Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions

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Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions are so easy to make! No stirring, hands off side dish recipe for topping for hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, steak and more!

Easy Caramelized Onions

Caramelized onions are really very easy to make, if you have the time to sit at the stove for a while. These onions cook low and slow and do need to be stirred often so they don’t burn. But he end result is the most delicious, sweet onion topping that goes with SO many different things.

So What Can You Use These Caramelized Onions On?

Let’s get right to it. Because I know you’re thinking, what the heck do I need all those caramelized onions for???

Everything. Here are some ideas:

Steak: Any steak, but definitely try our Famous Whiskey Steak
Caramelized Onion Chicken Salad
Sausage & Pepper Sandwiches
Quick Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Our Favorite Grilled Chicken
Any Pizza Recipe
Low Carb Hamburger Lettuce Wraps or French Onion Burgers
Add into a Baked Ziti recipe

Need I say more? I hope I’ve convinced you just how essential this easy caramelized onions recipe is.

How to Make Caramelized Onions in the Slow Cooker

We love using this slow cooker recipe to make caramelized onions for one, because it’s so darn easy. All you do is add everything to your slow cooker, set it on low and walk away.

If you’re around to stir once or twice in between cooking that’s fine, if not, not big deal. It’ll all work itself out. What you’re looking for is that deep, caramelized edge you see here from the onions cooking all day in your crock pot.

Our favorite slow cooker is this rectangular one that we use often for different types of recipes, we’ll link to it for you at the bottom of the post. What i like about this slow cooker is that it’s wide and shallow, so you’ll get better caramelization than a deeper crock pot.

The other reason we like this slow cooker caramelized onion recipe is that you can make a LOT. If you make caramelized onions in a skillet you can really only make the amount your skillet can hold in about a single layer.

So unless you have a couple of skillets going, this slow cooker method is that way to go if you need a lot of caramelized onions. These onions are great for parties if you’re serving sausages, hot dogs or burgers and have a bunch of different toppings out.

But like I said before, we put these sweet onions on just about everything, so we make a batch and freeze them so we can have a delicious, low fat, low calorie burst of flavor whenever we want it!

What Other Flavors Can I Use In This Recipe?

If you’re not a fan of thyme, which by the way goes perfectly with these slow cooker onions…but I get it. We all have different tastes! Try using fresh rosemary instead, or a couple of bay leaves. Dried herbs will work well in this recipe, too but you’ll need to use more since fresh herbs are stronger in flavor.

besides herbs, you can add other flavors to these slow cooker onions, too! Like it spicy? Add sriracha or chili paste for spicy slow cooker onions! Or if you like Asian flavors try soy sauce and hoisin…

One of our favorite twists for this caramelized onion recipe is adding a couple of shots of bourbon and a little cayenne pepper. Now that’s a burger topping I can get behind!

Looking For More Vegetables Side Dish Ideas?

Loaded, Cheesy Brussels Sprouts

Buddha’s Baked Beans

Oven Roasted Balsamic Asparagus

Pan Roasted Radishes in Bacon Cream Sauce

Oven Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Grandma’s Best Stuffed Artichokes

SHOP THIS RECIPE!