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Kitchen Basics

How To Caramelize Onions at Home

Wondering how to caramelize onions? This is your post! With unfussy to follow, step-by-step instructions you can have dependable caramelized onions in about an hour. Here is a simple and straight forward “how to” on

  • Serves 1 cup
  • Prep 5 minutes
  • Cook 45 minutes
  • Total 50 minutes
Jump to the recipe
How To Caramelize Onions at Home

Here is a simple and straight forward “how to” on making caramelized onions! If you haven’t tried caramelized onions yet, well now is the time you should! They are great on top of pretty much anything; grilled hot dogs, burgers or steaks and inside soups, dips and sauces – the list goes on! The only thing you need, besides onions and butter, is time!

To start, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pan over medium-high heat.

While your pot is preheating, cut the top and the bottoms off of your sweet onions (or onions of your choice) and slice 1/4 of an inch thick. Keeping the onions uniformed in thickness for an even cook time.

Depending on the recipe you’re making will decide how many onions to use. Typically I use 2 pounds onions, because they shrink. However, my rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon of butter per large sweet onion.

Next, once the butter has melted, add in the onions to the pot with 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt and toss. It should start to sizzle. Toss the onions in the fat in the pan, cover and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, remove the lid and cook on medium-low heat for 40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

I actually set a timer and stir every 5 minutes.

After 20 minutes, you should noticed the onions start turning a deep golden color and smell insanely good!!

Finally after 40 to 45 minutes (total) the onions should be ultra tender and a deeply rich golden amber color.

For More How To’s Click Here!

What To Make With Caramelized Onions:

  • Herbed focaccia with Caramelized Onions
  • Caramelized Onion Dip
  • Bacon Jam
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage Stromboli
  • Irish Bangers and Mash with Caramelized Onion Gravy
  • Whole Wheat Rosemary Caramelized Onion Bread
  • French Onion Chowder
  • Guinness Dubliner Dip
  • French Onion Soup
  • French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese
Enjoy! And if you give this How To Caramelized Onions method a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

The recipe

Home Kitchen How To Caramelize Onions

  • Serves 1 cup
  • Prep 5 minutes
  • Cook 45 minutes
  • Total 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 pounds sweet onions (or onions of your choice, slice 1/4-inch thick)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Method

  1. 1

    Melt butter in a large pan over medium-high heat.

  2. 2

    Once the butter has melted, add in the onions to the pot with 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt and toss. It should start to sizzle.

  3. 3

    Toss the onions in the butter, cover and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    After the 5 minutes, remove the lid and cook on medium-low heat for 40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. I truly set a timer and stir every 5 minutes.

  5. 5

    After 20 minutes, you should noticed the onions start turning a deep golden color and smell insanely good!!

  6. 6

    Then, after 40 to 45 minutes (total) the onions should be ultra tender and a deeply rich golden amber color.

From the cook

Depending on the recipe you’re making will decide how many onions to use. Typically I use 2 pounds onions, because they shrink. However, my rule is to use 1 tablespoon of butter per large sweet onion.

Tools

  • Lodge EC7OD13 Enameled Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven, 7-Quart, Oyster White

Per serving

  • Serving1 g
  • Calories692 kcal
  • Carbohydrates69 g
  • Protein8 g
  • Fat46 g
  • Saturated Fat29 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat2 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat12 g
  • Trans Fat2 g
  • Cholesterol120 mg
  • Sodium1823 mg
  • Potassium1093 mg
  • Fiber8 g
  • Sugar46 g
  • Vitamin A1409 IU
  • Vitamin C44 mg
  • Calcium196 mg
  • Iron2 mg