• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
Fox Valley Foodie
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About the Fox Valley Foodie
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » How To

    How to Caramelize Onions

    Published: Mar 30, 2016 · Modified: Dec 2, 2020 by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Facebook28
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    How to Make Caramelized Onions RecipeLearning how to caramelize onions should be on every home cook’s bucket list. Caramelized onions are not simply another name for sautéed onions, but rather an intensely flavorful ascension from the simple onion which gave it birth. Caramelized onions are the butterfly to the sautéed onion’s caterpillar, with slow and patient cooking being the cocoon… Look at me being all poetic with my imagery and whatnot.

    Caramelizing onions is a venture that requires minimal ingredients other than some butter and patience, but in undertaking this journey the cook is rewarded with sweet and tender onion slices coated in a delectably sticky glaze. The sugars gently coaxed out of the onion during the slow cooking process form the catalyst for the tantalizingly tasty transformation.

    How to Caramelize Onions - Recommended Equipment

    First of all, a stainless steel straight sided sauté pan is built for exactly such an application. The straight sides allow for more surface area on the bottom of the pan, making room for more onions to brown at a time. Plus, the tall sides allow for a greater volume, easily handling 3-4 large onions per session. Stainless steel is recommended because it is well suited to build up fond on the bottom of the pan as the onions brown. This is where the flavor is! This is the set I use and love.

    Additionally a flat edged metal spatula is perfect for scraping up the fabulous fond accumulating in the pan. The more fond you can get off the pan, the more flavor your caramelized onions will have!

    The above links are affiliate links. Any Amazon purchases made through these links help support FoxValleyFoodie.com without any additional cost to you.

    How to Make Caramelized Onions

    How to Make Caramelized Onions

    How to Caramelize Onions

    Learning how to caramelize onions should be on every home cook’s bucket list. Caramelized onions are an intensely flavorful ascension from the simple onion which gave it birth.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved
    Course: Side
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 1 ½ cups
    Calories: 380kcal
    Author: Fox Valley Foodie

    Ingredients

    • 3 large onions
    • 2 tablespoon butter or oil
    • ¼ cup water wine, or balsamic vinegar

    Instructions

    • Cut off ends of onion, cut in half from root to tip, and proceed to slice from root to tip in ¼" cuts.
    • Melt butter and/or oil in saute pan on medium heat.
    • Add onion and toss to coat completely in butter.
    • Let saute for thirty minutes, stirring occasionally. Don't stir too often or the onions won't brown quickly. Stir when they are starting to brown, but not burning. Be sure to scrap fond off the bottom of the pan as well when stirring to incorporate it into the onions.
    • Once onions begin to turn brown you may need to drop the heat to low to prevent burning and ensure even caramelization.
    • When the onions are caramelized to your liking, deglaze the fond with water (or wine or balsamic vinegar for more flavor) and stir into the onions.
    • Let liquid evaporate and remove the caramelized onions from the pan.

    Notes

    Using only butter works, but can cause the onions to burn more easily. I typically add half butter and half oil.

    Nutritional Information

    Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 482mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @FoxValleyFoodie or tag #foxvalleyfoodie!

    If you enjoyed my How to Caramelize Onions recipe then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still use my recipe it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today.

    how-to-caramelized-onions

    Get My FREE eCookbook

    mailer

    Subscribe to FoxValleyFoodie.com and get each tantalizing new post sent directly to your inbox, along with my complementary eCookbook just for signing up!

    « Cheesecake Ice Cream Bites
    Baked Caramelized Onion Dip with Gruyere Cheese »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Debbie

      September 14, 2020 at 3:29 pm

      How much chez do you put in ?

      Reply
    2. Jackie Peck

      February 01, 2019 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for a wine and snack get together after horseback riding. Everyone thought it was amazing and fit the venue quite well. Using it for a repeat at our unsuperbowl party this weekend. I love that you gave instruction for carmelizing onions, i have been doing it wrong for a long time. What a difference.

      Reply
    3. Bill

      December 20, 2018 at 10:59 pm

      5 stars
      I won't make a grilled cheese sandwich without carmelized onions anymore....

      Reply
    4. Ellen

      September 24, 2016 at 9:39 pm

      Do you think using Swiss cheese would work? I couldn't find gruyre at the store tonight 🙁

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        September 24, 2016 at 9:42 pm

        I am assuming you are referencing my "Baked Caramelized Onion Dip with Gruyere Cheese" recipe, in which case, yes Swiss would be a fantastic substitution! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Phelan Amanda

      April 25, 2016 at 2:04 am

      5 stars
      The picture makes my mouth water! I can’t wait to make these — I’m going to do them this weekend!!! I also just discovered your site and the pictures are great.

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        April 25, 2016 at 8:12 am

        Thanks so much! You will love them!

        Reply
    6. Zerina

      March 31, 2016 at 12:55 am

      4 stars
      Loved the caramelized onions , i like the way you have put in . Nice work --Zeri

      Reply
    7. Willow | Will Cook For Friends

      March 30, 2016 at 12:10 pm

      Mmm, one of my favorite things! More people should know how to caramelize onions -- they add so much flavor to whatever you're making!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Subscribe

    15834

    Get each tantalizing new recipe

    sent directly to your inbox.

    AND GET MY eCOOKBOOK FREE!

    Search for your favorite post!

    Popular Recipes

    Fried chicken gizzards recipe.

    Fried Chicken Gizzards

    Brown Sugar Meatloaf with Secret Ingredient

    Brown Sugar Meatloaf - With a Secret Ingredient

    Homemade mozzarella sticks with string cheese

    Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

    Venison Meatloaf Recipe

    Venison Meatloaf

    Close up Sloppy Joes

    Homemade Sloppy Joes - Better Than Manwich

    How to make paprika

    How to Make Paprika

    Big Mac Sauce Copycat Recipe

    McDonald's Big Mac Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs - Bone In

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs (Bone-In)

    As featured in yahoo, buzzfeed, oprah, msn and more!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Fox Valley Foodie, LLC

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme