If I'm Throwing a Party, I Go to Trader Joe's Just for This Dip

Whether I’m having a party, inviting friends over for a cheeseboard night, or simply hosting a dinner, I always head to Trader Joe’s for my grocery shopping—more specifically, for their dip section. Their dip selection, as you probably already know, is one of the best, and although they have several to choose from, I always find myself reaching for their Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip. 

If you haven’t tried it, let me put it simply. It’s creamy and salty with just a touch of sweetness, and with each bite (or should I say dip), you get small bits of caramelized onions. Although dairy-free options aren’t always at the top of my list, in this case, it’s just an added bonus. I like to have a few plant-based options at my parties to ensure all my guests have something to snack on!

To make this onion dip, Trader Joe’s slowly caramelizes onions with balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, then combines that with a plant-based cream cheese base. Now...could you easily make a homemade caramelized onion dip yourself? Sure. But why would you spend your afternoon waiting for onions to brown when you can have a dip this good in only minutes?

How to Serve Caramelized Onion Dip

When it comes to serving this onion dip, I have endless ideas and tips. Since I’m a huge white-carb and bread lover, my first choice is always to slice up a baguette, lightly toast it until golden brown, then dollop a little of this dip on top. If you’re feeling extra fancy and you’re hoping to serve the crostini as an appetizer (not just as a snack), you could place thinly sliced steak over top and garnish with fresh chives.

Alternatively, you could transfer the dip to a bowl, then arrange a variety of vegetables like carrots, snap peas, cucumbers, sliced radishes, and celery around it. If I’m serving it with veggies, I like to add a few pretzels or pita chips to the side as well.

And of course, because onion dip and potato chips are a true classic, my all-time favorite way to serve this is with a big bowl of chips. Is it the fanciest appetizer? Maybe not, but I’ve never heard a complaint. Plus, you could always up the ante by garnishing the dip with fresh herbs such as chives or parsley, and purchasing the slightly fancier chips (I love salt and freshly ground black pepper chips).