Why Heluva Good! French Onion Dip Is The Absolute Best

If you're a dip connoisseur, like us, you already know that French onion dip is kind of an underdog. This is a dip that is creamy, salty, and totally snackable, but it somehow flies under the radar way too often — and we think it deserves more praise. But when it comes to buying this gorgeous dip from the store, not all tubs are created equal. At Chowhound, we tasted and ranked seven French onion dips so you don't have to (you're welcome), and there was one that stood tall above the rest: a French onion dip by Heluva Good! As the name would suggest, it really is a "heluva good" snack.

While the texture is a little thin, it is still entirely dip-able with some good quality chips, but it's flavor is where it really shines. This dip has a rich onion flavor that is both savory and sweet, much like the soup it's inspired by — so if you love a heavenly French onion soup, you'll love the French onion dip. And what really makes Heluva Good! stand out is the actual onion element of it; the chunks are visible and there's plenty of them, but they are chopped enough to mix in with the creamy base. It has texture without being a full on assault of onion pieces, giving it that almost homemade effect.

After sampling the full lineup of store-bought French onion dips, some clear patterns emerged. Some, like Great Value's version, were too loose and soupy with a faintly artificial taste, whilst others, like Dean's, were overly salty. Heluva Good! avoided these pitfalls, however, and even though it was a little thinner than some of the others, it managed to still feel indulgent whilst hitting that perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory. It basically allows you to enjoy the best flavors of caramalized onions without actually having to do the work of caramelizing them, and we love that.

It also scored high on its versatility, because you can eat it with chips but it works well with crudités too. We think it would also be incredible dolloped on a basic baked potato for a quick upgrade. or spread onto a sandwich to give your lunch time go-to a little umami touch. Because unlike some of its thicker competitors, this one doesn't work against whatever you pair it with, it only complements. And that is all you can ask from a dip, really. It turns out quality and good value can co-exist, as Heluva Good! proves with this creation — a dip that doesn't just live up to its name, it earns it.