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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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Perfect 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 our burger seasoning is the recipe for the most amazing burger you will ever bite into.
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, whiskey, and soy sauce when the onions just begin to brown.
- Stir and continue to cook another 3 minutes or so.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Continue to cook until browned and soft. Your caramelized onions are ready!
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.
Use vermouth, or whatever alcohol you have on hand. Really, it will all taste delicious. If you don't have alcohol, balsamic vinegar is fine.
Yes, you can freeze caramelized onions! I love to make a big batch to freeze and use later. Remember that caramelizing shrinks the onions, so if you're freezing a batch, consider doubling the ingredients to prepare twice as much.
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.
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
These are the best-caramelized onions for burgers. Try them with:
Other uses for Caramelized Onions
- Best Prime Rib Recipe topped with these onions is perfect for a holiday meal
- Dutch Oven Pot Roast is elevated when topped with these onions
- Smoked Tomahawk Steak
- Grilled Porterhouse Steak
- Pan Seared Ribeye Steak
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📋 Recipe
Best Caramelized Onions for Burgers
Equipment
- Skillet
- Spatula or wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 red onion cut into thin slices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons whiskey or vermouth, or whatever alcohol you have on hand. If you don't have alcohol, balsamic vinegar is fine.
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
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.
- Add in brown sugar, whiskey, and soy sauce when the onions just begin to brown. Stir and continue to cook another 3 minutes or so. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Continue to cook until browned and soft. Your caramelized onions are ready!
Notes
- Use vermouth or whatever alcohol you have on hand as a substitute for whiskey. Really, it will all taste delicious. If you don't have alcohol, balsamic vinegar is fine.
Leave a comment or question - we love to hear from you!