Marry This Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions recipe is a sweet and jammy recipe, which is made with sweet onions and butter. It’s an easy, hands-off method for a delicious condiment, perfect for making a large batch with minimal effort.
Jump to RecipeSlow Cooker Caramelized Onions Ingredients
A simple list for a deeply flavorful, versatile condiment.
- 4 to 5 pounds sweet onions (like Vidalia or Walla Walla)
- 4 to 5 tablespoons butter
- 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 1 tsp. ground black pepper
- Optional: 2 Tbsp. brown sugar (if not using sweet onions)
How To Make Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions
A step-by-step guide to the easiest, most foolproof caramelized onions ever.
- Prep the Slow Cooker: Turn a large 6-quart slow cooker on the low heat setting. Add the butter and let it melt.
- Combine Ingredients: While the butter melts, peel the onions and slice them into ½-inch wedges. Place all the sliced onions into the slow cooker. Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper (and brown sugar, if using). Stir everything together to coat the onions.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and let the onions cook on low for 12–14 hours. You can stir them once or twice if you happen to be around, but it’s not essential.
- Cool and Store: Once the onions are a deep, dark brown color, soft, and very sweet, they are done. Let them cool to room temperature before transferring them to airtight containers for storage in the refrigerator or freezer.
Recipe Tips
For the richest, most perfect caramelized onions.
- Why use a slow cooker for caramelized onions? It’s the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it method. Unlike the stovetop method which requires constant stirring and attention, the slow cooker cooks the onions so gently that there is virtually no risk of them burning, guaranteeing a perfect, jammy result every time.
- What are the best onions to use? Sweet onions like Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Mayan Sweets are the best choice as they have a higher sugar content and become incredibly sweet and jammy. If you can only find regular yellow onions, you can use them, but adding the optional brown sugar is recommended to help with the caramelization.
- Can I speed up the cooking time? You can cook the onions on the high setting for about 5-6 hours, but the low-and-slow method will produce a much deeper, richer flavor and a more desirable dark color.
- Why are my onions watery at the end? Onions release a lot of liquid, and in a sealed slow cooker, it has nowhere to go. If your finished onions seem too liquidy, you can simply remove the lid and cook on the high setting for the last 30-60 minutes to allow the excess moisture to evaporate.
How to Use Caramelized Onions
This delicious condiment is incredibly versatile.
A batch of these onions is like gold in your fridge! They are fantastic for:
- The essential base for a classic French Onion Soup
- As a gourmet topping for pizzas, flatbreads, and tarts
- Piled onto burgers and steak sandwiches
- Stirred into dips, gravies, or mashed potatoes
- As a filling for quiches and omelets
How To Store Caramelized Onions
Keeping your delicious onions fresh for future meals.
- Refrigerate: Once completely cooled, store the caramelized onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep well for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze: These freeze exceptionally well. You can portion them into ice cube trays for small, convenient amounts, or store them flat in freezer-safe bags for up to 6 months.
Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per 1/4 cup serving.
- Calories: 80 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Fat: 4 g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
No, but it’s by far the easiest method. The traditional stovetop method requires cooking the onions in a large pot over low heat for 45-60 minutes, with very frequent stirring to prevent them from burning.
Yes. You can easily halve the recipe and use a smaller slow cooker (like a 3-4 quart model). The cooking time on low may be slightly shorter, so start checking them around the 8-10 hour mark.
All slow cookers heat differently. If after 14 hours your onions are soft and sweet but not as dark as you’d like, simply remove the lid, turn the slow cooker to high, and let them continue to cook for another hour or so to deepen the color and evaporate moisture.
Try More Recipes:
- Caramelized Onion & Prosciutto Pizza Recipe
- Salted Caramel Apples Recipe
- Caramel Popcorn with Pecans Recipe
Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions Recipe
Course: Side DIshCuisine: French-AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes12
hours80
kcalAn incredibly easy, hands-off, set-it-and-forget-it method for making a large batch of rich, sweet, and jammy caramelized onions in the slow cooker with almost no effort.
Ingredients
4-5 lbs sweet onions, sliced
4-5 tbsp butter
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
Optional: 2 tbsp brown sugar (if using yellow onions)
Directions
- Turn a large (6-quart) slow cooker on low. Add the butter and let it melt.
- Add the sliced onions to the slow cooker.
- Pour the Worcestershire sauce over the onions and season with salt and pepper (and brown sugar, if using). Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 12–14 hours, stirring once or twice if you are able.
- Once the onions are a deep, jammy brown, they are done. If there is excess liquid, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for another 30-60 minutes to reduce.
- Let cool completely before transferring to airtight containers to store in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- The low-and-slow method is the key to deep, rich flavor without any risk of burning the onions.
- This is the perfect recipe to do overnight or while you are at work.
- The finished onions freeze beautifully and are a fantastic flavor-booster to have on hand for countless recipes.
- Use sweet onions like Vidalia for the best, sweetest result.
