Wednesday, February 4, 2026

The way to Caramelize Onions (Simple Recipe!)


Discover ways to caramelize onions in just some minutes, with little or no effort! They’re the right addition to dips, burgers, tacos and extra!

Caramelized onions are straightforward to make with simply two components, and these onions are an excellent addition to so many recipes!

up close shot of caramelized onions

It looks as if such a easy factor, proper? Nicely, I’m usually requested learn how to caramelize onions and it’s a type of issues I simply do, with out occupied with.

Type of like how my grandma baked – a little of this, a pinch of that. I noticed when making an attempt to elucidate to my sister that I ought to share learn how to caramelize onions in somewhat extra element.

These onions are tremendous easy to make and the ultimate outcomes are barely candy onions which have retained their juices. I discover the perfect recipes that you simply use time and time once more are sometimes the best, and this one specifically makes an look on a weekly foundation in our home!

One of the best half? You simply want two fundamental components to make these melt-in-your-mouth onions!

A silver saute pan on a marble surface, filled with caramelized onionsA silver saute pan on a marble surface, filled with caramelized onions

Why You’ll Love These Onions

  • Really easy
  • Pantry components
  • Good topping for thus many recipes
  • Hold effectively in fridge or freezer

Substances for Caramelized Onions

  • Onions – One of the best onions for caramelizing are your favourite type! White, yellow, or pink onions all work fantastically on this recipe. Shallots additionally caramelize effectively. Study learn how to lower an onion right here!
  • Oil – Vegetable oil, olive oil or butter
A marble surface topped with two whole yellow onions and two tabs of butter.A marble surface topped with two whole yellow onions and two tabs of butter.

The way to Caramelize Onions

  1. Slice Onions – I usually use two uncooked onions as a result of one isn’t sufficient. It might look like loads when they’re uncooked, however as soon as they caramelize, they cut back considerably in dimension. 
  2. Sauté – Place them in your pan over medium warmth. I incessantly use my forged iron skillet, however any will do. Enable the butter to soften or the oil to warmth, then add the onoins and toss utilizing my secret weapon – tongs. Enable to simmer for 10 minutes. up close shot of caramelized onions, tongs pulling up a few.up close shot of caramelized onions, tongs pulling up a few.
  3. Caramelize – Stirring sometimes, caramelize for one more 10 minutes and as much as half an hour longer. Relying on how caramelized you’d like them to be, you possibly can prepare dinner them on low for as much as one hour in whole.
up close shot of caramelized onions, tongs pulling up a few.up close shot of caramelized onions, tongs pulling up a few.

Variations

Brown Sugar – Add in a tablespoon of brown sugar.

Balsamic Vinegar – Deglazing with balsamic helps launch any of these yummy browned bits from the underside of the pan..

Cayenne – Add a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne to spice it up.

Oil – As a substitute of butter, caramelize your onions in any sort of oil.

Serving Solutions

There’s not often every week once I don’t have a giant batch of onions cooking to make one thing fabulous! These onions are usually not only for French Onion Soup or Onion Dip, they honestly add a tremendous taste to enliven any meal!

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

Cooked onions in a glass jarCooked onions in a glass jar

Regularly Requested Questions

Do caramelized onions have sugar?

Onions are candy by nature earlier than cooking, and caramelizing is the method of drawing these sugars within the onions out slowly as they prepare dinner.


What’s the distinction between caramelized onions and sauteed onions?

Browning is a a lot faster cooking course of, and whereas it really works to melt the onions, it doesn’t deliver out the identical candy caramelized taste. Caramelizing takes wherever from 20 minutes to an hour, relying on how low and gradual you prepare dinner your onions.


Why are my onions not caramelizing?

Don’t pack too many within the pan! This creates an excessive amount of steam and gained’t permit them to interrupt down and brown, which brings the caramelized sugars to the floor.


What’s one of the simplest ways to slice onions for caramelizing?

I prefer to slice my onions into 1/4-inch skinny slices. They don’t have to be good however try to hold them comparatively uniform, in order that they prepare dinner evenly.


Why are my onions burning as an alternative of caramelizing?

Burning of the onions usually happens when the warmth is simply too excessive. Cooking them low and gradual permits sufficient time for the onions to launch their pure sugars, leading to that stunning colour and scrumptious taste. 


Can I exploit bacon fats as an alternative of butter?

Completely! Utilizing leftover bacon grease will add one other layer of taste.

up close shot of caramelized onionsup close shot of caramelized onions

Dietary Concerns

Caramelized onions are naturally gluten, dairy, and nut-free. You can also make them vegan by substituting the butter with plant-based cooking oils like olive, avocado, sunflower, canola, sesame, or flaxseed oil. 

Extra Cooking Guides

  • Slice onions and put them in a pan over medium warmth.

  • Drizzle with vegetable oil, then toss to coat. Cowl the onions with a lid and prepare dinner for 10 minutes.

  • Stir the onions, substitute the lid and allow them to proceed to caramelize for one more 10 minutes.

  • Stir and proceed cooking for one more 5 minutes, when golden brown and gentle.

Suggestions

  • Oil – Don’t use greater than 2 tablespoons of oil or butter, or the sautéed onions can grow to be too greasy. You should definitely put a lid on the sauté pan – this hurries up the cooking and helps the onions retain their moisture.
  • Make them Vegan – To make the onions vegan, use a plant-based oil or butter.
  • Relying on how caramelized you’d like them to be, you possibly can prepare dinner your onions on low warmth for as much as one hour in whole.

To Retailer

  • Refrigerate – As soon as the onions are cooked, allow them to cool to room temperature and place them in an hermetic container within the fridge and they’re going to hold as much as 7 days. You’ll be able to then use them as is in recipes, or you possibly can reheat them gently on the stovetop to serve.
  • Freeze – Retailer in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as 3 months. Double wrap to keep away from onion odor seeping into different frozen items. If you’d like only a single serving of the onions, freeze them in ice dice trays and simply come out a dice as wanted.

Energy: 31kcal | Fats: 4g | Saturated Fats: 1g

Estimated diet info is offered as a courtesy and isn’t assured.


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