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    Home » Harvesting

    How to Make Caramelized Onions

    Published: Mar 31, 2021 · Modified: May 28, 2021 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    A 15 minute recipe with superb caramelized flavor, this will be one of your favorite condiment recipes ever!
    Overhead view of golden caramelized onions in a shallow cream colored bowl with gold trim around the edge and center of the bowl.

    Caramelized Onions are slow cooked onions cooked down until they turn a golden saucy brown color. They develop a sweet flavor once cooked down and browned and the process is a great way to bring out the best flavor in an onion.

    Caramelized Onions are a delicious condiment recipe to enjoy on burgers, sandwiches, as a side to your favorite protein or on top of a grilled steak. I love to have them on hand in the fridge and a quick warm up in the microwave and they are ready for your enjoyment!

    A cream colored bowl with a gold ring around the edge and center with golden brown caramelized onions in it.

    What You Need To Make Caramelized Onions

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links.

    Onions, yellow onions or a sweet onion like the vidalia are the best onions to use when making caramelized onions.

    I like to use a combination of butter and olive oil. The butter adds flavor, but the olive oil prevents the butter from burning.

    Water, I keep a small measuring cup of water next to the skillet when cooking. This is to help deglaze the pan when the onions begin to dry out. 

    Brown Sugar adds a depth of flavor and sweetness to the caramelized onions.

    Large skillet, do not use non-stick. A skillet like this one is best. 

    A staniless steel skillet with white onion slices that are beginning to cook down.

    Tips for Making Caramelized Onions and Substitution Suggestions

    • To cut the onion, cut from the top down to the root. Cut the root out by making a v in the root section. Then slice on the long side of the onion.
    • When adding onions to the skillet, add only a handful at a time, stirring and allowing a little bit of time between adding more onions. This will prevent overcrowding.
    • Use water to help speed the process up, the water will not only deglaze the pan, but it will cause steam that helps cook the onions quicker.
    • Eliminate the brown sugar if you want to make these keto and low carb. Or, substitute golden monkfruit for the brown sugar.
    • Substitute olive oil for the butter for a vegan recipe.
    • Elminate all fat for a fat free recipe. Just be sure to cook the onions very low and slow and use a little bit of water to help them along.
    Onion slices that have begun to caramelize in the stainless steel skillet.

    Other Condiment Recipes To Enjoy

    Cranberry Chipotle Sauce

    Easy Pickled Red Onions

    Homemade Taco Sauce

    Italian Vinaigrette

    Pushcart Onions

    Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

    Salted Maple Butter

    Tahini Dressing

    Thousand Island Salad Dressing

    Tomato Chutney

    Overhead view of golden caramelized onions in a shallow cream colored bowl with gold trim around the edge and center of the bowl.

    *If you made this caramelized onions recipe, please give it a star rating*

    Overhead view of golden caramelized onions in a shallow cream colored bowl with gold trim around the edge and center of the bowl.

    How to make caramelized onions

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    A 15 minute recipe with superb caramelized flavor, this will be one of your favorite condiment recipes ever!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Course Plant Based Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 98 kcal

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 large onions sliced
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted.
      butter and oil heating in a stainless steel skillet.
    • Gradually add the onion slices one handful at a time, stirring after each addition.
      Onions in a skillet being stirred with a wooden spoon.
    • Cook the onions over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until golden in color. Add a splash of water if the onions start to cook off the liquid they release to keep them from burning.
      caramelized onions starting to turn golden brown in a skillet.
    • Stir in the brown sugar and cook for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat and cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
      sprinkling brown sugar over top of the golden onions.

    Video

    Notes

    Tips and Substitutions

    • To cut the onion, cut from the top down to the root. Cut the root out by making a v in the root section. Then slice on the long side of the onion.
    • When adding onions to the skillet, add only a handful at a time, stirring and allowing a little bit of time between adding more onions. This will prevent overcrowding.
    • Use water to help speed the process up, the water will not only deglaze the pan, but it will cause steam that helps cook the onions quicker.
    • Eliminate the brown sugar if you want to make these keto and low carb. Or, substitute golden monkfruit for the brown sugar.
    • Substitute olive oil for the butter for a vegan recipe.
    • Eliminate all fat for a fat free recipe. Just be sure to cook the onions very low and slow and use a little bit of water to help them along.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 295mgPotassium: 116mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Caramelized Onions, How to make caramelized onions
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    « Tomato Chutney Recipe - Sweet & Spicy
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    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Honeybunch Hunts is a website dedicated to sharing canning and dehydrating recipes, wild game recipes, fish, seafood, plant based recipes, and some DIY scattered in between. Written by Shelby Law Ruttan, is also author and owner of Grumpy’s Honeybunch, and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. Shelby has also authored two cookbooks, The One Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook.

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    Welcome! I'm Shelby, author of Honeybunch Hunts. I grew up with self sustaining parents and enjoyed the fruits of their harvest. This website is dedicated to recipes to preserve that harvest, and how to be self sustainable along....

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