Chicken Free Paleo Caramelized Onions
Caramelized onions are one of those kitchen transformations that feel almost magical — a pile of raw sliced onions slowly coaxing into something deeply golden, jammy, and rich over low, patient heat. This version keeps things beautifully simple, relying on avocado oil and a pinch of sea salt to coax out every bit of natural sweetness from three large yellow onions. The optional splash of balsamic vinegar at the end adds a subtle tang and a gorgeous glossy finish that takes the whole thing up a notch. Because the ingredient list is so short and clean, there's zero guesswork about what's actually in your pan — no hidden additives, no animal proteins, just honest whole-food cooking. These onions are endlessly versatile: pile them onto burgers, stir them into mashed cauliflower, layer them over a grain bowl, or eat them straight off the spoon. The low-and-slow method is the real secret here, so resist the urge to rush it — those 40-plus minutes of gentle stirring are what turn ordinary onions into something genuinely craveable.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 3 large yellow onions (about 2 lb), halved and thinly sliced
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat the avocado oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
- 2
Add the sliced onions and salt, then stir to coat evenly in the oil. Cook, stirring every 3–4 minutes, until the onions have wilted and released most of their moisture, about 10 minutes.
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