Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Slow cooker caramelized onions are perfect for those times when you don’t want to spend an hour caramelizing onions on the stovetop. These cook while you sleep!
How long it takes: 15 hours
Equipment you’ll need: slow cooker
Servings: makes 4 cups
Crockpot Caramelized Onions
- Sweet and delicious: I’m head-over-heels in love with caramelized onions. They’re like candy, so sweet and flavorful. They are so versatile, too.
- 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 rather soupy onion mixture. You’ll want to eliminate some of the excess moisture. Here are your two options:
- Continue to cook for 3 to 5 hours with the lid ajar to evaporate some of the liquid. When I tested this method, I continued to cook my slow cooker caramelized onions for about additional 5 hours (with the lid ajar) to achieve a nice thick consistency, almost jam-like. I’m really super happy with the result!
- Drain them and be done with it. Disclaimer: The caramelized onions aren’t 100% the same with this method, so if you’re a purist, this might not be for you. For most uses, this method is fine.
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 own crostini and top with spread with soft goat cheese and onions.
- Spread them on your sandwiches. Try them in ham and cheese sliders.
- Top turkey burgers with cheese, caramelized onions, and your sauce of choice. So good! You might also want to try air fryer burgers.
- Top grilled meat with the onions. Bonus points if you add sautéed mushrooms! Try marinating the chicken with balsamic marinade. You might also like pork chops with balsamic caramelized onions.
More Onion Recipes
I love it when onions play a starring role in a recipe, don’t you? Here are 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
- Sautéed onions (similar to caramelized onions but not as sweet and jammy)
Recipe
Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions
Slow cooker caramelized onions are perfect for those times when you don’t want to spend an hour caramelizing them on the stovetop. These cook while you sleep!
Ingredients
- 8 to 10 onions, sliced in half moons, about ½ inch thick
- 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).8 to 10 onions, sliced in half moons, about ½ inch thick, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- To eliminate extra liquid in the onions, cook them for another 3 to 5 hours with the lid ajar to thicken the onions. This will also result in a darker, sweeter onion. If you’re in a rush, simply drain the extra liquid from the onions.
- Refrigerate onions in a covered container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 4 months.
Notes
- Makes about 4 cups.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 50kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 110mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 45IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
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)…
I think that would work well! I don’t have a setting for that, but I do that often with slow cooker recipes.
are caramelized onions not the total best!?! love this low-maintainence way of preparing them, this is a keeper Rach! xo
This is GENIUS. Where has this been my whole life?
ahhhh how I loooove caramelized onions!!!!!
These look amazing! Such a hands-off way to get great flavor :)
sounds great
Good idea! I love them too but never go to the work of making them-problem solved.
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.