Vegan French Onion Dip

Perfect for game day, this from-scratch vegan french onion dip is just as good as the one we’ve all had at parties over the years. It’s usually made with dairy-based sour cream and boxed onion soup mix, but we’re using the healthy power of cashews for creaminess, and the flavor of…yep, you guessed it, delicious sweet onions! 

The bold flavor of onion shines through in this homemade onion dip recipe! Even better, it’s so rich and creamy and will be a hit with all types of eaters!

Even my omni friends and family will eat this one up when I bring it to potlucks and parties! Keep it classic with homemade potato chips or these healthy cheesy zucchini chips! But it also works great with crispy crackers, toasted pita bread, and veggie sticks.

If you’re looking for more dishes to serve for events, check out this collection of vegan appetizer recipes.

Why This Recipe Works

• A hit for parties and game day! Everyone is going to love it!
• It also doubles as an amazing sandwich spread! Make a large batch so you have extras to use throughout the week!
• Uses simple, wholesome ingredients.
• Easy to make vegan dip recipe.

What Goes Into This Recipe

All you need to make for this french onion dip vegan are five simple ingredients plus some water and salt. It’s so easy! Here’s an overview of the main ingredients with the full list and quantities in the recipe card.

• Cashews: Use raw cashews and make sure they’re soaked overnight for the best results.
• Yellow onion: This vegan onion dip uses fresh onions instead of an onion soup mix. Feel free to experiment with sweet onions, especially if you prefer a sweeter flavor.
• Garlic powder: This pantry staple works great and most of the time an ingredient you probably have on hand.
• Apple cider vinegar: The sweet, tangy flavor is perfect for the dip however, you can also use white vinegar but it will have a slightly sharper flavor.

How To Make French Onion Dip Vegan

• 1) Soak the cashews. Place the raw cashews in a small bowl and cover with water by about 2-3 inches. Place in the refrigerator to soak overnight. 

HINT: If short on time, simply cover cashews with boiling water and let them soak as long as possible. The ideal soak time is 8 hours, the minimum is 2 hours.

• 2) Drain the cashews and rinse them with cool fresh water in a colander. Let them drain and set aside.

• 3) Heat the oil in a medium skillet and add the onion. Cook on low heat, covered for 15 minutes, then remove the lid and cook an additional 5 minutes until golden brown.

• 4) Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process for 3 to 4 minutes on high until rich and creamy. Add more water to reach desired consistency and scrape down the sides as needed. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

FAQs

Expert Tips 

• Adjust the seasonings. Feel free to tweak the salt, sweetener, and vinegar as you see fit. You can even double the onion amount if you’re an onion fan like I am.
• No time to chill? It’s ok – you can serve it immediately but the flavors do meld together more over time.
• Forget to soak the cashews? You can use a quick method and pour hot water over them. Let them sit as long as possible but 1-2 hours minimum is required. The recipe will still work, you may just lose a little creaminess. 

How to Serve Vegan French Onion Dip

• Spread it on your favorite sandwiches! Such as a mushroom sandwich or a roasted red pepper wrap.
• French fry dipper. Serve it up on the side to dip sweet potato fries or regular french fries.
• Dip board for parties. Add it to a large grazing board along with homemade hummus, vegan spinach dip, curry white bean dip, and pinto bean dip.
• Storebought or homemade crackers. If you’ve got the time, try making these vegan cheese crackers or rosemary vegan crackers.

More Vegan Dip Recipes

• Vegan Spinach Dip
• Vegan Curry White Bean Dip
• Pinto Bean Dip
• Chipotle White Bean Dip

Photos by Alfonso Revilla