Caramelized onions are a delicacy. They take some time to cook, but the buttery, flavorful, almost sweet result is very much worth it.
The way onions are transformed by cooking is miraculous. Even cooking them for just a few minutes takes much of their sharpness away. And when you patiently cook them in butter over low heat until they are caramelized, they become incredibly soft, buttery, and flavorful. You can use them to top a variety of dishes, and they keep well in the fridge for several days.
Ingredients
Here's a look at the ingredients needed to make this recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
- Onions: We will use two large onions. I like to use yellow onions, but other onion types will work, too.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted - I've used both, and they work equally well.
- Salt: I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt almost exclusively in my recipes.
Variations
- You can cook the onions in olive oil instead of butter. However, I have found that cooking them in butter helps them to caramelize, thanks to the milk solids that brown as they cook.
- Adding a splash of balsamic vinegar promotes browning. It's helpful in this caramelized shallots recipe. However, it's not mandatory, and I rarely use it.
- Although the onions are flavorful just as they are, you are welcome to season them. I sometimes add a pinch of garlic powder and smoked paprika. An advantage of the paprika is that it adds color in addition to a smoky flavor.
Instructions
Here's an overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. The detailed instructions are listed in the recipe card below.
Your first step is to peel the onions, rinse, and dry them. Cut them into slices and separate the slices into rings. When cutting the onions, you'll want to cut them in half through the root end, then position them with the root end facing you and slice them into ¼-inch slices.
Heat the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. You want the skillet to be deep because this makes it easier to stir the onions without them flying into your stove! Tilt the skillet to spread the butter. Once the butter starts foaming, add the onions in two or three batches, sprinkling salt on each batch and allowing it to slightly soften before adding the next batch.
Lower the heat to medium-low. Now starts the fun part: you'll cook the onions, stirring often, for about 45 minutes. If the pan becomes too hot and there are brown bits on the bottom, add a splash of water and use it to deglaze the pan. You can lower the heat to low if this keeps happening.
After about 45 minutes, you'll be rewarded with gorgeous, silky strands of well-browned onions. They will be very flavorful and completely lose their sharpness. In fact, they'll be almost sweet.
Recipe Tip
There's a difference between sauteing onions (browning them) and caramelizing them. In both cases, you cook the onions in fat - olive oil or butter. But when sauteing them, you can cook them for a shorter time (around 15 minutes) over medium heat.
When you caramelize them, you cook them for much longer, as long as 45 minutes, over medium-low or even low heat. The results are quite different, as you can see in the image below.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. I typically use yellow onions, but all onion varieties can be successfully caramelized. You can use yellow, red, or white onions. White onions are sharper but still have enough natural sugars to become caramelized. You can definitely use sweet onions such as Vidalia, which are relatively high in natural sugars.
I recommend using butter. Although oil works, the milk solids in butter help with the browning process, similar to the role they play when blackening food.
There's no need to add sugar. Onions contain natural sugars that promote the browning process.
I leave the pan uncovered. Covering the pan will create steam. My goal is to brown the onions, not steam them.
Yes. You can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months. I like to freeze them in single-serve portions.
Serving Suggestions
Caramelized onions make the perfect topping for many dishes! Here are just a few ideas:
- Steak. Whether New York strip steak, ribeye steak, or picanha, these onions can enhance almost any type of steak you can think of. They are also delicious on top of lamb steak and cauliflower steak.
- Liver. I like to add them to chicken livers or beef liver.
- Hamburger. I use them as a topping for baked hamburgers, bison burgers, and turkey burgers.
- Sandwiches. They take grilled cheese sandwiches to the next level!
- Eggs. Add them to fluffy scrambled eggs and omelets like this egg white omelet. Want to be super indulgent? Top soft scrambled eggs with a dollop of sour cream and some of these onions. Mmm good!
- Vegetables. They greatly enhance mashed cauliflower, sauteed spinach, and roasted green beans. They're also great in this green bean casserole.
Recipe Card
Buttery Caramelized Onions
Video
Ingredients
- 2 large yellow onions
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt - or ½ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
Instructions
- Peel the onions, rinse, and dry them. Cut them in half through the root. Remove the root, position the onions with the root end facing you, and slice them into ¼-inch slices.
- Heat the butter over medium heat in a large, deep skillet. Tilt the skillet to spread the butter over the bottom.
- When the butter starts foaming, add the onions in two or three batches, sprinkling salt on each batch and allowing it to slightly soften before adding the next batch.
- Lower the heat to medium-low. Cook the onions, uncovered, stirring them often, until they are very soft and deeply browned. This should take about 45 minutes. If the pan becomes too hot and there are brown bits on its bottom, add a splash of water and use it to deglaze the pan. You can keep adding water as needed or lower the heat to low.
- Remove the onions to a plate. Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can make this recipe with red onions. In fact, all types of onions can be successfully caramelized - yellow, white, red, and also sweet onions such as Vidalia.
- Although oil works in this recipe, the milk solids in butter help with the browning process, similar to the role they play when blackening food.
- There's no need to add sugar. Onions contain natural sugars that promote the browning process.
- You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months. I like to freeze them in single-serve portions.
Nutrition per Serving
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Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.
