Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (2024)

Feel that touch of crisp chill in the air, that whisper of things to come?

That’s fall. And it’s the perfect time for curling up on the couch with a mug or bowl of something warm and comforting.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (1)

The first time I met Tim, he said something in passing about how he’d much prefer a night in to endless social activity, with one party or get-together after another, and I couldn’t believe how much he sounded like me.

They say opposites attract. But, almost one year into marriage, all I have to say is that it sure is nice to share life with someone who also finds pleasure in picking a new Netflix movie to watch on the couch, or reading side by side at home before falling asleep at night.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (2)

If it weren’t for the great enjoyment we both also find in hosting big dinner parties, attending outdoor gatherings, and making meaningful connections with other human beings, and the growing desire we both have to stretch outside our comfort zones, I wonder just how easy it would be for us to settle in at home with a big pot of something brewing on the stove and stay there, content…

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (3)

It’s a desire that we’ve thought about so deliberately recently that, in an effort to find ways to love and enjoy the company of others outside our relationship, we’ve recently filled our social calendars nearly to capacity.

We’ve been hosting and attending and gathering and joining. And it’s been good, all of it – delighting in conversations with friends old and new, hearing how people are doing, laughing and crying and learning, seeing how much there is yet to know.

But still, in the midst of it all, I have to say there remains something equally special about those quiet, cozy days (or even hours) spent at home, the kind where there’s nothing much on the agenda besides laundry and reading and making dinner – and the more rare these chunks of time become, the more precious they feel.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (4)

Fall is good for reminding us of this. As the days darken and turn cooler and and we turn on our heaters for the first time in months, there’s an unspoken push towards cuddling under fluffy blankets and sipping cocoa and enjoying the comfort of a warm kitchen.

The autumn season beckons, driving us to roast and to caramelize, to slow cook and to stew. There’s nothing quite like coming in from the cold to the smell of something simmering in the kitchen. And this easy caramelized apple and onion side dish is perfect for that.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (5)

By the time the onions are soft and translucent, your home will smell as good as it does when you’re about to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner.

Standing over the stove with your hair pulled back and your slippers on, the house quiet and still, save for the soft susurrations of sizzling, you will know that this dish right there is going to be so good, so rich, all you can do is give thanks for such a moment, and enjoy.

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Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (6)

Caramelized Apples and Onions

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  • Author: Shanna Mallon
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Cozy up with caramelized apples and onions for dinner this week. The flavor combination of this simple side is perfect for fall, alongside chicken or pork.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil or unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 lbs onions, peeled and thinly sliced (about 3 medium onions/4 cups sliced)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 lb cooking apples, peeled and sliced (about 3 medium apples/3 cups sliced)

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter or coconut oil. Add onions, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. Cook the onions until they are soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Stir in thyme sprigs and apple slices. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 10 minutes while stirring occasionally.
  3. Increase heat to medium-high, and cook for 10 more minutes while stirring occasionally, until the apples and onions are caramelized.
  4. Remove thyme sprigs and serve.

Notes

Nutritional information below was calculated using butter. For a dairy-free version, try coconut oil instead!

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vegetables

Keywords: fall, autumn, apple, onion, side dish

Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Peel, Slice, and Measure Remaining Ingredients

First, wash all of your produce well. If you like, you may choose to leave the peels on the fruit in this dish, for a heartier texture and added nutrients.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (7)

If you don’t prefer to go that route, get out your trusty vegetable peeler and peel the apples. I prefer Golden Delicious for this recipe, but you can use any type that’s firm enough to stand up to cooking. Remove the cores and cut into 1/4-inch slices. Set aside.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (8)

Peel the onions and slice thin. Not a fan of this kitchen task? Check out our tips to stop those tears!

Measure all of the remaining ingredients as listed.

Step 2 – Cook Onions

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (9)

Melt the butter or coconut oil in a large saucepan.

Stir in the onions, salt, and pepper.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (10)

Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes, until they are soft and translucent. Be sure to stir occasionally as the onions cook, so they don’t stick to the pan and start to cook unevenly in spots.

Step 3 – Cook Until Caramelized

Add the thyme sprigs and apple slices to the pan. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook the mixture for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. At this point, you’re still focusing on softening the apples, and beginning to just barely brown the onions.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (11)

Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring a couple of times, until the apples and onions are caramelized to a deep, golden brown, and some are beginning to fall apart in places.

Any juices that have been released should be syrupy at this point, but the pan should not be completely dry – again, you don’t want anything to burn. Adjust the heat slightly if necessary.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (12)

Remove thyme sprigs before serving, or cool and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

How to Enjoy this Beautifully Caramelized Mixture

This particular recipe is perfect for fall and winter dishes, when apples are at their peak and hearty meals are a mainstay at the dinner table. The combination of rich onions and tart apples, once caramelized, really provides a punch of flavor that can be enjoyed in a multitude of ways.

My personal favorite is serving them up with homemade apple cider pork chops. The vinegar from the marinade on the pork plays nicely with the topping, so you get savory, sweet, and tangy flavors in every single bite.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (13)

You can also serve this over pork tenderloin, grilled sausages, or roasted chicken for a new textural addition to some of your favorite classic main-dish proteins. The sweetness of the apples and the richness of the onions make a fantastic combination with lighter meats.

How would you enjoy this incredibly flavorful dish? Tell us in the comments below, and be sure to rate the recipe once you’ve tried it.

For more versatile apple recipes, you’ll be head over heals for these fruity options:

  • Citrus Caramel Apples and Pears
  • Baked Apples with Dried Fruits and Nuts
  • Stuffed Acorn Squash with Apples

Photos by Meghan Yager, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published October 9, 2012. Last updated: April 5, 2022 at 14:25 pm. With additional writing and editing by Meghan Yager and Allison Sidhu.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (14)

About Shanna Mallon

Shanna Mallon is a freelance writer who holds an MA in writing from DePaul University. Her work has been featured in a variety of media outlets, including The Kitchn, Better Homes & Gardens, Taste of Home, Houzz.com, Foodista, Entrepreneur, and Ragan PR. In 2014, she co-authored The Einkorn Cookbook with her husband, Tim. Today, you can find her digging into food topics and celebrating the everyday grace of eating on her blog, Go Eat Your Bread with Joy. Shanna lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with Tim and their two small kids.

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Easy Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe | Foodal (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay caramelized onions? ›

Caramelize the onions: Heat about 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onions and stir to coat. Let cook, stirring every 5-10 minutes, until deeply caramelized, about 1 ½ - 2 hours.

What's the difference between caramelized and sauteed onions? ›

Sautéing vs caramelizing

Sautéing is about softening and lightly flavoring the onions, while caramelizing is about developing a rich, sweet complexity. Unfortunately, you can't swap one out for the other without changing the flavor profile of your dish.

Why does baking soda caramelize onions faster? ›

Baking soda makes the onions more alkaline, which speeds up the browning reactions necessary for properly caramelized onions. But it also weakens the pectin that holds the onion's cells together, turning what should be soft but distinct pieces of browned onion into a nauseating stew of pea-green mush.

Do onions caramelize better with butter or oil? ›

Our Test Kitchen likes to use butter when caramelizing onions, as it offers the richest flavor. If you avoid dairy or don't have butter, you can caramelize onions in other fat such as margarine or olive oil. Add the onion slices. It's okay if they overlap a bit here because they'll shrink as they cook down.

What is the secret to caramelize onions? ›

It takes time, probably a solid 45 minutes, for the onions' sugars to caramelize. If your heat is too high, the onions will burn. Heat your pan over medium-low, then add your onions. Keep it on that temp for the whole process.

What is the best liquid to caramelize onions in? ›

You can use either oil or butter to caramelize onions — but ideally, you use a combination of both! I like to use olive oil, and this cooking fat tolerates heat particularly well. Meanwhile, butter adds a distinctly rich flavor to the caramelized onions.

Should you cover onions when caramelizing? ›

Cover the pot with a lid, and then turn the burner on to medium-low heat. Cook covered until the onions have mostly broken down and are a pale brown sludge (about 45-60 minutes). Be sure to stir the pot periodically, checking to make sure the onions aren't burning.

Do you add salt or sugar to caramelize onions? ›

After 10 minutes, sprinkle some salt over the onions, and if you want, you can add some sugar to help with the caramelization process. (I add only about a teaspoon of sugar for 5 onions, you can add more.) One trick to keeping the onions from drying out as they cook is to add a little water to the pan.

Do you caramelize onions on low or high heat? ›

For most of the cooking process, the heat should be low or medium-low to prevent the onions from burning before they have a chance to soften and caramelize.

Why add vinegar to caramelize onions? ›

Vinegar. This is our secret ingredient to make the best caramelized onions. Vinegar adds a touch of acidity to balance out the sweetness of the onions. It elevates their flavor wonderfully.

What kind of onion is best for caramelized onion? ›

You can caramelize any kind of onion, but yellow or Spanish onions tend to offer the most balanced-sweet-savory flavor profile and are the most versatile for different dishes. Sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla work too, but keep in mind that their flavor will become even sweeter once caramelized.

Is sugar added to caramelize onions? ›

Onions are naturally sweet; and as caramel comes from the simple cooking of sugar when you slowly cook onions over an extended period of time, the natural sugars in the onions caramelize, making the result intensely and wonderfully flavorful.

Do onions caramelize faster with a lid? ›

Once the water is boiling or close to it, put a lid on the pan so the onions can steam. This essentially massively speeds up the process of wilting the onions, which can be the first 15-20 minutes of the sautéing process.

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