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5 from 2 votes
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Total Time: 1 hour hour
Published: January 10, 2024Updated: February 15, 2024
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Learn how to make the perfect golden brown onions in this Caramelized Onions Recipe! Whether you use them as a topping on burgers and soups, or as a filling in quiche, these caramelized onions will bring a delicious balance of sweet and umami flavors to the plate!
These caramelized onions go great with Caramelized Onion and Bacon Flatbread, French Onion Chicken, French Onion Potatoes, and French Onion Grilled Cheese.
Why This Recipe Works
Versatile: Talk about the most versatile culinary creation ever! This caramelized onions recipe will teach out how to caramelize onions the easy way so that you can enjoy them in all of your favorite meals. The possibilities are endless… Turn them into a dip or soup, use them to top off sandwiches and burgers, throw them onto pizza into pasta, or mix them into some savory potatoes and eggs!
Easy to Make: Caramelized onions are actually super simple to make at home! They do take time, but they don’t take that much effort. This best caramelized onions recipe will teach you exactly how to efficiently caramelize onions in under an hour!
Ingredients
- Onions: Onions are the star of the show in this caramelized onions recipe! You can use brown or white onions and slice them into thin slices.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is best here. You need half a stick or four tablespoons.
- Salt: Salt is added to help break down the onions!
- Optional: For an herby addition, add some sprigs of fresh type! If you want sweeter and darker caramelized onions, add a bit of brown sugar or balsamic vinegar. Don’t add both, just choose between those two options! If using balsamic vinegar, make sure it is a thick, high quality vinegar.
Here’s How to Make It
Step by Step Instructions
- Preheat: Heat a large, non-stick frying pan, shallow casserole or skillet over medium high heat. Add the butter and allow to melt until frothy.
- Add Onions: Add the onions, salt (and fresh thyme, if using) and once they are sizzling turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until they’re soft, but don’t worry if they don’t have any color yet.
- Stir & Continue Cooking: Turn the heat up to medium high and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, stirring often until the onions are light golden and soft. If you’re adding the brown sugar OR balsamic vinegar (don’t add both), add them at the start of this stage.
Expert Tips
- Don’t add salted butter! Don’t be tempted to use salted butter and skip the salt. Adding the salt separately is important for breaking down the onions.
- If you choose to add balsamic vinegar to the onions to make them sweeter and deepen their color, choose a good quality, thick balsamic vinegar! A cheap one that is thin like other wine vinegars will make the onions too acidic.
- Use a heavy bottomed skillet for best results! If you have access to a cast iron skillet or other heavy bottomed skillet, the process will go a little quicker since these pans retain heat consistently!
Serving Suggestions
This easy caramelized onions recipe is designed to be super versatile. They can be served in so many different ways! Here are some of my favorite ways to use them:
- Soup! Try making a rich and savory french onion soup.
- Burgers! Use caramelized onions as a topping on all your favorite burgers.
- Chicken! For a full meal, make my french onion chicken!
- Dip! You can make a homemade french onion dip with these easy caramelized onions.
- In Potatoes! French onion potatoes might become your new favorite way to make potatoes! Or make it a casserole-style dish with french onion scalloped potatoes!
- Sandwich! Try putting these onions on sandwiches or in a french onion grilled cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I store leftover caramelized onions?
To store any leftover caramelized onions, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months! For convenience, store them in ice cube trays or in separate individual baggies so you can use individual portions at a time without thawing all of the onions!
More Recipes to Try
- Oven Baked Onion Rings
- French Dip Sandwiches
- Homemade Blooming Onion
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Chimichurri Recipe
Did you make this recipe? FANTASTIC. Please rate the recipe below and be sure to tag me on social when you share a photo on social – I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
Caramelized Onions Recipe
Learn how to make the perfect golden brown onions in this Caramelized Onions Recipe! Whether you use them as a topping on burgers and soups, or as a filling in quiche, these caramelized onions will bring a delicious balance of sweet and umami flavors to the plate!
5 from 2 votes
PrintPinRate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1 lb brown or white onions - sliced
- ½ stick unsalted butter - 4 tablespoons
- salt - to taste
Optional Add-ins
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- ½ tsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp balsamic vinegar
Instructions
Heat a large, non-stick frying pan, shallow casserole or skillet over a medium high heat. Add the butter and allow to melt until frothy.
Add the onions, sprinkle with the salt, (and the fresh thyme, if using) and once they are sizzling turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until they’re soft, but don’t worry if they don’t have any color yet.
Turn the heat up to medium high and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, stirring often until the onions are a light golden and soft. If you’re adding the brown sugar OR balsamic vinegar (don’t add both) add them at the start of this stage.
Notes
- Don’t be tempted to use salted butter and skip the salt: adding the salt separately is important for breaking down the onions.
- If you add balsamic vinegar to the onions to make them sweeter and the deepen their color, choose a good quality thick balsamic vinegar as a cheaper one that is thin like other wine vinegars will make the onions too acidic.
- These onions will keep in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Nutrition
Calories: 590 kcal, Carbohydrates: 43 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 47 g, Saturated Fat: 29 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12 g, Trans Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 122 mg, Sodium: 25 mg, Potassium: 677 mg, Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 19 g, Vitamin A: 1429 IU, Vitamin C: 34 mg, Calcium: 118 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Course: Sauce / Condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Tiffany
Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @cremedelacrumb1 on Instagram and hashtag it #cremedelacrumb!
