When I think of Ina Garten (and I do think about her recipes a lot), the Super Bowl isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind. She’s more “Cosmos and canapés” than “beer and wings.” But leave it to the Barefoot Contessa to surprise us all with a game-day-worthy dip that’s as classy as it is crowd-pleasing. And if Ina says it’s good, you know it’s good—I’m already making my shopping list.
Ina’s recipes tend to be the perfect balance of elevated and easy, the kind of dish that makes your friends ask, “Who made this?” while secretly taking notes for their next party. No matter what she’s making, if Ina’s in the game, I’m on her team, and that’s why I am making this dip for my next get-together or Super Bowl party.
Ina shared a photo of the dip on Instagram (@inagarten) and that was all the encouragement I needed to add it to my must-make Super Bowl snack list.
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How to Make Ina Garten’s Pan-Fried Onion Dip
“The Super Bowl always calls for my best crowd-pleasing dishes! People tell me that my Pan-Fried Onion Dip is so addicting that they’ve made it for a party, eaten the WHOLE thing before the party started, and had to make it again!” Ina wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
I am glad to know that I’m not the only person who has done that!
You can find the full recipe on the Barefoot Contessa site, Ina says, but to get started, you’ll need yellow onions, unsalted butter, vegetable oil, ground cayenne pepper, kosher salt, black pepper, cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise.
Cut the onions in half, and then slice them into smaller rounds so that you have about 3 cups of onions.
Heat the butter and oil in a large pan. Add the onions, cayenne, salt and pepper and sauté them for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat and cook the onions for 20 more minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the onions to be a deep golden brown, which means they’ll be packed with caramelized flavor. Let the onions cool before mixing them with the rest of the ingredients.
Place the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise in a mixer and beat until smooth. Add the cooled onions and mix well. Serve at room temperature with chips, crackers or slices of bread.
Related: The Best Way To Make Oatmeal, According to Ina Garten
@foodnetwork ok but really how easy was that?! (we love you, ina!)
♬ original sound – Food Network
What Makes Ina Garten’s Pan-Fried Onion Dip So Good?
The key to this dish’s deliciousness is right in the recipe name: pan-fried onions. While I’d never turn down a bowl of onion dip made with Lipton’s soup mix, Ina’s version deepens the flavor with buttery caramelized onions. And instead of using just sour cream, she uses three different creamy things: cream cheese, sour cream and mayo. That trifecta gives you the perfect creamy texture, plus a little tang and a bit of richness. Ina’s attention to detail is obvious in all of her recipes, including something as simple as this dip. It’s sure to be a game-day winner with your crowd!
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