Simple Sauteed Onions

This sauteed onions recipe comes out golden brown and tender every time! Here’s how to saute onions for a side dish, sandwich topping, and more.

Here’s another in our kitchen basics: and this one is a skill every home cook should know. How to sauté onions! These easy Sauteed Onions are a building block of the kitchen: you can use them on sandwiches, in grilled cheese, in dips, or even as a side dish. They’re tender, golden brown, and make anything more rich and savory: yet they only take 10 minutes to whip up! Here’s all about how to saute onions.

Sauteed onions vs caramelized onions: what’s the difference?

First thing to note: sauteed onions are not caramelized onions. What’s the difference?

• Sauteed onions are cooked only 10 minutes in the skillet, so they hold their shape. The onion flavor is more pronounced than a caramelized onion.
• Caramelized onions are cooked for about 40 to 50 minutes over low heat until they completely break down. They are dark brown and have a very soft, mushy texture and intensely sweet flavor.

Looking for caramelized onions instead? Go to Perfect Caramelized Onions.

How to saute onions

Caramelized onions are great and all: but most of the time, we don’t have 40 to 50 minutes to spare! That’s where these sauteed onions come in. You can use them as a side dish or a sandwich component, and they only take 10 minutes to cook. Here’s what to know about sauteed onions:

• Use butter for best flavor, but olive oil works too. There’s something about the rich savory flavor of butter. But olive oil is nearly as good!
• Keep the heat on medium high. Don’t go higher or the onions will burn before they’re tender!
• Cook until browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it and taste test at the end. You may find you want to go a little longer: that’s ok too.

How to cut onions: a primer!

If you asked us one of the top skills for any home cook, we’d say: “how to cut an onion!” Yes, onions are required in so many great recipes that it’s almost impossible to get anywhere without this building block skill. For this sauteed onions recipe, we like to cut the onions in a style called French cut. This makes lovely sliver shapes of the onions, which looks more attractive than the long strings you get when you cut the other way. Here’s how to cut an onion…the best way:

• Slice off the ends, then cut in half: Once the ends are removed, stand the onion on its flat cut side and cut it down the center.
• Remove the paper. With your fingers, remove the paper and outer layer of the onion.
• Cut following the curve of the onion. Place the onion on its flat side then cut slices following the curve of the onion, from the tip to the root. Want to see? Go to minute 1:40 of this How to Cut an Onion video.

Optional adder: balsamic vinegar!

Want to jazz up your sauteed onions? Add a hint of balsamic vinegar! When you are about 5 minutes into the saute, add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. It will evaporate for the rest of the cooking, but leave behind a tangy, sweet essence to the sauteed onions. It’s one of our favorite treats!

Speaking of, you can also add a splash of red wine to onions while you’re cooking them! It infuses a bit of complexity into the flavor as well.

Ways to serve sauteed onions

OK, you’ve got your sauteed onions: now how to serve them? There are endless ideas of ways to use sauteed onions: and we’d love to hear yours! Tell us in the comments below. Here are a few of our top ways to enjoy them:

• Side dish. Add add a sprinkle of fresh herbs (like thyme, oregano or chives) and serve them with steak or pasta.
• Grilled cheese. Yes, there’s really nothing better than a great grilled cheese with onions.
• Taco topping. Try them on black bean tacos or vegan carnitas tacos.
• Crostini. Make homemade goat cheese crostini and top with onions.
• Onion dip. Chop them finely and use as a stand in for caramelized onion dip.

What else would you use them for? Let us know in the comments below. Or, keep reading for a few variations…

Variations on sauteed onions

Onions are fantastic at playing second fiddle. In fact, they’re one of the best supporting characters in all of your pantry ingredients! There are a few ways we love to combine sauteed onions with other veggies. Here’s what to try:

• Sauteed mushrooms and onions: Dare we say, these are even better than plain onions! These mushrooms and onions make a killer side to steak or vegan dishes.
• Sauteed peppers and onions: Bell peppers are even sweeter with onions along for the ride. Try these sauteed peppers and onions.

This sauteed onions recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Print

More with onions

Love onions, or got some to use up? Here are more tasty onion recipes:

• Bake up a sheet of Easy Roasted Onions or Roasted Carrots and Onions
• Fire up your oven for Grilled Peppers and Onion
• Make a batch of Quick Pickled Onions