Roasted Onions Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Roasted onions are wonderfully flavorful and caramelized. They make a wonderful side dish or topping for many different meat and poultry dishes.

Even if you're not a fan of them in their raw state (I'm not), I think you will love them oven-baked. They are mellow and sweet.

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Raw onions are quite sharp. I tend to avoid them. But something magical happens when you cook them. They become creamy and mild, almost sweet.

Baking onions in the oven makes themtender, browned, and very flavorful. This is a recipe that I like to make because it's truly easy, yet it produces delicious results.

It's also a very versatile recipe - you can use the roasted onions as a topping or even as a side dish all on its own.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Roasted Onions Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • Related Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card

Ingredients

You'll only need three simple ingredients to make this tasty side dish. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

  • Medium onions: White or yellow onions work well in this recipe (here's the difference between different onion colors), although I usually tend to use yellow ones.
  • Butter: I use plenty of butter - 2 tablespoons per medium onion plus more for the pan. The butter adds wonderful flavor to the dish. Another tasty option would be to use olive oil. But personally, I prefer butter.
  • Kosher salt: I use kosher salt in most of my recipes, this one included. If using fine salt (such as sea salt), you should use half of the amount listed, or the dish could end up too salty.
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Variations

Since the onions themselves are so flavorful, I don't usually add any other seasonings. But if you'd like, you can season them with garlic powder and oregano.

You can also sprinkle them with grated parmesan cheese after the first 20 minutes of cooking.

Roasted Onions Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full details. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

  • Your first step is to peel the onions, slice off their edges, then cut them into four or five thick slices, as shown in the video below.
  • Now, place the slices in a well-buttered rimmed baking dish. Coat them with melted butter and sprinkle them with Kosher salt. (Photo 1).
  • The last step is to bake the onions until golden brown. This should take about 40 minutes in a 400°F oven. (Photo 2).
  • You should flip the slices midway through baking. (Photo 3).
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Expert Tip

Keep a close eye on the onions during the last 10 minutes of baking to ensure they don't burn. Your oven might run hotter than mine.

Recipe FAQs

Is this a topping or a side dish?

We don't often think about onions as a separate side dish. We tend to use them as an ingredient in other recipes. But in this case, they do make a wonderful, very flavorful side dish.

Why do onions become sweet when they're cooked?

Onions contain a relatively large amount of sugar. During the cooking process, large sugar molecules are broken down into smaller ones and those have a sweet taste.

Are yellow and white onions interchangeable?

White onions are sweeter and milder than yellow ones. They're not as pungent when served raw.

I wouldn't use yellow onions in a recipe that calls for raw white ones. But if a recipe calls for cooking yellow onions, it's fine to use white onions instead.

Serving Suggestions

This lovely side dish goes really well with meat and poultry dishes. Since I bake it in a400°F oven, I like to serve it with a maindish that I can cook in the same oven. It's just so convenient!

So, among other choices, I often serve roasted onions with baked pork chops, baked meatballs, or beef tenderloin roast.

They also make a wonderful topping for hamburgers and steaks, including broiled hamburgers, turkey burgers, bison burgers, Tri-tip roast, New York strip steak, and ribeye steak.

Storing Leftovers

The leftovers keep quite well in the fridge, in a sealed container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.

The leftovers are also very good when chopped and mixed into an omelet or a scramble, such as spinach and eggs scramble, fluffy scrambled eggs, and egg white omelet.

Roasted Onions Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (4)
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Recipe Card

Roasted Onions Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (9)

4.98 from 98 votes

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Roasted Onions Recipe

Roasted onions are wonderfully flavorful and caramelized. They make a wonderful side dish or topping for meats and poultry.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 123kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F.

  • Grease a square 8-inch Pyrex baking dish with butter.

  • Peel the onion and slice it into ¼-inch-thick slices, as shown in the video below. You will probably end up with five slices.

  • Arrange the slices in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Melt the butter and pour it all over the onions. Sprinkle with Kosher salt.

  • Roast the onions until the bottoms are golden, about 20 minutes.

  • Turn the onion slices to the other side and bake them until golden-brown, about 20 more minutes.

Video

Notes

You can easily double this recipe and use a 9 X 13-inch Pyrex pan.

Keep a close eye on the onions during the last 10 minutes of baking to ensure they don't burn. Your oven might run hotter than mine.

Since the onions are so flavorful, I don't add any other seasonings. But if you'd like, you can season the onions with garlic powder and oregano. You can also sprinkle them with grated parmesan cheese after the first 20 minutes of cooking.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 0.5recipe | Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 0.7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 363mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g

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Most of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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About the Author

Roasted Onions Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (20) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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Roasted Onions Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

How healthy are roasted onions? ›

Onions offer many benefits for your health, including reducing risk for cancer and heart disease. They also have fiber which can help with digestion. This is a great way to use any extra onions you may have.

Which onion is best to roast? ›

Yellow Onions

If a recipe doesn't specify, chances are it's calling for one of these old faithfuls (also called brown onions). In fact, nearly 90 percent of all storage onions grown in the U.S. are yellow. They're severe when raw but mellow when sautéed, roasted, or caramelized.

Can you cook with red onions? ›

For most cooked dishes, red and yellow onions are interchangeable, so feel free to use what you have on hand. But if you're looking for a gorgeous color—plus the antioxidant anthocyanins that come with that color—reach for spicy red onions and give your dish that dash of drama. Glass vs.

What is the healthiest way to eat onions? ›

Eating raw onions can help reduce your blood sugar levels, which is a key factor in controlling type 1 and 2 diabetes. Reduced cancer risk. The sulfur compounds and quercetin found in onions have been linked to the reduction of various cancers — including stomach, prostate, lung, and ovarian cancers.

What is the healthiest onion to cook with? ›

Red and yellow onions are richer in antioxidants than other types. In fact, yellow onions may contain almost 11 times more antioxidants than white onions ( 25 ).

How long does roasted onion last? ›

Leftover roasted onions will last in the fridge for three to four days in an airtight container or plastic bag. Then, reheat them as a side dish, or use them in other dishes, such as slow cooker roast chicken or skillet meals.

What is the best onion for everyday cooking? ›

Yellow onions are your go-to cooking onions. This onion has yellow skin and a strong flavor due to its high sulphur content, which mellows out during cooking, becoming sweet and flavorful.

What herbs go with onion? ›

Depending on what you are serving the onions with, you can enrich their flavor by adding herbs such as rosemary and thyme or spices such as black pepper, chili peppers or cloves.

Why do you soak red onions in water? ›

Onions - soaking in cold water to soften the flavor

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Squeeze out excess water before using.

Are red onions healthier than white onions? ›

White and yellow onions are practically identical in terms of nutrition, but red onions contain anthocyanin that give them their rich color. Anthocyanins are a type of antioxidant that have been linked to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, like heart disease and cancer.

Is red onion healthier raw or cooked? ›

Raw onions retain their full complement of vitamins and antioxidants, making them a slightly healthier option if you're looking to maximize your intake of nutrients. However, cooking onions can break down some of their hard-to-digest fibers, making them easier for some people to eat.

How to maximize onion flavor? ›

Add a Touch of Water: The flavor compound MPP is water-soluble. That means adding a little water to sautéed onions can enhance their savoriness. Soak in Vinegar: It only takes about 15 minutes.

Why do you put sugar on 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.

How to get the bitterness out of onions? ›

Just peel and slice the red onion as called for in your recipe, then submerge them in a bowl of cold or ice water. Let them sit for at least ten minutes, stirring once or twice, before draining and using them in your recipe. For added flavor, you can also soak the onions in lime juice, lemon juice, or vinegar.

Are cooked onions still healthy? ›

These sulfur molecules have anticancer effects, and they are slightly lower in cooked onions. That said, baked and sautéed onions contain slightly higher levels of quercetin, the antioxidant that is linked to many health benefits. At the end of the day, both raw and cooked onions are a nutritious addition to your food.

Is it healthy to eat grilled onions? ›

Eating onions that are grilled in a partially hydrogenated vegetable oil will raise your trans fat intake and raise your risk for high cholesterol. Instead, choose onions grilled in a more heart-healthy mono- or polyunsaturated fat like safflower, olive, canola or macadamia nut oil.

Are cooked onions good for gut health? ›

Onions are a rich source of fiber and prebiotics, which are necessary for optimal gut health. Prebiotics are nondigestible types of fiber that are broken down by beneficial gut bacteria. Gut bacteria feed on prebiotics and create short-chain fatty acids, which may help : strengthen gut health.

Are crispy onions good for you? ›

Eaters may not want to consume fried onions on a daily basis, even if they can give food a delightful crunch. Onions may absorb more oil when fried, which increases their calorie content. In order to prevent consuming too many calories and fat, it is preferable to enjoy them in moderation.

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