Learn how to make the perfect golden brown onions in this Caramelized Onions Recipe! Whether you use them as a topping on burgers and soups, or as a filling in quiche, these caramelized onions will bring a delicious balance of sweet and umami flavors to the plate!
Prep Time: 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 55 minutesminutes
Total Time: 1 hourhour
Servings:1cup
Ingredients
1lbbrown or white onions, sliced
½stick unsalted butter, 4 tablespoons
salt, to taste
Optional Add-ins
2sprigs fresh thyme
½tspbrown sugar
¼tspbalsamic vinegar
Instructions
Heat a large, non-stick frying pan, shallow casserole or skillet over a medium high heat. Add the butter and allow to melt until frothy.
Add the onions, sprinkle with the salt, (and the fresh thyme, if using) and once they are sizzling turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until they’re soft, but don’t worry if they don’t have any color yet.
Turn the heat up to medium high and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, stirring often until the onions are a light golden and soft. If you’re adding the brown sugar OR balsamic vinegar (don’t add both) add them at the start of this stage.
Notes
Don’t be tempted to use salted butter and skip the salt: adding the salt separately is important for breaking down the onions.
If you add balsamic vinegar to the onions to make them sweeter and the deepen their color, choose a good quality thick balsamic vinegar as a cheaper one that is thin like other wine vinegars will make the onions too acidic.
These onions will keep in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.