Sweet Onion Sauce
This isn’t your everyday Sweet Onion Sauce. It’s thick, rich, creamy, and buttery and perfect on so many different dishes. I love serving it on burgers, melting it over grilled chicken, or just smearing it on crackers. It’s addictively delicious and so easy to make!
This Sweet Onion Sauce, also known as sweet onion brown butter, is a big hit around my house in the summer months. I keep it in the fridge and serve it whenever we have grilled steak, chicken, shrimp or fish. A dollop of this Sweet Onion Sauce on top melts down, adding so much flavor to everything.
Sweet Onion Sauce
There’s only a handful of ingredients in this recipe, and it all starts with butter. Use good quality salted butter, and grab some sweet onions. You’ll need about 4 cups of chopped onions. Vidalia or Walla Walla onions are the best pick for this recipe as they’re the sweetest.
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Patience is key to making this recipe. You’re going to caramelize the onions, and you just can’t rush that. Be patient, stir frequently, and in about an hour, you’ll have the most decadent and amazing caramelized onions ever. Then the rest of the recipe magic happens, and at the end, you’ve got over a cup of the most amazing Sweet Onion Sauce on the planet!
Why I love this recipe
- It might take a while to cook, but it’s super easy and so worth the time!
- It’s perfect over everything from steamed veggies to grilled meats.
- This sweet onion butter sauce is deliciously different and always gets gobbled up!
Gather these ingredients
- Sweet onions – You’ll need 4 cups of finely diced onions, so about 2 large onions.
- Salted butter – You’ll need 2.5 sticks of butter.
- White balsamic vinegar – You can find this in most grocery stores wherever vinegars are sold.
- Coconut sugar
- Fresh thyme – An optional garnish, but thyme and onions go perfectly together!
How to make Sweet Onion Sauce
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet and then add the chopped onions. Turn the heat to low and cook until the onions turn golden brown, about 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes or so.
- Add the remaining 1 cup of butter to the skillet with the onions and cook until the butter solids begin to brown, about another 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add 2 tablespoons of white balsamic vinegar and 2 teaspoons of coconut sugar. Stir until well mixed.
- Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and allow it to cool on the counter for about an hour.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of chopped fresh thyme and serve!
Tips & substitutions
- Walla Walla or Vidalia onions are my first pick for this vegetarian onion sauce, but any sweet onion will work.
- Don’t rush the onions! They take time to caramelize. Turn the heat to low and stir every 10-15 minutes for perfect onions.
- You can use regular white or brown sugar if you don’t have coconut sugar. Adjust the sugar to your tastes.
- Don’t add additional salt if you’re using salted butter. The sauce will be well seasoned.
Serving suggestions
This is an amazing condiment to serve on any charcuterie board, especially my favorite Mediterranean Charcuterie Board or it’ll jazz up any crackers and dip platter. To really impress your friends and family, serve it on top of veggie burgers or marinated steak. It’s delicious in so many ways!
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Let it come to room temperature before using.
Check out these awesome onion recipes while you’re here
Get the Recipe:
Sweet Onion Sauce (onion butter)
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet onion, such as Walla Walla or Vildalia, finely chopped (4 cups)
- 1 cup salted butter, + 4 Tbsp
- 2 Tbsp White balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp coconut sugar
- Fresh thyme, chopped finely for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt 4 Tbsp of butter and add the chopped onion on low heat. Stir and cook until tender and the onions turn a golden brown, for about 1 hour. Set your time so they don’t burn or get too brown, and stir every 15 minutes.
- Add the remaining 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter. Allow to melt and continue cooking until the mixture is brown, another 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add a splash or two of vinegar, and 2 tsp of coconut sugar; stir until combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a small dish and allow to cool for an hour. Sprinkle with a TINY BIT of fresh chopped thyme (to add color).
- Use for a dip with chips, crackers or veggies, or smear on just-grilled chicken or steak.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
