Bloomin’ Onion Dip
Bloomin’ Onion Dip is inspired by the flavors of the famous Outback appetizer but made into a creamy, cheesy, onion-y dip topped with breadcrumbs!
A BOLD & SAVORY DIP
I can’t be the only one who can’t get enough of the Bloomin’ Onion from Outback, right?! It’s crunchy, onion-y with a touch of spice. We are taking all those same flavors and putting them in a creamy, crunchy dip form. No oil fryers necessary! This kind of appetizer dip is perfect for potlucks, parties, and of course, serving on game days to family and friends. It is so unique and always a huge hit!
I’ve got a say, as someone who cooks at Outback this is pretty darn solid. I’m actually pretty surprised the company has never done something like this. This is very good!
– Cera
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
So, I tested this recipe a few different ways. The original recipe that I had seen used pickled white onions, but, I couldn’t find those anywhere. However, I could easily find cocktail onions, so I went with those instead. You could go with white pickled onions if you can find them. The ones I did see online were spicy and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go that route. I supposed you could even maybe even make your own pickled white onions. I wouldn’t use red onion because it will turn this whole thing pink in color (unless you don’t mind that.)
Or, you could just sauté some freshly sliced onions as well in place of the cocktail onions.
I think you could use frozen cocktail onions too. Just thaw them out first and drain any excess moisture (set them on some paper towels.)
I think this would be great served as a dip for onion rings. You could just leave out the onions altogether and then just dip the onion rings right in it.
I know, I know, it does seem like a lot of ingredients, but it’s mostly a ton of seasoning. Trust me, they work perfectly together, so I wouldn’t skip anything if you really want to capture that Bloomin’ Onion taste. It is really thick and so delicious!
This dip is great with crackers, chips, or veggies. This dip would be great on sandwiches, wraps, or burgers.
Yup. You can make this the day before. Don’t forget to cover and refrigerate.
You can place this in a slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours and then change it to warm. You gotta be so careful with creamy dips though because they can curdle.
You can adjust the seasonings if you like a spicier dip or use less spice for a less spicier dip.
You can keep the dip covered in the fridge for up to 3-4 days in an appropriate airtight container.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- unsalted butter
- panko breadcrumbs – these really bring the crunch we want to simulate the crunchy coating of the Bloomin Onion.
- onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, pepper and salt
- cocktail onions– these are what I could find easily and what I tested this recipe with. If you want to try a different option, I shared another one I was trying to get in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) section above.
- cream cheese– if you forgot to pull out your cream cheese ahead of time, don’t fret, you can use these Tips to Soften Cream Cheese Quicker.
- sour cream– I know this ingredient can drive some people crazy because you love it or hate, but it really is a necessary component here. It’s part of what really brings that Bloomin’ Onion flavor. You can’t skip it, or it won’t have the right flavor.
- mayonnaise – someone is going to say they don’t like sour cream or mayonnaise. I don’t ever really know how to respond because these ingredients are central to most creamy dips (even my husband who hates sour cream loves this dip – ha!) All I can say is to use whatever you would normally use as a substitute. To me, this combination is central to making this dip taste so good.
- ketchup
- white granulated sugar
- horseradish – this is in the Blooming Onion sauce at Outback. A lot of people don’t realize thats a key ingredient in the dip but it is. It gives a touch of spiciness. You could leave it out, but again, your losing some of that unique flavor.
- oregano
- cayenne pepper– this is an optional ingredient that brings a touch of heat like the Outback Bloomin’ Onion sauce has.
HOW TO MAKE BLOOMIN’ ONION DIP:
Chop up the cocktail onions into smaller bite size pieces. Set aside. In a skillet over medium heat, add the butter.
Once melted, add the breadcrumbs and dried seasonings. Stir around until the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Remove the breadcrumbs from the skillet to a bowl.
Transfer half of the breadcrumbs to a bowl. To the bowl, add the remainder of the ingredients, excluding the parsley. Use a hand mixer to combine the ingredients. Transfer the dip to your serving bowl.
Top the dip with the remainder of the breadcrumbs and the parsley.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Bloomin’ Onion Dip
Ingredients
Breadcrumb Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Dip Ingredients
- 16 ounce jar cocktail onions, drained well
- 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon horseradish
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Chop up 16 ounce jar cocktail onions, drained well into smaller bite size pieces. Set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter. Once melted, add 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir around until the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Remove the breadcrumbs from the skillet to a bowl.
- Transfer half of the breadcrumbs to a bowl.
- To the bowl, add 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened, 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 Tablespoons ketchup, 1 Tablespoon white granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon horseradish, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon dried parsley and chopped onions. Use a hand mixer to combine the ingredients.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl.NOTE: If you aren't serving right away, it is at this point you will want to cover with plastic wrap and stick into the refrigerator. Top with remaining breadcrumbs just before serving.
- Top the dip with the remainder of the breadcrumbs and a little more dried parsley. Then enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
OMG this is heavenly! Had no trouble finding the onions. I had honestly never paid attention to them in the store before so I thought my stores wouldn’t have them (I live in a very rural area) and sure enough, they did carry it! I was shocked. This is so good and I would not change a thing about it!
I’ve got a say, as someone who cooks at Outback this is pretty darn solid. I’m actually pretty surprised the company has never done something like this. This is very good!
Thanks so much! I am so happy you enjoyed it! Maybe they’ll get some inspiration and do a version of this!
do you add the onions to the cream cheese mix or add them to the crumb mixture for the top?
You add the chopped onions to the cream cheese mixture.