Easy Caramelized Onions (Oil-Free!)
User Reviews
5
16 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Cook Time
40 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
4 (3-Tbsp servings)
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Calories
60 kcal
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Course
Side Dish
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Cuisine
International
Easy Caramelized Onions (Oil-Free!)
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Easy Caramelized Onions (Oil-Free!) achieve sweetness and deep flavor by slow-cooking sliced onions in water over medium to low heat without added oil. Regular stirring and covering the pan ensures even cooking and prevents sticking. The process takes 30-40 minutes, resulting in tender, golden or deeply browned onions that are perfect for enhancing various dishes.
Description
This oil-free caramelized onions recipe uses thinly sliced yellow or white onions cooked slowly in a rimmed pan with periodic additions of water to prevent sticking. The covered pan helps the onions cook evenly by trapping steam. As the water evaporates and the onions soften, their natural sugars caramelize, producing a sweet and slightly browned flavor without the use of oil.
The texture ranges from a light golden tenderness at around 30 minutes to a deeper brown and richer sweetness at 35 to 40 minutes, depending on preference. Gentle heat and frequent stirring prevent burning, making it a hands-on but effective method.
Caramelized onions prepared this way are versatile and can be used in recipes such as mac and cheese, pizzas topped with goat cheese, or creamy vegetable dips. Their oil-free preparation makes them suitable for those avoiding additional fats.
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Ingredients
- 1 large yellow onion for evenly sliced, thinner onions, use a mandolin, or white onion, sliced into thin rounds
- 3-4 Tbsp water (plus more as needed)
- 1 pinch salt optional, sea salt
HOW TO USE optional
- Vegan Caramelized Onion Mac n Cheese
- Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Pizza
- Creamy Eggplant & Caramelized Onion Dip
Instructions
- Heat a rimmed stainless steel or nonstick pan (like the Always Pan) over medium heat (it should be large enough to easily accommodate your onions in a semi-even layer — the slices shouldn’t be piled high in the pan, or they’ll take longer to caramelize).
- Add a little water to the pan — start with 3 Tbsp (as original recipe is written).
- Add sliced onions and stir. Then cover.
- Cook for a total of 30-40 minutes, opening the lid and stirring every 5 minutes. Be sure to cover again with lid after stirring — this helps them cook more evenly without the use of oil. Add 1 Tbsp (15 ml) water more at a time as needed to prevent sticking/ burning.
- Once they start browning slightly, turn heat to low. How long you cook them depends on how deeply you want them caramelized. We found 30 minutes to produce a light golden brown color and sweet flavor, and 35-40 minutes to yield a deeper brown color and richer caramelized flavor. Be careful not to burn by keeping heat on low and adding more water only as needed to prevent sticking. NOTE: For reference, we added 1.5 Tbsp water and turned to medium/low at 9 minutes, added 1 more Tbsp water at 12 minutes (they were already golden brown), and turned heat to low. And we added 1/2 Tbsp more water and a pinch of sea salt at 21 minutes. Our onions cooked for a total of 35 minutes.
- Near the end of cooking, add a pinch of salt and stir to enhance the sweet, caramelized flavor (optional). Stir, taste, and add more to taste as needed.
- Use immediately on salads, sandwiches, wraps, bowls, and more! We include a few ideas above. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days (though best when fresh). If storing for later, freeze into ice cube molds. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe container and store for up to 1 month (sometimes longer).
Notes
- Use a wide, rimmed stainless steel or nonstick pan to allow onions to spread evenly for better caramelization.
- Adding small amounts of water every few minutes helps prevent sticking and burning when cooking without oil.
- Cooking time varies based on desired caramelization level: 30 minutes for light golden onions, up to 40 minutes for deeper brown and richer flavor.
- This method works well in pans like the Always Pan for easy stirring and cleaning.
- Nutrition estimates do not include optional ingredients.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
3tablespoons
Calories
60
(3%)
Carbohydrates
14g
(5%)
Protein
1.7g
(3%)
Fat
0.2g
(0%)
Saturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.03g
(0%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.02g
(0%)
Trans Fat
0g
(0%)
Cholesterol
0mg
(0%)
Sodium
6mg
(0%)
Potassium
219mg
(5%)
Fiber
2.2g
(9%)
Sugar
6.4g
(13%)
Vitamin A
3IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
11.1mg
(12%)
Calcium
34.5mg
(3%)
Iron
0.32mg
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4(3-Tbsp servings)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 60 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 3tablespoons | |
| Calories | 60 | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 1.7g | 3% |
| Fat | 0.2g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.03g | 0% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.02g | 0% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 6mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 219mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2.2g | 9% |
| Sugar | 6.4g | 13% |
| Vitamin A | 3IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 11.1mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 34.5mg | 3% |
| Iron | 0.32mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
16 reviews
Excellent
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