Remember when I told you how much I enjoy Game Day grub? Well here’s another recipe I love to eat while pretending to watch the game: Charred Onion and Bacon Dip.
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Thick slices of sweet red onion are cooked in bacon fat AND butter until melting and blackened around the edges. Honey, garlic and white wine are added to boost sweet and savory flavors. After a quick chop, this charred onion flavor bomb is mixed into a rich blend of cream cheese and sour cream. The dip is finished with chopped bacon, chives, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and lemon juice. Pair this big, bold dip with some all-star accompaniments: crisp potato chips, sweet carrot sticks and fresh sliced celery. I’ve served my Charred Onion and Bacon Dip at a number of parties, and it’s always a friend favorite!
This onion dip is another recipe I put together in partnership with Jimbo’s… Naturally! at Westfield Horton Plaza. Almost all ingredients used in this recipe were organic, and I’ll have to tell you, I’m really learning to love organic products. I can truly taste a difference between organic and regular. Especially with produce! Check out some of my other Jimbo’s… Naturally! recipes:
- Grilled Tri-Tip with Green Garlic Salsa Verde
- Grilled Kale Caesar with Torn Croutons
- Rainbow Fruit Purees
Jimbo’s… Naturally! only has locations in and around San Diego, CA.
**This Giveaway Has Ended**
Jimbo’s… Naturally! also has a huuuuge selection of pre-made food that would be perfect for a Game Day party. Pair something homemade with store-bought bites to create an almost effortless spread that’s sure to impress. There’s no need to make everything from scratch!
Charred Onion and Bacon Dip
Ingredients
- 4 strips of organic applewood smoked bacon (about 6 oz.), cut into small slices
- 2 tablespoons organic unsalted butter
- 1 medium organic red onion, cut into 1/2-inch thick rings
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon organic honey
- 3 cloves organic garlic, chopped
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 3/4 cup organic sour cream
- 1/4 cup 2 oz. organic cream cheese, at room temperature*
- 1/2 teaspoon organic smoked paprika
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh organic chives, plus more for garnish
- Organic lemon
Organic potato chips, carrot sticks and celery sticks, for serving
Instructions
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Cook the bacon in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat until crispy. Take the pan off the heat, spoon cooked bacon on to a paper-towel lined plate, reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat, then discard remaining fat. Finely chop cooked bacon and set aside.
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Add reserved bacon fat back to the skillet with butter. Warm the skillet over medium-high heat until the butter starts to foam, then add the rings of red onion. Season one side with kosher salt and black pepper. Let the onions cook and caramelize for 5 minutes, then carefully flip each ring. Season the second side with kosher salt and black pepper. Continue to cook until the onions get dark around the edges (4 – 5 minutes more). It’s ok if some spots get blackened. Add the honey and garlic, and let cook until the garlic gets fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the white wine, and simmer until the liquid reduces and thickens (about 3 minutes). Take the pan off the heat and let cool to room temperature.
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Add sour cream and cream cheese to a medium bowl, and, using a spatula, mix until smooth and combined. Finely chop the cooled onions, then add them to the bowl along with any juices remaining in the pan or on the cutting board. Add smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, 3/4 of the chopped bacon, chopped chives, a pinch of kosher salt, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, stirring to combine. Season to taste with additional kosher salt, black pepper and lemon juice.
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To serve, transfer dip to a clean bowl, and garnish with remaining chopped bacon, chives and a sprinkling of smoked paprika. Place dip on a large platter, and surround with potato chips, carrot sticks and celery sticks. Enjoy with plenty of cold beers.
Recipe Notes
* The cream cheese must be at room temperature, or else it won’t properly combine with the sour cream. Take the cream cheese out several hours before you plan on making this dip.
I partnered with Jimbo’s… Naturally! and Westfield Horton Plaza on this article. At the time this article was written, I was an employee of Westfield. All thoughts, opinions and recipes shared in this article are my own.
PS. I do know that the Chargers won yesterday. Go Bolts!!
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J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats says
I think so far our stand out game day dip has been a Buffalo Chicken dip (served with celery and carrot sticks naturally) will have to give this one a try too!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
This dip looks delicious. And I got a real chuckle out of “pretending to watch the game”. That’s totally me. I’m just here for the food people! Right now I’m loving all the organic apples at the farmers markets in Washington. They are perfect for snacking!
Margaret Smith says
This recipe looks so good.
I like to use organic fruits for making fruit salad for my family and I.
Adrienne gordon says
Ina plain old salad
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I just pinned this dip! What a hit this would be! Jimbos, love love love. I wish there was one in Hillcrest! Fave way to use organic produce? Juicing with organic is one time I definitely don’t mind splurging!
Lynn says
I would use them in a fresh salad or roast them! That dip looks great by the way.
Debbi Wellenstein says
I serve organic vegetables to my family every day!
Nicole Pyles says
What a great recipe! I love using organic veggies with dinners of any kind!
Kristen says
We love to make egg scrambles with local cheeses and whatever veggies are in season.
Alexandra says
Bold is definitely an accurate description of this dip. Cream cheese and sour cream AND bacon? Mind, blown.
Phillip says
Bacon? Duh! I’m not big on onions, but these look delicious! I’m on a butternut squash kick right now, so I think that’s going to be included in whatever I make next.
todd wagner says
Outstanding recipe, Brandon!! And that fried onion shot…..!!!
Jackie {The Beeroness} says
This looks SO good. WOuld you come over and make this for me if I win???
Carolsue says
I like organic produce in my salads and roasted vegetable grill recipe
Lisa @ Whisk & Cleaver says
Ooohhh organic meat and milk – that’s where I start with my organic-ness. Then some produce … mostly the berries and greens for salads. I have a small dish of bacon fat in my fridge that I was saving for a roast chicken, but since the temperature says picnic not oven, the fat may have to make its way into this recipe!
Debby says
Fab pictures !!!
danielle Marie says
i love to use them in a salad or wish fresh seafood. yum.
Zubayda M says
I like to use organic pears to make pear and honey preserves.
Jan Griese says
I must try this! I just purchased a big bag of organic purple onions!
RANDY FULGHAM says
I like to use organic fruits for making fruit salad and also have on ceareal
karen s says
This is the kind of dip that I love. It has the onions and the delicious bacon.
diana says
This looks absolutely Amazing!!! I am making the recipe this weekend!! Also I would love to win the $100 gift card. Wow, nice give away!!
Sandy Headtke says
Fruit salads for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks
Dorothy Teel says
I love organic carrots and celery with a wonderful dip and your onion bacon di sounds wonderful, I love these veggies with blue cheese also, thank you for asking, I could use this when I visit my son and family in Santee, and I would get to go to Horton Square..
Diana Cote says
We buy organic fruit and certain veggies only organic, I love organic bacon and eggs. my favorite way is to use them to make my daughters breakfasts and lunches. She loves to help and we usually make little platters and she picks and choses what she wants. She loves it!
Deb E says
Last time I slaved away on making game food from scratch, nobody appreciated it. I think they just shoveled the food in while watching the game–men! I would use organic products for more healthy appetizers since life more than just a bag of chips. Love this dip and pinned too.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I know the Husband would LOOOOVE this!!!!
Lorraine F says
I use organic produce whenever possible in all of my recipes.
MARTHAIA says
I try to make organic salad at least 3-4 times weekly….
jenn huey says
I love a great salad and love to use fresh organic produce, herbs and spices to create a great one
Leela says
I like to use them in soups.
Daniel M says
I like making fresh salads
Carla Ball says
Love using the products in each meal that i make cause they are healthier and I know what i am eatting thank you
Daniel King says
This dip looks amazing! I feel like this would be as tasty on a burger as it is as a dip… oh the possibilities!
Karen Drake says
My favorite way to eat organic fruit is in smoothies, I like to have one for breakfast every day.
Christina Sparks says
I like to make fried mushrooms and put them on top of my steak.
Stephanie Galbraith says
I love to give them to my fiance, as he is an amazing cook and he’ll know exactly what to do with them.
Annette says
My favorite way to use organic produce is in salads. I love getting a variety of veggies and making something different, so it never gets boring.
Laurie Emerson says
I like making my own stir fry. I only use organic produce each time I make it including organic mushrooms, onions, chicken and vegetables. It taste so much better than using non-organic products.
eva says
That bacon onion dip looks and sounds amazing…would be perfect to take along for the next family gathering…they usually request two things from me…my deviled eggs and my chocolate covered pretzels. Now I am making this as well!
eva says
Using organic? In whatever I can…salads, soups…
Michelle D says
In all honesty, I use organic produce whenever I can! But I especially like using it in salads. You CAN taste the difference!
Brittney House says
I like to use organic products and produce in all the meals I cook.
Jackie says
This dip looks fabulous! I love Jimbos!
sara says
OMG. This looks AMAZING!!! Love it. 🙂
Jenny (VintageSugarcube) says
Oh my GAWD that dip looks scrumptious. I will have to wait until I have a party to make it though, as I can’t be trusted with that in the house. TGIF!