Unlike sauteed onions, caramelized onions are cooked slowly and for a longer time, allowing the natural sugars in the onion to caramelize. The result is much sweeter and more rich. And just like my healthy balsamic glaze recipe, they infuse instant flavor into just about any dinner recipe.
How To Cut Onions For Caramelizing
You can cut onions in two ways – slicing or dicing. I personally prefer my caramelized onions sliced, so that they make luxurious ribbons when complete, but diced onions will caramelize, too.
To Slice The Onion:
Peel the onion. Cut off the ends (both the root end and other end). Cut the onion in half. Place an onion half flat side down and slice to about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness, parallel to the cut ends. Repeat with the other half.
To Dice The Onion:
Start by following the same steps above, keeping the slices together when slicing. Turn the sliced onion 90 degrees and slice in the opposite direction.
How To Caramelize Onions
This section shows how to make caramelized onions, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. To do this, after cutting the onion in half, cut from the outside in toward the center. You can watch me do it in this video.
Storage Instructions
Store the onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Reheat them in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat, until they sizzle. There are a few reasons that your onions might not caramelize, often with a result of burning too quickly. So, how do you caramelize onions without burning them? Here are a few tips and mistakes to avoid:
Use butter if you can. This will give your caramelized onions maximum flavor, and the butter doesn’t burn since we aren’t using high heat. However, you could use olive oil instead. Use the right pan. Choose a large skillet with high sides, for optimal onion-to-pan contact. Ideal pans include hard anodized (like I used for the pictures), cast iron, or stainless steel. How long to caramelize onions will vary depending on your stove, pan size and material, and size and shape of the onions. Reduce heat if they start to brown too much before they caramelize. Don’t cut onions too thin or too thick. If your onions are too thin (or pieces too small), they run the risk of burning easily. If they are too thick, they will take a longer time to caramelize. Aim for slices 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Crowding the pan causes steaming, which delays caramelization by lowering the temperature. Stick to 2 large onions in a large pan for best results. Cook at the right temperature. High heat burns onions while low heat will take too long. Maintain medium heat, and decrease to medium-low if needed. Go slow for the best caramelized onions. Stir ocassionally, but not constantly. Stirring too frequently can prevent your onions from caramelizing, or at least delay the process. You only need to check on them and stir every 5 minutes or so. Hydrate and deglaze. Adding some broth keeps onions moist and releases flavorful browned bits (called fond) without overdoing it to prevent steaming. You can also replace some of the broth with balsamic vinegar if you like the flavor. Be patient. This is the most important part! Caramelized onions require time, at least 20 minutes, , usually longer. It will depend on the thickness of your onions, and the size and material of your pan. It can take up to an hour if you are making a lot.
Common Questions
Still have more questions? These answers can help:
How long to caramelize onions? Caramelize onions over medium-low to medium heat for approximately 20-35 minutes, or until they turn a rich, deep brown color. How to caramelize onions fast? Caramelizing onions requires patience for the richest flavor. However, if you want to speed up the process, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda per pound of raw onions (this raises the pH level, helping the Maillard reaction happen faster), or simply make a smaller batch (which will caramelize more quickly). What is the best onion to caramelize? Classic caramelized onions are typically made with yellow or white onions. However, you can certainly use red onion or Vidalia onion as well. Can you freeze caramelized onions? Absolutely, you can freeze caramelized onions! Store them in zip lock bags (or individual portions in ice cube trays) in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or in a bowl of water on the counter, before using in recipes.
Ways To Use Caramelized Onions
Now that you know how to caramelize onions perfectly, there are so many ways to use them! Here are some of my favorite ways:
Beef – Take your burgers to the next level, or add these sweet and savory onions on top of a juicy filet mignon for a fancy meal, a flank steak for a budget friendly meal, or any steak for that matter. Pork – I use them to make the onion gravy for my smothered pork chops, and they are also delicious with a pork tenderloin or on top of air fried brats. Chicken – These are the star of the show in my French onion chicken, but you could top just about any chicken recipe with caramelized onions. Breakfast – Stuff these sweet onions into a fluffy healthy omelette, or tuck them into a breakfast casserole or spinach quiche for a burst of flavor. Soups – I always use them in my low carb French onion soup, but tossing them into other soup recipes just amplifies the end result. Salads – Toss caramelized onions into a salmon salad, or sprinkle them over a grilled chicken salad or even cheeseburger salad for added sweetness. Sandwiches – You can’t go wrong topping any sandwich with these caramelized beauties. For healthier sandwich alternatives, I use white keto bread or almond flour bread. Appetizers – Made with just 6 ingredients, French onion dip is a party fave, but I like to add them to spinach dip for a burst of flavor from time to time. Pizza – I like to use them as a topping for my keto pizza crust, but you can even use them on cauliflower pizza crust or zucchini pizza crust. Noodles – Stir them into a heaping bowl of your favorite pasta, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash with marinara sauce.
Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. This entire caramelized onions recipe makes 1 1/2 cups.
