, it was a given that it’s going on my recipe repeat list to be made again and again.

What’s in This Caramelized Onion Dip
This dip gets its complex and layered flavors from a dark, rich Porter beer, and sweet, jammy caramelized onions. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Butter
- Oil (I use olive oil)
- Onion (sweet white onions or Vidalia onions are great for this)
- Salt and pepper
- Porter beer
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Green onions (you could also use chives)

How to Make This Caramelized Onion Dip
Other than the time it takes to caramelize the onions, this dip comes together super fast and with little effort. Jackie’s notes mention the dip’s flavors deepen after being in the refrigerator for a day or two. I gave it a try and yes, it was still totally tasty.
Sauté the onions. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat, add butter and oil, and stir until the butter has melted. Add the onions. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions start to soften.
Deglaze and caramelize the onions. Add the salt and porter and cook for about 25 minutes or until the onions start to caramelize.
Blend until smooth. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, caramelized onions, Porter, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder to a food processor. Pulse until smooth but still with a few chunks. Add the green onions and pulse once or twice to combine.
What to Serve with Caramelized Onion Dip
- Baguette rounds/crostini
- Chips and crackers
- Toasted pita bread
- Raw veggies
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo, and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

Porter Caramelized Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 large sweet white onions , chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup Porter beer, plus 3 tablespoons, divided
- 8 ounces cream cheese , at room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Instructions
- Heat a sauté pan over medium heat, add butter and oil, and stir until the butter has melted. Add the onions. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions start to soften.
- Add the salt and porter and cook for about 25 minutes or until the onions start to caramelize. Stir occasionally and keep watch on the heat so the onions don't burn.
- Add the cream cheese, sour cream, caramelized onions, Porter, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder to a food processor. Pulse until smooth but still with a few chunks. Add the green onions and pulse once or twice to combine.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
More Creamy Dips You’ll Love
- Queso Dip
- Hot Crab Dip
- French Onion Dip
- Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip
- The Best Clam Dip Recipe EVER
- How to Make a Healthy Tzatziki Sauce and Dip
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Kat
I would kill for this dip right now!!!
Belladatura
Football! Parties! Wednesday night! Need to go grocery shopping! I’d even go as far as to say Baby Shower! Absolutely any and every excuse will do.
Ka Ning
I’ve been following Jackie’s blog for a year now and all of her recipes are so mouth-watering!
I love any kind of dip – though French Onion dip is by far my favorite!
Rita
The only dip my beer connoisseur husband likes is onion dip so this is perfect for him. Can’t wait to try it.
Elisa B
Chips and dip are in themselves the best excuse for chips and dip. Can you say guilty pleasure? NOM!
Michelle
Who needs an excuse! Although a good dip is a great addition for parties or just sitting around watching a football game. And congrats on the book! It looks amazing!
Jessica | Kettler Cuisine
Put me in front of blue corn chips with homemade salsa and I am happy for hours!
Mary W
Favorite Excuses:
1) Dip.
2) Chips.
3) Noms.
Jaime López Portillo
I love your recipes!
Bev @ Bev Cooks
Heeeey, Jackie! I want your book. Even if I can’t drink for a couple more months. I still want it. Okay bye.
Heather
Who needs an excuse to eat dip and chips?! I love a good dip and even better chips!!
Jen @ Savory Simple
I absolutely love with Jackie’s new cookbook! Her blog is one of my favorites and I am super honored by the shout out <3
Meagan
Love this post. I totally appreciate Jackie’s blogging style, as well as her devotion to craft beer. That dip is totally playing a starring role in my happy hour spread tonight. Cheers! (ew – too obvi?)
Sara
Yum! I love making chips and dips for parties, but they are also my guilty pleasure couch potato food.
Meghan @ Cake 'n' Knife
I’ll use any excuse in the book but usually there’s no real reason. I just LOVE chips and dip!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective
Fantastic appetizer!
Darinda
Just added The Beeroness to my Feedly. We love craft beer and good food, so the combination of the two sounds great! Looking forward to trying some new recipes.
Ashley
I’ve only recently gotten into craft beer in the past year and have been looking for ways to cook with it! This book looks awesome!
Gail
When i know someone is coming over so i don’t eat the whole bowl
kerr
Who needs an excuse to eat chips and dip!?
Kris
This was a great interview! And I agree about Naomi from Bakers Royale. Her and her photography are stunning.
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)
Haha! Love how she mentioned a “healthy degree of self loathing”–love her blog and her humor. And this interview was great. l’ve learned so many more wonderful things about her.
Angel
This recipe looks amazing
I tend to eat chips and dip at parties, holidays and movie nights !
Dannielle
how cool! I’m totally going to have a peruse of her blog and hopefully get inspired :)
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Love Jackie, love her blog, humor, style, and a huge congrats to her! I have her book (managed to miss this dip!) but now I need to make it and have all the ingredients…except the beer. Ha! Congrats on your book and on ALL you have going on, Jackie!