Caramelized Onions


Cooking onions very slowly brings out their natural sugars, and then those sugars caramelize. The caramelization process results in richly-flavored, slightly sweet, mellow onions that are delicious in many different dishes. 

Caramelized onions are not difficult to make, but they do take a little while- anywhere from about 45 minutes to an hour. They are worth the wait. 


My favorite way to enjoy caramelized onions is piled on top of a grilled-outside-on-the-grill  hamburger or tucked inside a melty quesadilla. My husband likes his caramelized onions with a steak or on a baked potato. They're also great in soups, sandwiches and wraps, and on pizzas or hotdogs. 


Caramelized Onions
Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:

2 lbs. onions (about 4 medium-large)
4 tablespoons butter or olive oil

Instructions:

Slice off both ends of the onions, then peel the onions. Cut them in half from top to bottom. Place the onions cut side down and slice into half-rings, no thicker than about 1/4". Separate all the half-rings into individual pieces.


Over medium heat, melt butter in a large skillet. Watch it closely so that the butter doesn't burn. Add the onions and stir to coat. Add a pinch of salt unless you used salted butter. A pinch of sugar will help the caramelization process, but is optional.


Over low heat, and stirring frequently, continue to cook the onions until they are a rich, dark, golden-brown color.

After 5 minutes

After 25 minutes


After 45 minutes


One hour


Caramelized Onions may have been taken to some of these fun parties! 




31 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you, JoAnn, and thanks for coming by! :)

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  2. Each picture looks better than the other, doesn't it? I'm visiting today from Let's Get Social Sunday. :)

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  3. Oh! I love these with a burger! Going to make some this week. (:

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    1. Hope you enjoy them! Thanks for coming by! :)

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  4. I have a secret love affair with caramelized onions. Shhh..... don't tell my husband, lol. Thank you for sharing with Simple Supper Tuesday!

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    1. (Your secret is safe with me!!) Thanks for your visit! :)

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  5. I am visitng through Simple Supper Tuesday linky party. I have never made carmelized onions and your picture is so beautiful I decided I would give it a try!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed them! :)

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  6. Definitely one of the best add-ons to just about any savory dish! Your recipe is so simple and uncomplicated - love it :-) Thank you for sharing at our ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS party, Joy!

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    1. Linda, thank you so much, and thanks for coming by!! :)

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  7. Yummy! Seriously, I could eat caramelized onions by themselves!

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    1. Jamie, I could, too! ;) Thank you for visiting!

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  8. I love caramelized onions! You're inspiring me to make a big batch and save them for future uses (to save time). Have you tried freezing them?

    I just found your blog for the first time. You might enjoy this family-food story: my family's hazing vegetable.

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    1. Becca, I look forward to reading your food-family story!

      I have not tried freezing them....they are always gone too fast. I can’t think of why they wouldn’t freeze well, though, can you? *Might* affect the texture somewhat? If I try it, I’ll let you know, and if you try it, please let me know!

      Thank you for coming by- so nice meeting you!

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  9. Caramelized onions are my absolute favorite!! I used to work in a restaurant where we would caramelize the onions on our fajita plate. It made me drool every time.

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  10. Oooh, doesn't that sound GOOD? Thanks for stopping by, Rachel! :)

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  11. These look so good! It is finally starting to be grill-worthy weather here in PA, and these would go perfectly on top of a burger. :-) Thanks so much for linking up with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday." I hope you will be able to join us again this week.

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  12. Love caramelized onions. Pinned it for my followers to enjoy.
    Thanks so much for linking up at: Swap N Share Sundays.
    Dawn

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  13. Caramelized onions are wonderful in so many dishes, and your tutorial is fantastic. I totally agree, the longer you caramelise them, the better :)

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  14. Thank you so much, Nantawan! I am following you back!

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  15. So simple and so delicious!
    Thanks for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary, and thanks for a great party! :)

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  16. Thank you so much for linking up with me on Tasty Tuesday! Be sure to come back tomorrow to check to see which posts will be featured and to link up again! I'm also looking for people to co-host my link party with me so we can really make it grow! If you're interested, please let me know! :)

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  17. Joy, they look just great. It would be super if you linked it to Food on Friday: Onions. The showcases from this Food on Friday have not yet been selected. This link will take you to my home page where you will find a sidebar with links to all the different Food on Fridays. So that I know you have linked and can be sure to pin to the board I have for each one, please do leave a short comment. Cheers

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    1. Thank you, Carole, and thanks for the invitation! I will be there! :)

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    2. Joy, thanks for stopping by and adding to the themed collections. Thanks for the follow too. I have followed you right on back. Cheers

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  18. Mmmmm I love caramelized onions on homemade pizza. *Drool* found you over on Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen linky party.

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    1. Hi, Rebecca! Thanks so much for coming over from Bobbi's!! It's great to meet you, and I am now following you! :)

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  19. Your caramelized onions look so good. For some reason, I am never patient enough when I make them. I always end up turn the heat up. And they are never as good as they could be. Thanks for sharing at Saturday Dishes.

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