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Jammy, sweet caramelized onions can transform the simplest dishes, like grilled cheese and burgers, into cheffy delights.
Caramelized onions are jammy, sweet wonders that have the power to elevate even the simplest of dishes—think of your everyday grilled cheese or a classic burger—into something truly “cheffy.” Starting with what seems like an enormous mountain of onions, you’ll be amazed to watch as they cook down to just 1-1/2 cups of deeply flavored, richly browned goodness. Patience is absolutely key here. The caramelization process can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour, largely depending on the size of your pan—the bigger the pan, the quicker the onions will caramelize. But it’s important not to hurry. Rushing might lead to burnt onions instead of that gorgeous, rich brown caramelization we’re after. Consider this a leisurely weekend cooking project that will fill your home with the most heavenly aroma. Once done, caramelized onions can be conveniently stored in the fridge for up to two weeks or frozen for up to 3 months, ready to be used whenever needed.
![caramelized onions in skillet with wooden spoon and dish towel](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-13.jpg?resize=1200%2C790&ssl=1)
Ways To Use Caramelized Onions
What You’ll Need To Make Caramelized Onions
![ingredients to make caramelized onions](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-8.jpg?resize=1200%2C798&ssl=1)
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, melt the butter with the oil over medium-high heat.
![melting butter with oil in skillet](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-10.jpg?resize=1200%2C873&ssl=1)
Add onions to the skillet and season with salt, pepper, and sugar.
![onions added to skillet](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-09.jpg?resize=1200%2C863&ssl=1)
Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the onions are slightly softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
![slightly softened onions](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-08.jpg?resize=1200%2C884&ssl=1)
Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the onions are a rich golden brown color.
![showing the onions with a little more golden color](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-06.jpg?resize=1200%2C860&ssl=1)
This process can take anywhere from 45 to 75 minutes. In the beginning, you will only need to stir the onions occasionally. As the onions cook down and begin to brown, you will need to stir them more frequently, scraping the fond (the brown particles) from the bottom of the pan.
![deglazing the pan with a bit of water](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-05.jpg?resize=1200%2C815&ssl=1)
Towards the end of the caramelization process, the fond will start to stick to the pan, so you will need to occasionally deglaze the pan with a few tablespoons of water, scraping up the fond with a wooden spoon, to prevent burning and promote even caramelization.
![deglazing golden brown onions in skillet](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-04.jpg?resize=1200%2C848&ssl=1)
Repeat the deglazing process with the water as needed until caramelization is achieved.
![finished caramelized onions in skillet](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/01/caramelized-onions-03.jpg?resize=1200%2C863&ssl=1)
Once the onions have achieved the rich golden brown color, remove them from the skillet, let cool, and store in a covered container in the refrigerator. The onions will keep in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or they can be frozen for up to 3 months. If freezing, you can divide them into small containers or freezer bags to thaw and use as needed.
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Caramelized Onions
Jammy, sweet caramelized onions can transform the simplest dishes, like grilled cheese and burgers, into cheffy delights.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 pounds Vidalia or yellow onions (or a combination), halved and thinly sliced
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon sugar
- About 1 cup water, as needed
Instructions
- In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, melt the butter with the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the onions are slightly softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the onions are a rich golden brown color. This process can take anywhere from 45 to 75 minutes. In the beginning, you will only need to stir the onions occasionally. However, as the onions cook down and begin to brown, you will need to stir them more frequently, scraping the fond (the brown particles) from the bottom of the pan. Towards the end of the caramelization process, the fond will start to stick to the pan, so you will need to occasionally deglaze the pan with a few tablespoons of water, scraping up the fond with a wooden spoon, to prevent burning and promote even caramelization. Repeat the deglazing process with the water as needed until caramelization is achieved. Once the onions have achieved the rich golden brown color, remove them from the skillet, let cool, and store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The onions will keep in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or they can be frozen for up to 3 months. If freezing, you can divide them into small containers or freezer bags to thaw and use as needed.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (8 servings)
- Serving size: 3 tablespoons
- Calories: 123
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Sugar: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 233 mg
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you’re following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.