How To Make Caramelized Onions

Caramelized onions are absolutely amazing and so easy to make yourself at home! The caramelization process of slowly cooking sweet onions over medium heat helps draw out the natural sugars and sweet flavor of the onions so they are super mild and absolutely delicious. Pile your caramelized onions on top of burgers, sandwiches, steaks, chicken, pork chops, salads and more or stir them into soups, casseroles, dips, and other dishes for incredible flavor. The possibilities are pretty endless. Caramelized onions get their name from the coloration and sweetness that happens during the cooking process. Cooking a raw onion until it is tender and caramelized not only changes the color but also cooks the natural sugars in the onion to give it a much sweeter flavor. While you may not want to bite into a raw onion like an apple, you may find that once caramelized, you can’t get enough of them. They’re so good that you will want to make a big batch and store any extras in the fridge or freezer to have on hand!

What You’ll Need

Onions – You can really use any type of onion for this caramelized onion recipe, but white onions, vidalia onions, and yellow onions are our favorites. Red onions lose their color, so we tend to avoid those.Butter – A little salted butter adds a rich flavor that balances out the sweetness off the onions.Olive oil – This helps increase the smoke point of the butter and prevents the onions from sticking to the pan. Avocado oil is another good choice.

How to Caramelize Onions

Tips for Success

It takes a little time to make the best caramelized onions, but it’s worth it for the flavor they add to any dish.Keep in mind that the onions will cook down A LOT, so while the amount of onions might fill your skillet at first, you will end up with a much more reasonable looking amount of caramelized onions at the end of the whole process.If you want to tweak the flavor profile slightly, try adding a tablespoon of brown sugar or 1-2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar to sweeten the onions even more.

Storage Instructions

Caramelized onions can be kept in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for a few hours, but any longer than that and I would recommend refrigerating them for best results. They will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Can I Freeze Caramelized Onions?

Absolutely! Caramelized onions freeze very well making them perfect for adding to a quick meal to get a deep and rich flavor without all of the added work. I recommend freezing them in different portion sizes like a muffin tin, ice cube trays, or small freezer bags so that it’s easier to grab the amount that you want when you want to use it.

More Onion Filled Recipes You’ll Love

Soy Glazed Mushroom Swiss BurgersAll American Hamburger with Crispy Onion Strings and Burger SauceOne Pot Irish Potato Sausage Onion StewOne Pan Roasted Peppers Onions and SausagesInstant Pot French Onion Soup