{"id":2078938,"date":"2025-01-30T19:30:37","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T01:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=recipe&p=2078938"},"modified":"2025-01-30T19:30:37","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T01:30:37","slug":"caramelized-onions-2","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/caramelized-onions-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Caramelized Onions"},"content":{"rendered":"
Caramelized onions add the perfect bit of savory sweetness to so many of our favorite dishes. French onion soup<\/a> would be nothing without a good base of these soft, sweet onions. They also add a ton of flavor to sandwiches, steaks, burgers and pizzas. While caramelizing onions can take a bit of time, it\u2019s an easy technique that you can master at home. All you need is a good pan and a little patience.<\/p>\n Learning how to caramelize onions is very simple. You need a heavy pan (a cast-iron skillet works especially well here) and two ingredients: onions and butter\u2014or the oil of your choice. Start by heating your butter or oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add all your onions and cook them for four to five minutes to give them a head start.<\/p>\n Then, turn your heat down and cook these onions slowly over low heat until they\u2019re deeply golden brown and very soft. This should take about 45 to 60 minutes. Stir every five minutes to ensure the caramelized onions don\u2019t stick to the pan.<\/p>\n Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, and cook them for five to six minutes or until they’re starting to lightly brown.<\/p>\n Reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue to cook the onions for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent the onions from sticking to the pan and burning, until the onions are a deep brown color and very soft.<\/p>\n Season the caramelized onions with salt.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t manage to eat all your caramelized onions, you can store them easily. Let them cool to room temperature, then pop them in an airtight container so your fridge doesn\u2019t fill up with the smell of caramelized onions. They\u2019ll keep in the fridge for up to four days.<\/p>\n Yes, you can freeze caramelized onions. Once they\u2019ve cooled to room temperature, stash them in an airtight container or resealable storage bag. They can be kept frozen for up to three months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before using them.<\/p>\n There are so many ways to use caramelized onions. Aside from French onion soup, you can try them in this super creamy French onion dip<\/a>. We love to add caramelized onions to toasties, paninis and burgers, as well as veggie sides like green beans or roasted potatoes.<\/p>\n Caramelized onions are a knockout in pasta, too, like our caramelized onion pasta<\/a> which has plenty of five-star reviews. Add them to baked mac and cheese<\/a> to dress up the dish even further. This deeply savory ingredient is a smash on pizzas and flatbreads, and we can\u2019t get enough of this brie and caramelized onion flatbread<\/a> or this gruyere and caramelized onion tart<\/a> recipe.<\/p>\n You can use butter, oil or a mixture of both in any caramelized onions recipe. Butter adds flavor and richness, and oil can withstand high heat and caramelize the onions to an extremely deep brown. The choice is yours. We prefer butter!<\/p>\n It can take up to one hour to properly caramelize onions. When you first start with our caramelized onion recipe, you\u2019ll be cooking the onions over medium heat for a few minutes. After that, you\u2019ll turn down the heat to low. From here on out, low and slow is the motto. This extended cooking time allows the sugars in the onions to brown and caramelize, giving the onions a sweeter taste and a depth of flavor\u2014since as we all know color means flavor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Caramelized onions\u00a0<\/span>add a rich sweetness to almost any dish. We’ll show you how to caramelize onions\u2014you just need a heavy pan and some patience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7075,"featured_media":2107479,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"tags":[304021,305982,304993,305487,303966,305003,304988,303887,306848,305014,305018,305020,307698,324623,304243,304020,304005,304150,303883,307614,305031],"categories-v2":[308599,311717,308481,308940,310796,308495,308949,308935,308478,309603,308957,308959,308960,310669,309177,309586,308594,308549,309434,308476,310591,308975],"coauthors":[39610,342012],"recommended_recipes":[{"post_title":"Caramelized Onion & Garlic Pasta","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-onion-garlic-pasta\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Caramelized-Onion-Garlic-Pasta_EXPS_TOHD24_86656_JuliaHartbeck_6.jpg"},{"post_title":"Chicken & Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese","post_link":"\/recipes\/chicken-caramelized-onion-grilled-cheese\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps186341_SD153320D12_10_5b-2.jpg"},{"post_title":"Grilled Onions","post_link":"\/recipes\/grilled-sweet-onions\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/EXPS_TOHD24_40176_LeticiaAlmeida_07.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Pork Tenderloin","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-pork-tenderloin\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Caramelized-Pork-Tenderloin_exps53989_SD143204B12_03_4bC_RMS.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Onion Dip","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-onion-dip\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Caramelized-Onion-Dip_EXPS_TOHD24_91894_LeticiaAlmeida_07.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Bananas","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-bananas\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Caramelized-Bananas_EXPS_TOHD24_278154_KristinaVanni_5.jpg"},{"post_title":"Gruyere & Caramelized Onion Tarts","post_link":"\/recipes\/gruyere-caramelized-onion-tarts\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Gruyere-Caramelized-Onion-Tarts_EXPS_TOHCA22_86224_E08_25_4b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Pears","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-pears\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Caramelized-Pears_EXPS_TOHD25_195845_ChristineMa_4.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Bacon Twists","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-bacon-twists\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Caramelized-Bacon-Twists_EXPS_SDDJ17_20248_B08_05_7b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Onion Jam","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-onion-jam\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Caramelized-Onion-Jam_EXPS_TOHD25_27064_JonathanMelendez_09.jpg"},{"post_title":"Slow-Cooker Caramelized Onions","post_link":"\/recipes\/slow-cooker-caramelized-onions\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Slow-Cooker-Caramelized-Onions_EXPS_TOHESCODR22_203845_MD_02_09_5b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Beans 'n' Caramelized Onions","post_link":"\/recipes\/beans-n-caramelized-onions\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Beans-n-Caramelized-Onions_EXPS_HCA17_19911_C03_15_3b-2.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Onion Chuck Roast","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-onion-chuck-roast\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Caramelized-Onion-Chuck-Roast_exps134962_SD2232457C08_23_3bC_RMS.jpg"},{"post_title":"Caramelized Onion & Fig Pizza","post_link":"\/recipes\/caramelized-onion-fig-pizza\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Caramelized-Onion-Fig-Pizza_exps50212_THCA2180111A01_10_2bC_RMS.jpg"}],"acf":{"long_pin_file":false,"ncv_override_generic_settings_option":false,"ncv_autoplay_option":"","ncv_stickyplay_option":"","ncv_ads_option":"","ncv_mute_option":"","ncv_comscore_option":"","ncv_autoplay_mobile_option":"","ncv_viewable_threshold_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_option":"","ncv_autopause_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_mobile_option":"","ncv_autopause_mobile_option":"","ncv_sticky_mobile_option":"","ncv_remove_player_option":false,"ncv_moat_option":"","long_pin":"https:\/\/tmbidigitalassetsazure.blob.core.windows.net\/rms3-prod\/attachments\/37\/1200x1200\/How-to-Make-Caramelized-Onions_EXPS_TOHVP25_278615_MF_01_06_2.jpg"},"recipe_schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Recipe","@id":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/caramelized-onions-2\/","name":"Caramelized Onions","datePublished":"2025-01-30","dateModified":"2025-01-30","prepTime":"PT10M","cookTime":"PT60M","totalTime":"PT01H10M","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/How-to-Make-Caramelized-Onions_EXPS_TOHVP25_278615_MF_01_06_2.jpg","height":1200,"width":1200},"recipeCategory":"","description":"Caramelized onions\u00a0<\/span>add a rich sweetness to almost any dish. We'll show you how to caramelize onions\u2014you just need a heavy pan and some patience.","recipeIngredient":["2 tablespoons butter","4 medium onions, thinly sliced","3\/4 teaspoon salt"],"recipeInstructions":[{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Saute the onions","text":"Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, and cook them for five to six minutes or until they're starting to lightly brown.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Caramelized-Onions_TOHVS25_278615_MF_01_06_2.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Continue cooking them, low and slow","text":"Reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue to cook the onions for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent the onions from sticking to the pan and burning, until the onions are a deep brown color and very soft. Season the caramelized onions with salt.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Caramelized-Onions_TOHVS25_278615_MF_01_06_3.jpg?fit=700,1024"}],"recipeYield":"8 servings","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lisa Kaminski"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Val Goodrich"}],"nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":" 47 calories","fatContent":"3g fat (2g saturated fat)","cholesterolContent":"8mg cholesterol","sodiumContent":"246mg sodium","carbohydrateContent":"5g carbohydrate (2g sugars","fiberContent":"1g fiber)","proteinContent":"1g protein."},"aggregateRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":5,"reviewCount":1,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5},"video":{"@type":"VideoObject","name":"Caramelized Onions","description":"Check out this video for how to make Caramelized Onions","thumbnailUrl":["http:\/\/content.jwplatform.com\/v2\/media\/AdoMfzDR\/poster.jpg?width=720"],"uploadDate":"","duration":"P0DT0H0M37S","contentUrl":"http:\/\/content.jwplatform.com\/videos\/AdoMfzDR-IFfy1PC6.mp4"},"review":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2025-06-16","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"slfish68"},"reviewBody":" I added a 1\/4 tsp black pepper, served with steak and buttered mashed potatoes; yummy!<\/p>","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}}]},"video":{"title":"Caramelized Onions","description":"Check out this video for how to make Caramelized Onions","url":"http:\/\/content.jwplatform.com\/videos\/AdoMfzDR-IFfy1PC6.mp4","duration":"37s","mime_type":"video\/mp4","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/dam-cdn.tmb.orangelogic.com\/AssetLink\/ew72xfphaj6ydgr53p7kfu62tr0avea3.jpg","advertising":"","jw_id":"AdoMfzDR","jw_url":"http:\/\/content.jwplatform.com\/videos\/AdoMfzDR-IFfy1PC6.mp4","jw_thmub_url":"http:\/\/content.jwplatform.com\/v2\/media\/AdoMfzDR\/poster.jpg?width=720","jw_publish_date":"2025-02-05T00:00:00"},"rms_legacy_id":"278615","romance_copy_dek":"Caramelized onions\u00a0<\/span>add a rich sweetness to almost any dish. 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Ingredients for Caramelized Onions<\/h2>\n
\n
Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Saute the onions<\/h3>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 2: Continue cooking them, low and slow<\/h3>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Caramelized Onions Variations<\/h2>\n
\n
How to Store Caramelized Onions<\/h2>\n
Can you freeze caramelized onions?<\/h3>\n
Caramelized Onions Tips<\/h2>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
How should you use caramelized onions?<\/h3>\n
Do you use butter or oil to caramelize onions?<\/h3>\n
How long does it actually take to caramelize onions?<\/h3>\n