Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions Recipe
This Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions recipe offers a hands-off approach to achieving rich, sweet, and deeply flavorful caramelized onions. By using a slow cooker, the onions slowly transform over several hours into a tender, golden-brown delight, perfect as a savory topping for burgers, steaks, sandwiches, or as a flavorful addition to many dishes. The combination of butter, a hint of salt, and a touch of sugar or balsamic vinegar enhances the natural sweetness of the onions, making this a versatile and easy-to-prepare recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Onions
- 10 cups sliced sweet yellow onions (about 2.5-3 lbs, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick)
Other Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp salted butter (cut into pieces or cubes)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white sugar (or alternatively 1 tsp balsamic vinegar)
Instructions
- Peel and Slice Onions: Begin by peeling the sweet yellow onions and slicing them evenly into 1/4 inch thick pieces to ensure consistent cooking and caramelization.
- Place Onions in Slow Cooker: Transfer the sliced onions into the slow cooker, spreading evenly for uniform cooking.
- Add Butter: Place the cut pieces of salted butter evenly on top of the onions to melt and infuse richness during cooking.
- Season: Sprinkle the salt and the white sugar (or balsamic vinegar if preferred) over the onions to enhance the natural sweetness and aid caramelization.
- Cook Initially on High: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 5 hours. The onions will release a significant amount of liquid during this time.
- Stir and Continue Cooking: After 5 hours, stir the onions well to prevent sticking. Set the lid slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape and cook for an additional 2 hours on high heat to deepen the caramelization and reduce liquid.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked to a rich golden brown and tender consistency, remove from the slow cooker and serve as a flavorful topping or ingredient in your favorite dishes.
Notes
- Using balsamic vinegar instead of sugar will add a tangy depth to the caramelized onions.
- The total cooking time is approximately 7 hours, so plan accordingly.
- Stirring and allowing steam to escape after the initial 5 hours is crucial for proper caramelization and reducing liquid.
- These caramelized onions can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Be sure to slice onions uniformly for even cooking.
