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5.0 from 3 votes

Buttery Caramelized Onions

Caramelized onions are a delicacy. They take some time to cook, but the buttery, flavorful, almost sweet result is worth it!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 80 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 large yellow onions
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Peel the onions, rinse, and dry them. Cut them in half through the root. Remove the root, position the onions with the root end facing you, and slice them into ¼-inch slices.
  2. Heat the butter over medium heat in a large, deep skillet. Tilt the skillet to spread the butter over the bottom.
  3. When the butter starts foaming, add the onions in two or three batches, sprinkling salt on each batch and allowing it to slightly soften before adding the next batch.
  4. Lower the heat to medium-low. Cook the onions, uncovered, stirring them often, until they are very soft and deeply browned. This should take about 45 minutes. If the pan becomes too hot and there are brown bits on its bottom, add a splash of water and use it to deglaze the pan. You can keep adding water as needed or lower the heat to low.
  5. Remove the onions to a plate. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can make this recipe with red onions. In fact, all types of onions can be successfully caramelized - yellow, white, red, and also sweet onions such as Vidalia.
  • Although oil works in this recipe, the milk solids in butter help with the browning process, similar to the role they play when blackening food.
  • There's no need to add sugar. Onions contain natural sugars that promote the browning process. 
  • You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months. I like to freeze them in single-serve portions. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 0.25cup Calories 80kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Sodium 328mg (14%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 3g (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 80

% Daily Value*

Serving 0.25cup
Calories 80kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Sodium 328mg 14%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 3g 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.