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Published: . Last Updated: by: Ginny McMeans
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Caramelized Onions have that natural sweet-savory flavor that quickly turns any meal into something extraordinary. And with the help of a slow cooker, you can make them ahead of time and have them at hand for any weeknight recipe.
Do you love caramelized onions? I do and on almost everything.
But it takes about an hour to make on a stovetop to truly caramelize onions until they are perfectly golden-brown and completely tender. Not sautéd but rich, sweet and caramelized.
The onions need to cook slowly over low heat until they release their sugars and their color turns a beautiful walnut brown. Most of us don’t have that time when preparing meals during the week.
That is why the crockpot is so great for this handy how-to. It does all the work for us. You slice the onions, load them into the slow cooker, turn the settings on low and go on with your life.
I usually make a huge batch so that I always have these mouthwatering onions on hand. You really should too. It’s so easy.
They freeze beautifully but I recommend freezing leftovers in different sized containers or freezer jars so that they can serve as either a last-minute topping or as a larger side to complement your dish.
After defrosting from the freezer they taste just like freshly prepared slow cooker caramelized onions.
I’ll bet you don’t need any inspiration for adding these flavor-packed onions to your menu. But you might love some of these ideas.
Table of Contents
What Can Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions Be Used With?
- Last week some went into our soup, and it took this already delicious warm dish to a whole new level.
- I enjoy them with so many kinds of sandwiches and love them on bean burgers.
- They are great as a pizza topping, and you should try them with my Vegan Veggie White Pizza, I used ¼ pint of frozen caramelized onions that I took out of the freezer the night before. It was terrific!
- I need to slip this information in for the white pizza too. You know what else you need? Homemade Vegan White Pizza Sauce!
- Use them to add an incredibly deep flavor to your favorite plates of pasta, lentil and rice dishes. And yes, even sweet potatoes!
- Try not to stand over the crockpot eating them by the forkful. Good stuff!
The list is endless.
Remember that Vegan Veggie White Pizza that I mentioned? How about a pic? See all those caramelized onions in there? Go as thick as you want!
Have you enjoyed caramelized onions lately with a special homemade dish? Or even at a restaurant? Please don’t keep it to yourself. I would love for you to share it with me!
IF FREEZING:
- Let cool and freeze in small batches so that you will have them in hand any time you want.
- All you have to do is remove a jar from the freezer and let defrost in the refrigerator for a great topping.
Is there a perfect kind of onion to caramelize?
No matter what type of onion you choose, here are a couple of things to consider:
- Onions with low moisture content are best. White onions tend to be drier and spicier and therefore an excellent choice to caramelize.
- When you slow cook them over an extended period, their natural sugars caramelize, and they have this intensely delicious flavor with a nice tender bite to them.<
- Yellow onions often have a milder flavor than white onions. They still caramelize nicely and keep that tender texture. Try to choose large all-purpose yellow onions that are firmer.
- I would be more reluctant to choose sweet onions (like Spanish yellow onions) as they have a higher moisture content.
- Sometimes Spanish sweet onions can result in more loss of sugar and therefore less flavor with a more mushier texture. I would recommend using these types of onions more in their raw state like on salads instead of in this recipe.
- Red onions are definitely on the sweeter side than yellow or white onions. If you adore them, then, by all means, caramelize them. You should know though that they can turn out more grayish or with an almost brownish-burgundy color.
But in the end, any onion will caramelize, and I suggest not to be shy. Experiment.
It is all about individual flavor. I prefer either white or yellow onions. White is my favorite.
I any case, I often choose large onions. It is faster to prep a big white onion than several small onions.
This recipe is so simple and delicious that you have to try it!
The only thing left is for you to get onions caramelized so that you can enjoy them all of the time.
📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions
Ginny McMeans
Caramelized Onions have that natural sweet-savory flavor that quickly turns any meal into something extraordinary.
4.91 from 21 votes
Print Save
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 hours hrs
Total Time 10 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Sauces, Dressings, Condiments, Side Dish
Cuisine Onions, Slow Cooker
Servings 56 Ounces
Calories 31 kcal
Ingredients
- 5 quarts onion - large white onions, sliced thin (this is for a 4 to 6 slow cooker, depending on the size of the onions)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or your favorite oil
Instructions
Spread coconut oil around the bottom and about halfway up the sides of the slow cooker.
Fill up crock pot with sliced onions to about ¾ full. It can be a bit more than this as the onions will start to cook down very quickly.
I used a 6 quart slow cooker but a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker will work, depending on the size of your onions)
Turn on low for 10 hours.
The last hour of cooking time, crack the lid so that the extra moisture can start to cook away.
You do not need to do this but you will get a richer color.
This is where you will need to stir the onions about every 15 minutes to make sure they don't stick to the slow cooker.
The onions will thicken and color as it cooks with the lid cracked open.
You might only need ½ hour to color them so be around to check.
Makes about 6 Cups.
They will also keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Notes
IF FREEZING:
Let cool and freeze in small batches so that you will have them in hand any time you want.
All you have to do is remove a jar from the freezer and let defrost in the refrigerator for a great topping.
Nutrition
Serving: 2OuncesCalories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 6gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 100mgSugar: 4gVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
OK this is just brilliant. I love caramelized onions but hate how long they take to make! They really add so much to dishes. Thanks for this idea!
Stephanie
I never thought to make these in a slow cooker! So cool!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
My husband is obsessed with them. He'll just fry up several onions and eat them just like that. I should totally make these for him!
Ginny McMeans
Anytime Ashley! I really do always have them in the freezer and ready to go. It is just too easy 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Great! Glad you found this and thanks 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Absolutely! You husband has good taste too 🙂
The Food Hunter
I could eat these with everything
Ginny McMeans
Haha! Me too Theresa!
lauren Kelly Nutrition
I absolutely love caramelized onions! These could never last 3-4 days in my house!
Kim Beaulieu
See AlsoHomemade Flatbread RecipeI love doing mine in the slow cooker too. Great for huge tailgating parties because people can stack their own sandwiches with extras. I dig that. Love the photos. I'd just stand over the crock pot with a giant fork and eat them right out of it.
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
I do love caramelized onions and the sweet richness they add to a dish...but I've never tried making them in the slow cooker. I love the idea of it, and will be trying it soon!
Ginny McMeans
Haha Lauren! They are so good!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet
What a great idea, it never would have occurred to me to do this! Saves so much time and fuss stirring it over the stovetop for 40+ minutes!
Ginny McMeans
Fantastic Heather! Glad to have you here 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Good for you Kim and you are right to have lots for scooping up at a party - it's perfect. Thanks so much and move over 🙂
Ginny McMeans
You are so right Kimberly! You gotta try it!
Cookin Canuck
I adore caramelized onions on pizzas, in sandwiches, in pasta dishes, etc. But I never would have thought to make them in a slow cooker. I have to try this!
Ginny McMeans
I think you'll be hooked Dara 🙂
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
Caramelized onions are some of my favorite things. I've never tried making them in a slow-cooker before but I love how effortless they are this way!
Ginny McMeans
You have to try it Renee! You will love them 🙂 all over again.
Rose | The Clean Dish
OK I admit I would have never thought about making caramelized onions in a slow cooker. Fantastic idea! I also never thought to freeze them. So glad I saw this post since I love onions, especially when they're caramelized!
Nutmeg Nanny
I had no idea you could caramelize onions in the slow cooker! They look so good!
Ginny McMeans
Isn't that great. So easy too 🙂
Fa
I love caramelized onions, so I will try this asap!
stupid question: You don't need any sugar?Ginny McMeans
Not stupid at all! No, no sugar. Onions naturally sweeten as they caramelize. Thanks for your interest 🙂
mary bell
making this tonight, will let you know how it works out.
Sue
Thanks so much for this! I have mine cooking away right now. Last time I did them I tried a pressure cooker recipe for them and they were amazing! Before that I'd sworn I was never making them again in the traditional method on the stove since they take so long but now I'm happy to have these versions up my sleeve. I froze a little of the last batch and popped it in some gravy. Soooooooooo good!!!!
Ginny McMeans
That is great Sue! They are too delicious to pass up and I know what you mean about the time spent making them in a frying pan. Love that you are sold on this method.
Lori
Hi Ginny,
As so many before me have noted, I never thought of using a slow cooker!! Can hardly wait to get these started, but...one question. What are your thoughts on using ghee versus coconut oil??? I just love the flavor of butter in my onions. Thanks in advance ...AND thanks for sharing!!Ginny McMeans
You are very welcome Lori! I don't use butter and am not sure how it will be. I expect it would work. You can certainly use extra virgin olive oil though.
Mary
I love caramelized onions! This is a great way to use a slow cooker!Meymi-Pastry and Beyond
They look delicious! I love caramelized onions-the natural sugar in onions!Jenni LeBaron
I don't tolerate onions very well but these look right up my fella's alley. He would devour them!jane @ littlesugarsnaps
Two genius ideas here - first the slow cook in the crockpot - I have a tendency to forget about things left to cook long and slow, so a controlled environment is perfect for me. Secondly, I had no idea cooked onions could be frozen and remain in good shape. Thankyou!Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
What a brilliant idea to do them in the slow cooker! Will have to give these a try!Rebecca
About how many onions do I need?
Ginny McMeans
I would say 8 onions Rebecca. Really you just eyeball how many onions you think would fit in the size crock-pot you're using. They cook down a lot.
Samantha
Can we use broth instead of oil? If so, how much broth?
Ginny McMeans
Yes you can Samantha. You just need to get the cooking going and the onions will release some of their liquid. I would say 1/4 cup at the most.
Fred
What brand of onion do you get the best falvor from ,after caramelizeing them.
Ginny McMeans
No specific brand Fred but I like yellow onions, then white then red. So white the most but they all caramelize well.
Iris
Will this work with the slow cook function of an Instant Pot? If so, any tips?
Ginny McMeans
I've heard the slow cooker function doesn't work quite as well on an Instant Pot and I don't know why. But for this recipe, I think you can't go wrong. You may have to cook it longer though. Just check it.
mary bell
was watching the video of making this recipe . and my dog Bela tried to eat the screen pictures lol looked real. to her and goodSusan Roman
We love these so much we just cut up 10 lbs of onions, put them in 2 slow cookers and plugged them in outside. When we do it inside, our clothing, furniture etc smell like onions forever!Ginny McMeans
That is great Susan. We love them this way too and it's so easy. Wow! That is good information. We don't have that problem for some reason but it's a great idea to cook in a covered area outside to be safe. I'll do that next time too.
