How to Caramelize Onions Recipe
Learn how to perfectly caramelize onions to bring out their natural sweetness and rich flavor. This simple recipe uses olive oil, butter, and thyme to create deeply browned, tender onions that are perfect for adding depth to any dish.
- Author: Elena
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 1 ½ cups caramelized onions 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (¼ stick)
- 1 pound yellow onions, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Melt: Heat the olive oil and unsalted butter in a medium-large skillet over medium-high heat until the butter is fully melted.
- Sauté: Add the thinly sliced onions, fresh thyme leaves, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the skillet.
- Brown: Cook the onions over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they start to turn brown in spots.
- Cook Low and Slow: Reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet. Cook the onions for an additional 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the onions begin to stick to the pan or the pan gets too dark, add a splash of water to prevent burning and to help them cook evenly.
Notes
- Using a combination of butter and olive oil helps achieve a rich flavor without burning the butter.
- Adding water during cooking prevents the onions from sticking and helps achieve even caramelization.
- Stirring occasionally but not too frequently allows proper browning without steaming the onions.
- Caramelized onions can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Keywords: caramelized onions, how to caramelize onions, sautéed onions, side dish, onion recipe