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15 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 05/23/2016
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Slow cooker caramelized onions – for those times when you don’t want to spend an hour caramelizing them on the stovetop – these cook while you sleep!
About this recipe
- Sweet and delicious: I’m head-over-heels in love with caramelized onions. They’re like candy, so sweet and flavorful.
- Hands-off: When it comes to making caramelized onions, I’m often hindered by the fact that they take a good 45 minutes to an hour to prepare, with some amount of babysitting and monitoring. This recipe is much more hands-off. If you want to try them the traditional way, check out our caramelized onion recipe.
- Large Batch: This recipe makes about 4 cups. Caramelized onions store well and can be frozen.
Tips for Success
Since the slow cooker traps a lot of moisture, after you cook these overnight you’ll wake up with a soupy onion mixture. Here are your two options:
- Continue to cook for 3-5 hours with the lid ajar to evaporate some of the liquid.
- Drain them and be done with it.
I continued to cook my slow cooker caramelized onions for about 5 hours more to achieve a nice thick consistency, almost jam-like. I’m really super happy with the result! Disclaimer – they’re not 100% the same, so if you’re a purist, this recipe might not be for you.
How to use caramelized onions
- I used these onions for baked chimichangas and you can’t tell the difference one bit. They are delicious topping this homemade French onion dip.
- Make your owncrostiniand top with spread with soft goat cheese and onions.
- Spread them on your sandwiches. Try them inham and cheese sliders.
- Top turkey burgerswith cheese, caramelized onions, and your sauce of choice. So good! You might also want to tryair fryer burgers.
- Top grilled meat with the onions. Bonus points if you addsautéed mushrooms! Try marinating the chicken withbalsamic marinade. You might also likepork chops with balsamic caramelized onions.
More Onion Recipes
I love it when onions play a starring role in a recipe, don’t you? Here’s a few more recipes that you might like:
- Vidalia onion tart with bacon, kale, and feta
- How to pickle red onions (so easy!)
- Homemade onion soup mix
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Recipe
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions
5 from 1 votePrep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 hours hrs
Total Time: 15 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
16 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Slow cooker caramelized onions – for those times when you don’t want to spend an hour caramelizing them on the stovetop – these cook while you sleep!
Ingredients
- 8-10 onions, sliced in half moons
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 10 hours (I do it overnight).
If desired, cook for another 3-5 hours with the lid ajar to evaporate the extra liquid and thicken the onions. This will also result in a darker, sweeter onion. If you’re in a rush, drain the extra liquid from the onions.
Store covered in fridge for 4-5 days or freeze for up to 4 months.
Notes
- Makes about 4 cups.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 46kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 2mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Author: Rachel Gurk
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Reader Interactions
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Highwaygirl YYZ says
Wow, great idea! Going to definitely try this one.
I have an auto heat feature on my slow cooker that cooks on high for a few hours and then switches to low heat. Wondering if this may help cut down on cooking time (start them in the morning for use that night)…Reply
Rachel Gurk says
I think that would work well! I don’t have a setting for that, but I do that often with slow cooker recipes.
Reply
are caramelized onions not the total best!?! love this low-maintainence way of preparing them, this is a keeper Rach! xo
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DessertForTwo says
This is GENIUS. Where has this been my whole life?
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ahhhh how I loooove caramelized onions!!!!!
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Medha says
These look amazing! Such a hands-off way to get great flavor :)
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denise says
sounds great
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JessB says
Good idea! I love them too but never go to the work of making them-problem solved.
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Alicia J. says
This recipe couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. I just received a 50 pound bag of fresh from the Georgia ground Vidalia onions. I had no idea how I was going to use the last 25 pounds I wasn’t able to hand out to my family. I know what I’m doing with them now. Thank you so much for this recipe. I can’t wait to get them cooked.
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