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Home / Side Dishes

Burger Onions

Add some excitement to your next burger night with caramelized onions flavored with brown sugar, honey, and balsamic vinegar. You'll Never eat a plain burger again!

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

03/03/2025
5 from 3 votes
Jump to Recipe
Serves: 6
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
a pair of tongs adding Burger Onions to a burger
Burger Onions being placed on a pork burger
burger onions being placed on a burger
Sautéed and caramelized red onions.
Burger Onions being placed on a pork burger
a burger being topped with burger onions

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These Burger onions are sweet and soft with just enough saltiness to make them irresistible! A delicious, easy way to add flavor to burgers.

a pan of caramelized Burger Onions

Craving a delicious burger? Burger onions are the perfect way to top off your homemade burgers. They’re soft, sweet, and add the perfect flavor and texture. With our easy-to-use recipe, you can make the best burger of your life in just minutes.

Why This Recipe Works

  • The combination of brown sugar and honey makes for an amazing caramelization, which you can taste in every bite.
  • Balsamic vinegar adds an extra layer of flavor and brightness to the dish.
  • Varying heat levels – Starting the onions over a higher heat helped them release their excess moisture. Then once slightly broken down, we lowered the heat until it softened. Then finished by turning up the heat to help with deep browning (hello, flavor). This took about 10 minutes instead of the typical 15 to 20.

Onion Buying Guide

When choosing onions, pay attention to the firmness, skin quality, and color. Here are a few tips:

a box of red, yellow, and white onions

Onions should be firm to the touch, without any bruising or blemishes. The skin should be dry, with no brown spots or mold. Choose onions that are a deep, rich color, or for white onions, choose the most vibrant and avoid onions that are pale or have green spots. Store onions in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight.

Ingredient Notes

onions, brown sugar, honey, and balsamic vinegar

Onions: I used red onions, but you can also use yellow or white onions.

Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work great in this recipe.

Honey: Use mild-flavored honey for this recipe such as Clover Honey (AKA runny honey).

Balsamic vinegar: You can use regular balsamic vinegar or white or apple cider vinegar makes a great alternative.

Step By Step Instructions

Cut 2 pounds of onions in half and then slice them into thin pieces that are about ¼ inch thick.

red onions sliced on a cutting board

Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Then put red onions in the frying pan. Cook them for 2 to 3 minutes on high heat, stirring often so they don’t stick to the pan. Lower the heat and cover them. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until they are soft.

softened onion in a pan

Remove the lid, and add the honey and balsamic vinegar.

honey, and balsamic vinegar added to the onions in the pan

Then add the brown sugar.

brown sugar sugar added to the pan with the onion mixture

Mix to combine and raise the heat to medium-high, stirring occasionally until they are caramelized. Add salt and pepper to taste.

salt and pepper added to the onion mixture in the pan

Stir to combine. Taste for seasoning before adding them to your burger.

burger onions being placed on a burger

Erren’s Top Tips

  • You can use any type of onion you like for this recipe, such as yellow, white, or even pearl onions.
  • If you want to make sure the onions are cooked evenly, cut them into evenly sized slices.
  • If you find that the onions are sticking to the pan, add a little water to the pan.

Make ahead and Freezing Instructions

Caramelized onions can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to one month.

Rate This Recipe

Click here to leave a star rating!

a burger being topped with burger onions

Recipe

Burger Onions

Add some excitement to your next burger night with caramelized onions flavored with brown sugar, honey, and balsamic vinegar. You’ll Never eat a plain burger again!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs onions
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Halve 2 pounds of onions and slice ¼ inch thick through the root end.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until shimmering.
  • Stir in onions, cover, and cook (stirring occasionally), until onions are softened and release their juices, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove the lid; Add the brown sugar, honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high, and continue to cook, stirring often, until onions are deeply browned about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Taste for seasoning before serving.
Show Nutrition Hide Nutrition

Nutrition

Calories: 119 | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 228mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Created by Erren Hart
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5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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8 responses

  1. Tobias Avatar
    Tobias
    03/21/2024

    These are delicious, and great for burgers. They definitely aren’t caramelised, though, just sweetened—caramelising onions takes well over an hour, not fifteen minutes!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/21/2024

      Thank you for your feedback, Tobias! You’re absolutely right that traditional caramelized onions can take quite a bit longer to achieve that deep, rich caramelization. In this recipe, we aim to create a quicker version that still imparts a sweet and flavorful touch to burgers without the lengthy cooking time. However, for those seeking the classic deeply caramelized flavor, taking the extra time to cook the onions low and slow would indeed be the way to go. Your insight is appreciated!

      Reply
  2. Erren Hart Avatar
    Erren Hart
    03/13/2023

    Thank you for leaving a comment about this recipe. Your feedback is appreciated, and I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for future recipes. Thanks again for trying it out and sharing your thoughts!

    Reply
  3. Vonda Avatar
    Vonda
    10/24/2022

    These Burger Onions are fantastic! The sweetness of the brown sugar and honey really complements the natural balsamic vinegar flavor of the onions. Everyone went crazy for them!

    Reply
    1. Erren Hart Avatar
      Erren Hart
      10/24/2022

      I’m so glad to hear it! Thank you for trying out this recipe and for leaving such a positive review. We’re glad you enjoyed it and hope you’ll come back again soon!

      Reply
  4. Erren Hart Avatar
    Erren Hart
    09/01/2022

    Thank you for trying our burger onions Kerry, and for leaving such a positive review. We’re glad you enjoyed them!

    Reply
  5. Erren Hart Avatar
    Erren Hart
    07/26/2022

    Wonderful to hear, Delores! You’re the best! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Erren Hart Avatar
    Erren Hart
    07/08/2022

    It is such a pleasure to hear that you enjoyed the recipe. I’m so glad we could provide something yummy and exciting to serve on the 4th!

    Reply
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