Traditionally, caramelized onions are cooked with lots of oil and butter, sometimes even sugar. Hey, that’s what makes them sinfully delicious, right? I have discovered a way to make these onions without any of that, and they taste exactly the same. Use these butter-less caramelized onions on burgers, alongside steak, on top of chicken, on sandwiches, to up the flavor profile of your favorite foods, without a ton of calories.
What you’ll need to make these butter-less caramelized onions
This “recipe” is really more of a method; you can adjust this recipe based on how many onions you have on hand, or how many people you’d like to serve. For this recipe, I have included the ingredients and method for an entire 2 lb bag of onions (don’t worry, this cooks down to only 2 cups of onions!) I like making a big batch of these onions to have on hand, because they go great on anything.
- onions
- kosher salt
- reduced sodium chicken broth
- olive oil spray
How to make these butter-less caramelized onions
First, you’ll start by slicing (and crying your way through) the onions. For this recipe, I recommend thinly slicing the onions rather than chopping them. That’s how we will end up with those pretty, long ribbons of onions, rather than chunks. It’s just more visually appealing, if you ask me.
Once the 2 lb bag of onions is thinly sliced, it will yield about 6 cups of raw onion.
While you are slicing the onions, preheat a large frying pan with deep sides over medium heat. Once it’s preheated, add some olive oil spray and the onions, along with the kosher salt.
You’ll want to keep the heat of the pan on medium the entire time. This allows the onions to slowly cook down and become sweet, without burning.
Cook the onions and toss them with tongs, then put the lid on the pot. Cook the onions covered for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and toss them around. Repeat this process several times. As the onions steam under the covered lid, this creates moisture, and cooks the onions down without the use of a ton of oil and butter.
Keep repeating this process. At the 15 minute mark, remove the lid and add 1/4 cup of the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Then, return the lid. Repeat this process again.
Keep repeating this process until the onions are done to your liking.
At the 30 minute mark the onions will look like this.
Butter-less Caramelized Onions
Equipment
- large frying pan
Ingredients
- 2 lbs onions
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat a large frying pan over medium heat.
- Thinly slice the onions. Don’t chop them small, we are looking for long ribbons of onion once cooked.
- Add olive oil spray to the pan. Add the onions and the kosher salt.
- Sauté the onions for 5 minutes. Toss with tongs.
- Place the lid on the pot.
- Cook for 5 minutes.
- Uncover, toss the onions, return the lid to the pot, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Repeat this step every 5 minutes for a total of 15 minutes.
- At the fifteen minute mark, add 1/4 cup of chicken broth, and using a wooden spoon, scrape down the pan. Return the lid to the pan.
- Cook covered for another 5 minutes, then add another 1/4 cup of broth and return the lid to the pan.
- Cook covered for another 5-10 minutes.
- At the 30 minute mark, the onions should be completely cooked down and soft.
Notes
- 0 WW Points on all plans
Nutrition
Recipes that use these onions:
roasted garlic and caramelized onion dip
BBQ glazed chicken breast with caramelized onions and mozzarella
Related Posts
Amazing! Same great taste, so many less calories!
I’m so glad you showed us how to make these delicious caramelized onions. So delicious and simple too!!
What kind of onions do you use?
She shares a photo of the kind she uses in the post.
I tried following this method but after an hour I couldn’t get any carmelization. Keeping the lid on kept it so wet in the pot. Any suggestions?? There was never anyhting to scrape as there was so much moisture?
She used a cast-iron pan. Did you? They can make a big difference in the outcome
Another awesome recipe. Made these and put on our burgers. Delish!!!!
I’ve been intimidated by making caramelized onions because I thought it was difficult and time consuming but these were SO easy and came out delicious! I only ended up needing 1/4 c broth to get that nice caramelization 🙂
These caramelized onions are a winner in this house! Love it with any beef – roast, steak, even burgers! SO GOOD!
Easy and a great flavor boost
These onions are delicious. Everyone in my family loves them!!
I mean, the onions are great for chicken, burgers, etc…but I can literally just stick my fork in them and eat them out of the bowl. No shame. They are amazing.
Been making caramelized onions for years and this will definitely be my new recipe.
Made these tonight to top some thinly sliced chicken breast along with light cheddar cheese. My picky eater significant other loved them and said it tasted like the butter and oil version.
I will definitely have these on repeat. Thanks for the great recipe Steph!
These are literally amazing. Could eat them alone. SO good!
These caramelized onions are so delicious! I put them on a bunless burger with sauted mushrooms and my sides were grilled zucchini and tomato slices. Yum! The carmelized onions are a game changer! Will definitely make again!
These were so delicious.
The cook time is 40 minutes if my math is correct reading the instructions. The info prior to the ingredients has 30 minutes as the cook time. Unless I am missing something???
These are absolutely THE BEST….THANK YOU!!! Easy & no butter..GENIUS!!
Love the newsletter..it’s one of the best I’ve seen!
I just made this recipe and it turned out perfect. Simple and delicious!
How long will these keep in the refrigerator, please?
Such a great healthy hack for making this. They came out perfect. Will use half to make your quiche and freeze the other half to use again. Thank you for this recipe!
So easy and very flavorful. Loved having them on hand to use throughout the week.