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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

How to Make Caramelized Onions

87kcal
5 from 1 vote
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Prep 10 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 40 minutes
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.
Servings 6
Course Condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine American

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)

Equipment

Instructions

  1. Slice the onions into 1/4 inch thick rings, separate each ring.
  2. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a skillet on the stove.
  3. Add the onions, separating into rings. Stir to coat with butter.
  4. 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.
  5. When onions are browned, they are done. Remove the onions from the skillet to stop cooking.

Nutrition

Serving0.25cupCalories87kcalCarbohydrates7gProtein1gFat6gSaturated Fat4gCholesterol15mgSodium4mgPotassium110mgFiber1gSugar3gVitamin A177IUVitamin C6mgCalcium19mgIron1mg

Notes

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

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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

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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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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)