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How to Make Caramelized Onions

Buttery Caramelized Onions will add mouthwatering flavor to your favorite recipes. Cooked until rich and browned, caramelizing pulls all of the rich flavor and sweetness from red, yellow and white onions.

Caramelized Onions - cooked until richly browned, it's a simple way to pull all the rich flavor from a humble ingredient

I think that a lot of cooks would agree that onions are the best flavor enhancing ingredient that we have for so many dishes.. From light and crispy onion straws to the onions that virtually disappear in soups, they have a way of making food just taste better. And Caramelized Onions are no exception. The caramelizing process leaves the onions tender and sweet, with some crisp edges here and there with an aroma that will make your mouth water. Pile them high on sandwiches, steaks or serve as a side dish. Either way, they are incredibly delicious.

Making Caramelized Onions is easy, but they do take a little bit of time. For red onions like these, I allow about 30 minutes of cooking time.. If you are using yellow or white onions, allow an extra 10 minutes for the onions to fully brown. The caramelizing onions need to be stirred every 3-5 minutes  so plan on staying in the kitchen for the full cooking time. I don’t know about you, but I can always use some extra time to take care of little things around the kitchen that I never seem to get to, like cleaning out the coffee maker or clearing a junk drawer.

slicing red onion into rings

Ingredients Needed To Make Caramelized Onions

  • Onions
  • Butter
  • Cooking Sherry or Broth
sliced red onions in skillet

How to make Caramelized Onions

  1. Slice the onions into 1/4 inch thick rings. 
  2. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a skillet on the stove.
  3. Add the onions, separating into rings. Stir to coat every ring with butter.
  4. The onions will start to reduce in volume right away and will be about a 1/4 of the original volume when they are done.
  5. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring every 3-5 minutes until they are tender and starting to brown. Add the liquid to de-glaze the pan, using a spatula to scrape all of the crispy bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. When the onions are browned, they are done. Remove the onions from the skillet so they stop cooking.
Caramelized Onions - cooked until richly browned, it's a simple way to pull all the rich flavor from a humble ingredient
Caramelized Onions - cooked until richly browned, it's a simple way to pull all the rich flavor from a humble ingredient

How to Make Caramelized Onions

Buttery and tender with a hint of sweetness, Caramelized Onions add mouthwatering flavor to your favorite recipes. Cooked until they are richly browned, it is a fantastic way to pull all of the rich flavor out of a simple ingredient.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time :10 minutes
Cook Time :30 minutes
Total Time :40 minutes
Servings :6
Calories :87
Course :Condiment, Side Dish

Ingredients

  • 3 large onions red, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp sherry or broth or wine (to de-glaze)

Instructions 

  • Slice the onions into 1/4 inch thick rings, separate each ring.
  • Over medium heat, melt the butter in a skillet on the stove.
  • Add the onions, separating into rings. Stir to coat with butter.
  • Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring every 3-5 minutes until they are tender and starting to brown. Add the liquid to de-glaze the pan, using a spatula to scrape all of the crispy bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • When onions are browned, they are done. Remove the onions from the skillet to stop cooking.

Chef Tips

If using yellow or white onions, increase the cooking time to 40 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts
How to Make Caramelized Onions
Serving Size
 
0.25 cup
Amount per Serving
Calories
87
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
6
g
9
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
15
mg
5
%
Sodium
 
4
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
110
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
7
g
2
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
 
177
IU
4
%
Vitamin C
 
6
mg
7
%
Calcium
 
19
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

© Copyright Christine Mello for Must Love Home. We would love for you to share a link to this recipe but please do not copy/paste the recipe instructions to websites or social media. We are happy for you to share a photo with a link back to this website instead.

Caramelized Onions - cooked until richly browned, it's a simple way to pull all the rich flavor from a humble ingredient.

Updated 10/13/2019

 

I’m Christine, a self-appointed foodie and almost empty-nester who is addicted to creating quick and tasty recipes that anyone can make. My goal is to give you the confidence and know-how to cook from scratch with easy, budget-friendly recipes. Welcome to my kitchen! Learn more…

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