Quick Caramelized Red Onions

We love making caramelized onions with all our garden onions. Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions are delicious, but sometimes we want them fast so I started making them on the stovetop to get them on the table quicker. Red onions are sautéed with butter and olive oil in a large skillet over low heat until they caramelize. When they’re finished you can serve them right away, or I love freezing them to preserve, especially if I have lots of onions to use up! This recipe makes 1 cup caramelized onions. You can double or triple it if you’d like! Looking for more fresh red onion recipes? Try my French Onion Soup, Pickled Red Onion Slices, Red Onion Jam and Fresh Cucumber Side Salad with Red Onions.

Ingredients

Red Onions, don’t have red onions? Then you can do a combo of red onions with yellow or white onions. Olive Oil and Butter, both are crucial to caramelizing. The 50/50 combo really makes them special! Salted or unsalted butter both work, but I usually always use salted butter. Chicken broth helps prevent the red onions from sticking to the skillet over time, but you can easily swap it out for other flavors.  Masala Wine, red wine vinegar, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar are other options you can use for deeper flavor.

How to Make Caramelized Red Onions on the Stove

Cut the red onions up into 1/4″ -1/8″ thick slices. Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet. Add onions and a pinch of salt and cook until the onions become translucent. Reduce heat and continue to cook until they caramelize, stirring often with a spoon or a pair of tongs. While they caramelize, they will most likely start to stick to the skillet. As soon as you see it happen, add a tablespoon of chicken broth. Repeat this as needed. Serve with dinner, keep in the fridge or freeze for later usage. Enjoy these yummy caramelized red onions!

Storing and Freezing Caramelized Onions

Storing: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing: Place onions in ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, pop out and place in a freezer bag and freeze again. When ready to use defrost in the microwave or you can add a frozen cube directly to hot soups and skillets. Frozen caramelized onions are good for up to 6 months. Pin for later:

Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 49Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 84Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 81Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 45Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 35Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 74Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 58Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 10Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 88Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 92Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 35Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 35Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 32Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 85Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 3Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 11Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 79Quick Stovetop Caramelized Red Onions - 49