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How to Make Caramelized Onions the Easy Way | Healthy Kitchen Hacks

How to Make Caramelized Onions the Easy Way | Healthy Kitchen Hacks

Sweet, savory caramelized onions make everything better: sandwiches, scrambled eggs, even soup from a can. This easy trick makes the usual method of stirring the onions for 20+ minutes a thing of the past.

This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. CARAMELIZED ONIONS IN THE SLOW COOKER | @TspCurry - For more Healthy Kitchen Hacks: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

It’s Healthy Kitchen Hacks Wednesday – the day we share our favorite time-saving kitchen tricks and cooking shortcuts to help you make healthy and delicious meals.

We share kitchen shortcuts and tricks on how to cook more healthfully and deliciously in the kitchen. Teaspoonofspice.com

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UPDATE: Deanna now loves to make a big batch of these and mix them into her Vegetarian French Onion Barley Soup. We also have a Mushroom Barley Soup in our 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook that these onions are delish in!

This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. CARAMELIZED ONIONS IN THE SLOW COOKER | @TspCurry - For more Healthy Kitchen Hacks: TeaspoonOfSpice.com | @TspCurry - For more Healthy Kitchen Hacks: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

How to Make Caramelized Onions the Easy Way
(originally inspired by Robin @RobinsBite.)

Caramelize onions make everything better: Simple sandwiches, scrambled eggs, even soup from a can or buttered toast. But, most recipes for caramelized onions suggest near-constant stirring for over 30 minutes. This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. CARAMELIZED ONIONS IN THE SLOW COOKER | @TspCurry - For more Healthy Kitchen Hacks: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

Caramelize onions make everything better: Simple sandwiches, scrambled eggs, even soup from a can or buttered toast. But, most recipes for caramelized onions suggest near-constant stirring for over 45 minutes. This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. Just set ’em and forget ’em in the slow cooker.

Set them and forget them! Easiest way to make caramelized onions! #healthykitchenhacks @tspcurry Click To Tweet

Here’s the easy way for how to make caramelized onions in the Crock Pot:

1) Start with about 1.5 pounds of onions – about 5 medium onions. This will make about 4 cups of caramelized onions.

This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. CARAMELIZED ONIONS IN THE SLOW COOKER | @TspCurry - For more Healthy Kitchen Hacks: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

2) Chop onions in half from ‘stem to root’, then in thin half moon slices. You could use the food processor, but it only took 11 minutes for me to peel and slice my way through 5 onions.

This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. CARAMELIZED ONIONS IN THE SLOW COOKER | @TspCurry - For more Healthy Kitchen Hacks: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

3) Add onions into a 4- or 6-quart slow cooker that’s been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, and an optional ingredient is 1 1/2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar.

This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. CARAMELIZED ONIONS IN THE SLOW COOKER | @TspCurry - For more Healthy Kitchen Hacks: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

4) Cook on HIGH setting for 4 hours or on LOW setting for 6-8 hours. No stirring required. How easy was that?

This caramelized onion trick is totally hands-off. CARAMELIZED ONIONS IN THE SLOW COOKER | @TspCurry - For more healthy recipes: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

One note: I add the optional balsamic vinegar to give deep golden color to the final caramelized onions, which otherwise, don’t turn out quite as golden-brown as those sauteed for 45 minutes. The vinegar also gives a taste of acidic sparkle to offset the sweet onions. AND it makes a few of the onions around the edges of the slow cooker get dark brown – which lends deep flavor to the whole pot.  The easy trick that makes Caramelized Onions totally hands-free. No stirring! #HealthyKitchenHacks via @TspCurry Click To Tweet

Now comes the fun part. What will you add these sweet, boldly savory, heavenly-scented onions to?

Here’s a few ideas:

Bacon Onion TartSmokey bacon + sweet caramelized onions. Oh my!

The easiest 'fancy' appetizer ever: Bacon Onion Tart | @TspCurry - For more healthy recipes: TeaspoonOfSpice.com

Caramelized Onion and Broccoli Pull-Apart BreadA savory version of monkey bread with sweet onions, broccoli, and melted cheese  

Caramelized Onion Broccoli Pull-Apart Bread @tspbasil

Caramelized Onion, Pepper and Cheddar Pie – A simple entree or cut it up into bite sizes to serve as an appetizer.

Caramelized Onion, Pepper & Cheddar Pie | TeaspoonofSpice.com

And here’s one more bonus Healthy Kitchen Hack that I use almost every day: The Easy Way to Chop Onions (after 6 months of testing!) 

Do you ever caramelize onions? If so, how do you use them?

 

 

Liz

Wednesday 8th of February 2017

I've literally made this recipe at least a handful of times since Deanna's FB live! Such a great hack with the slow cooker, I love it! I have added a tablespoon of balsamic too and it's tasty! Love your hacks!

Sues

Wednesday 8th of February 2017

I loveee caramelized onions so much (how can you not?!?) but have never tried making them in a crock pot before. Great idea for making your house smell heavenly on a Sunday :)

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