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I have the secret to the best Caramelized Onions for Burgers! Ready in 30 minutes or less, these quick caramelized onions are easy, flavorful, and so delicious on burgers, with steak, and more. Simple ingredients and just 3 steps!
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The Best Caramelized Onions
I love caramelizing onions for burgers. There is nothing like a juicy, loaded burger topped with sweet, soft onions browned to perfection.
People will tell you that the only way to caramelize onions is to cook them for at least an hour. I can tell you from experience that this is just not true! I will show you how to caramelize onions in just 30 minutes.
The trick to perfectly browned, sweet caramelized onions is much easier than you might think. Follow my easy instructions and you will make them perfectly every time!
These juicy onions paired with my burger seasoning are the recipe for the most amazing burger you will ever bite into. Another amazing tip is to try adding my Truffle Butter Recipe to your next burger!
Just finished making a double batch for a picnic tomorrow. OMG delicious! Thank you for sharing!!
Cindi on Pinterest
Caramelized Onions for Burgers Ingredients
- unsalted butter
- red onion
- brown sugar
- balsamic vinegar
- soy sauce
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
How to Caramelize Onions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced red onions to the pan. Allow them to sit until they begin to brown.
- Add in brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and salt and pepper when the onions just begin to brown.
- Stir and continue to cook until browned and soft. Your caramelized onions are ready!
Caramelized Onions Recipe FAQs
Sautéing is a cooking technique, while caramelizing describes an actual chemical change in the onions from heating the sugar. The sugar breaks down, making the onions soft and sweet. You can quickly sauté onions without caramelizing them.
I use red onions in this recipe for caramelized onions for burgers. You can also use white onions.
Use a stainless steel pan or a cast-iron skillet for the best results caramelizing onions.
Always butter! Butter adds so much flavor to the onions when browning them.
Stir while cooking over medium-high heat. Not all stoves are the same, so if your onions are starting to burn, lower the heat to medium and allow them to cook a little more slowly.
There is no need to cover the pan. You want to be able to stir when you need to.
Cut off the root and stem ends of the onion. Cut the onion in half, which will make it easy to peel with your fingers. Thinly slice the onion in vertical slices (from root to stem).
When they're ready, they will be considerably browned, soft, and shrunken.
After cooking, allow the onions to cool. Portion into freezer-safe containers. Ice cube trays are great for small portions or, if you're freezing a large portion, use freezer bags. Label with the freezing date and store for up to 3 months. Consider cooking a larger batch to freeze, as onions shrink when cooking.
For refrigerated onions, reheat in a pan over low to medium heat until they start to sizzle. For frozen, use the onions straight out of the freezer - there's no need to thaw them. Add them to your meal and allow them to cook down, or reheat in a pan over low to medium heat.
Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What to Serve with Caramelized Onions
- Gourmet Burgers
- Smash Burgers
- Swiss Mushroom Burger
- BBQ Burgers
- Air Fried Burger
- See our guide on How Long to Cook Burgers!
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📋 Recipe
Caramelized Onions for Burgers
Equipment
- Skillet
- Spatula or wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 red onion cut into thin slices
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced red onions to the pan. Allow them to sit until they begin to brown.2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 red onion
- Add in brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and salt and pepper when the onions just begin to brown.2 Tablespoons brown sugar, 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, salt to taste, pepper to taste
- Stir and continue to cook until browned and soft, about 15-17 minutes. Your caramelized onions are ready!
Video
Notes
- If you don't have balsamic vinegar, then red wine vinegar, whiskey, or vermouth can be used instead.
- Sweet yellow or white onions can be used instead of red onions, if you prefer.
- Onions shrink when caramelized, so if you're serving a large group, you may want to make more and freeze any leftovers you don't need right away. Just allow them to cool, then freeze for up to 3 months in freezer-safe bags or a container.
Nutrition
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