35 Onion Recipes That Prove They Deserve To Be Front And Center (2024)

35 Onion Recipes That Prove They Deserve To Be Front And Center (1)

Not all onions are one size fits all, but all are incredibly delicious. Whether you've got shallots, scallions, or any variety of red or yellow onions, we've got you covered on recipes perfect for the onion-obsessed. Want tips on how to choose the best onion for your meal? We've got a handy guide to choosing the right onion types for any dish.

Caramelized, pickled, or fried, onions are some of our favorite ingredients to add to any dish. They lend brightness, spice, zip, and a sweet savoriness that's basically impossible to mimic. Having a jar of pickled red onions or caramelized onions on hand is a must in our kitchens, especially when it comes to topping tacos and burgers.

Onions are often stealing the show in our favorite meals. We could write entire poems about French onion soup and all the ways we love to eat this rich, umami-packed classic. Instead, we developed tons of ways to add the traditional flavor to appetizers, casseroles, even burgers. Our French onion mac and cheese, French onion chicken meatballs, and French onion chicken are sure to be some of your new favorite weeknight meals.

Green onions (a.k.a. scallions) are essentially immature onions that have yet to form a bulb. They are so much more than a garnish to our favorite Asian dishes or roasts, especially in scallion pancakes, tteokbokki, and pork and shrimp dumplings.

We can't even bring up onions without including mention of the crispy, crunchy bloomin' onion! Whether you prefer one that's baked or an air-fried bloomin' onions (or even bloomin' onion bites), you gotta make our take on Outback's sauce for endless dipping.

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1

Easy French Onion Soup

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Our version of the classic swaps in white wine (instead of red wine or sherry) and uses a combination of chicken and beef stock. The result? A slightly sweeter, but just as cozy spin on the rich, umami-packed soup.

Get the Easy French Onion Soup recipe.

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2

Fried Onions

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If green bean casserole is your favorite dish at Thanksgiving for its crunchy fried onions, we feel you. Top these easy fried onions on burgers, tacos—or eat them on their own. You might never buy the store-bought kind again.

Get the Fried Onions recipe.

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3

Sour Cream & Onion Dip

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Letting the onions caramelize properly is key to the flavor of this dip. Going low and slow lets them develop color while breaking down and becoming sweet and jammy. It will stay good in the fridge for a few days so it's great to make ahead of time!

Get the .

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4

Baked Bloomin' Onion

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Pro tip: We recommend buying the biggest onions you can find to make this stunner. It will make your job of separating the layers easier. When pulling the slices apart, don't fret too much if some fall out. Just roast them alongside (or stick them back in!)

Get the Baked Bloomin' Onion recipe.

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5

French Onion Chicken Meatballs

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We think everything can be improved by just adding meatballs. Here, they turn a soup into a legit meal, and don't worry, we added even more cheese. Gruyère goes into the meatballs and then the whole thing gets topped with another layer before serving. And of course, there's plenty of caramelized onions.

Get the French Onion Chicken Meatballs recipe.

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6

Buttermilk Onion Rings

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Any kind of onions will work here, but we use Vidalia for a sweeter ring. Because salt can draw out water from the onions and make them sweat, we save salting for after the fry is done; this helps keep the batter stick to the onion versus your pot.

Get the Buttermilk Onion Rings recipe.

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7

Hamburger Steaks

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Hamburger steak is similar to Salisbury steak in that both are smothered in an onion and mushroom gravy. The main distinction? We keep the patty mixture simply seasoned and skip tomato paste and ketchup for a beefier bite.

Get the Hamburger Steaks recipe.

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8

Scallion Pancakes

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Scallion pancakes might be one of our favorite appetizers ever. Crispy, flaky, and with the *slightest* bit of chew, it's easy to polish off a whole plate in minutes.

Get the Scallion Pancakes recipe.

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9

Pickled Red Onions

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Meet one of our favorite staples. These couldn't be easier to make, and they instantly brighten up any meal (we love them on salads and tacos). Besides being incredibly crunchy, their beautiful pink color adds a visual pop to any bowl it graces.

Get the Pickled Red Onions recipe.

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10

French Onion Chicken

This recipe comes together in one skillet and in less than an hour, meaning it's way faster than French Onion Soup. Dunking good crusty bread into the extra pan sauce is highly encouraged.

Get the French Onion Chicken recipe.

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11

Savory Matzo Brei

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There are many things you can do with matzo, but matzo brei— matzo fried with eggs—is at the top of our list. Here, sweet and savory sautéed onions take this classic Passover breakfast up a notch with minimal effort.

Get the Savory Matzo Brei recipe.

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12

Caramelized Onions

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Caramelized onions are cooked low and slow until they're deeply golden and sweet. The onions will get jammy and become so addicting you'll be snacking right out of the pan before you top them on your burgers.

Get the Caramelized Onions recipe.

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13

Air Fryer Blooming Onion

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We know we've already made a baked Blooming Onion, but we couldn't resist trying it out in the air fryer too. Even after skipping the deep fry, this monster still comes out as endlessly dippable as ever.

Get the Air Fryer Blooming Onion recipe.

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14

Potato Kugel

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Think of this savory variety of a sweet noodle kugel as a giant latke. Grated onion and potato are combined to create a crispy, slightly sweet dish that's great on its own, but even better with a dollop of sour cream and/or applesauce.

Get the Potato Kugel recipe.

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15

Classic Green Bean Casserole

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To us, green bean casserole just might be better than turkey at the Thanksgiving table. Especially when it means loading on as many fried onions as we choose.

Get the Classic Green Bean Casserole recipe.

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16

French Dip Squares

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Turns out you don't need fancy ingredients to make the best party appetizer ever. These easy French dip squares are loaded with complex flavors (thanks caramelized onions!) AND will feed a hungry crowd. The perfect shortcut to a French dip sandwich, we'll be making these over and over and over again.

Get the French Dip Squares recipe.

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17

French Onion Rice

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Caramelized onions, buttery basmati rice, and melty Gruyère—what's not to like about this French onion rice dish? Serve it as a side alongside proteins like air fryer pork chops or creamy Tuscan chicken, or as a main all on its own.

Get the French Onion Rice recipe.

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18

Sheet-Pan Pork Chops With Apples

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Pork chops pair perfectly with apples and onions, a savory sweet combination that balances out the meat's richness. Glazed with a mustard-balsamic mixture, this will become your new favorite sheet-pan dinner.

Get the Sheet-Pan Pork Chops With Apples recipe.

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19

Baked Cream Cheese Pasta

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The famous Baked Feta Pasta is honestly perfect as-is, but we couldn't resist the urge to swap in cream cheese, and add bacon and onions. Just don't forget to save some pasta water before draining. That starchy water will bring the sauce together and help it stick to your noodles!

Get the Baked Cream Cheese Pasta recipe.

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20

Sausage & Peppers

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This dish is great on it's own, but it's even better in a hoagie roll, or on top of pasta with some marinara. Don't feel like turning on the oven? Check out these .

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35 Onion Recipes That Prove They Deserve To Be Front And Center (2024)

FAQs

Which is an onion based dish answer? ›

From crispy onion rings, pakodas to zingy chutneys, relishes, curries, sandwiches, soups, salads and much more - there is just so much that can be done with this humble ingredient.

What does onion do in recipes? ›

Use Onions to Spice Up Your Own Dishes. Onions taste great, and they look great, too. Their versatility allows them to add flavor and texture to soups, salsas, curries, and sauces. They can also act as toppers for entrees like chili, hot dogs, and red meat.

What kinds of foods are onions used in? ›

Onions can be roasted, grilled, pickled, caramelized, battered and deep-fried, sliced thinly or chopped and served raw in salads, sandwiches, dips, or as a garnish for tacos, making them among the most versatile and ubiquitous ingredients in the culinary arts.

Why do all recipes start with onions? ›

It's because onions really form the bedrock of our cooking. They are often the first thing that goes in the pan, and they are the flavor base for everything from chicken soup to a quick weeknight skillet pasta.

Which part of onion is not edible? ›

Onion roots are numerous and have a limited lifespan. Fibrous roots have several features. An onion, therefore, has fibrous roots rather than tap roots. Roots are not edible.

Which onion has the most flavor? ›

White Onions: A stronger, spicier, more pungent flavour than yellow onions. More oniony, for lack of a better term, than yellow onions. They don't hold up as well when cooked, as they tend to fall apart. Red Onions: The salad onion.

What are the 5 ways to eat onions? ›

They can be eaten raw, sautéed, roasted, marinated or grilled. Onions add layers of flavor and nutrition to your meals. Cooking with onions just got easier with this list: Use raw onion in salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, homemade salsas and relishes for unmatched flavor and crispness.

What can I do with too many onions? ›

Keep them in the fridge all week and add them to your meats, or pizzas, or casseroles. Make an Onion Soup out of them. Take a couple and pickle them to add to other foods, such as tacos, burgers and salads. And, you CAN freeze them for up to six months.

What is the best use of onion? ›

The onion bulb is commonly eaten as food. Onion bulb and extract are also used to make medicine. Onion contains chemicals that seem to reduce swelling and lung tightness related to asthma. It also contains chemicals that seem to reduce cholesterol and lower blood sugar.

What onion is hottest? ›

Wintering Onions are the hottest, strongest variety of onion, therefore they stand up to cooking really well. These hot beasts are going to add the most flavor to your cooked dishes and you can use them interchangeably except where color matters.

What onion is the sweetest? ›

Sweet Onions – Walla Walla and Vidalia are the most common kinds of sweet onions. These onions lack the sharp, astringent taste of other onions and really do taste sweet.

Why do you soak onions before cooking? ›

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.

Why do chefs break an onion? ›

How do professional chefs chop onions? Smashing an onion is said to be one of the fastest ways to peel an onion. And when you work fast around this sharp-smelling vegetable, you're also lessening the chances of you crying over your chopping board.

Why don t chefs cry when cutting onions? ›

Most of the onion's sulfoxides reside in its root -- the round part with hairs at the bottom of the onion. If you can leave the root untouched, you'll significantly reduce the amount of chemicals that make you cry when cutting. One simple method is to chop off the root end and then discard it when you start.

What is the onion based on? ›

The Onion's articles cover current events, both real and fictional, parodying the tone and format of traditional news organizations with stories, editorials, and man-on-the-street interviews using a traditional news website layout and an editorial voice modeled after that of the Associated Press.

What are 5 examples of the onion family? ›

In fact, they are commonly referred to as “the stinking lilies” for their distinctive aromatic properties. There is a wide range of species within the genus Allium. They include: onions, leeks, garlic, chives, and shallots.

What is onion answer? ›

Onion (Allium cepa) is a plant that is grown worldwide. The onion bulb is commonly eaten as food. Onion bulb and extract are also used to make medicine.

What products are made from onions? ›

Onions and their products
  • Dehydrated onion soup.
  • Dried onions.
  • Fresh onion sprouts.
  • Fried onions.
  • Heatable onion soup.
  • Onion chutneys.
  • Onion jams.
  • Onion powder.

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