Grilled Onions - Hey Grill, Hey (2024)

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By Hey Grill Hey

On June 16, 2021 (Updated April 15, 2022)

1 reviews

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These Grilled Onions are a sweet and tasty treat that come off the grill with a beautiful caramelization. They’re awesome on top of burgers or steaks or chopped up in a variety of recipes. In fact, these onions are so sweet, you can eat them as-is for a unique and tasty side!

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Grilled Onions

I truly believe onions add a lot of flavor to recipes. They’re a must-have on my burgers, and I love to start many of my recipes with sautéed onions. While sautéing the onions helps to mellow out the sharp bite, grilling also helps to make the onions sweet and delicious.

The heat from the grill brings out the natural sugars in the onion, and they become soft, sweet, and truly delectable. If you’re not a big fan of onions, try out this recipe and see if your opinion changes (I’m betting it will!).

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Best Onion for Grilling

You can cook any onion you prefer on a grill, but my personal preference is a large, sweet onion like the Vidalia onion. These taste amazing when grilled, and they stay sweet and crisp with an added caramelization when grilled.

If you can’t get a Vidalia onion, any other sweet onion will do. The sweet onions are the most kid-friendly as well if you’re planning on serving these to your family.

You can also grill white, yellow, or red onions, just keep in mind that each onion will taste a bit different once grilled. Definitely go with a sweet onion for this recipe, but try out other onions as well! You might find that you prefer one onion type over another on the grill.

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How to Grill Onions

Ready to sink your teeth into these sweet grilled onions? Here’s how to make your own tasty onions at home:

  1. Prepare the onions. Peel the skin off the onions, and slice them into 1/2-inch rings. Slide a metal skewer through the center of the slices.
  2. Marinate. Combine all ingredients for the marinade in a medium bowl. Pour or brush the marinade over each onion slice ensuring both sides are fully covered with the marinade seasoning. Reserve some marinade for basting while grilling.
  3. Grill. With your grill preheated to 400 degrees F, place the skewered and seasoned onions directly on the grill grates. Grill for approximately 4-5 minutes, basting while the onions grill. Flip the skewers and grill the other side of the onions for another 4-5 minutes. The onions should be dark, but not burned. Stay close by and move the onions if they start to burn (the sugars in the marinade will slightly char, but you don’t want them too dark).
  4. Serve. Once the onions are a perfect golden dark brown, remove them from the grill and serve while still warm.

You can enjoy these grilled onions on top of burgers or steaks, or you can even enjoy them on their own for a delicious side. Any uneaten onions can be chopped up and used in salads or in a variety of recipes that call for onions. Feel free to get creative with these!

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More Grilled Sides

Looking for more awesome sides to cook on the grill? Check out these other awesome goodies that go great with all your BBQ lunches and dinners!

  • Balsamic Marinated Grilled Mushrooms
  • Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings
  • Grilled Vegetables

Grilled Onion Recipe

Ready to toss some grilled onions on your next burger or steak? I guarantee these guys will be total crowd-pleasers! It’s the simple things like these tasty onions that take your backyard BBQ game to the next level.

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Grilled Onions

By: Susie Bulloch (heygrillhey.com)

5 from 1 votes

These Grilled Onions are a sweet and tasty treat that come off the grill with a beautiful caramelization. They're awesome on top of burgers or steaks, or chopped up in a variety of recipes. In fact, these onions are so sweet, you can eat them as-is for a unique and tasty side!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Servings6

Ingredients

  • 3 large sweet onions like vidalias

Grilled Onion Marinade

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat. Preheat the grill to 400 degrees F.

  • Prepare your onions. Slice the root end off of your onions and peel the skin off of the exterior. Slice the onions into 1/2 inch thick slices, keeping the rings together. Discard the end slices on each onion.

  • Skewer the onions. Carefully slide a metal skewer through the center of the onion slices. This is easier when you press the onions down onto a board with the palm of your hand and sliding the skewers into the onions parallel to the board. Repeat until all of the onions are on the skewers.

  • Season the onions. Set the onions flat on a rimmed baking sheet. In a medium bowl, combine the ingredients for the marinade. Pour the marinade over the sliced onion, turning the skewers to coat the onions on both sides.

  • Grill the onions. Place the onions on the preheated grill grates. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side. Baste the onions with the remaining marinade during the grilling process. The onions will darken and slightly char as the sugars in the marinade caramelize, but you don't want them to burn. Move the onions off of the heat if they are getting too hot. Once the onions are cooked to your liking, remove them from the grill and serve warm. The onions should be grilled on the exterior, but still retain their shape and structure.

  • Serve immediately. Serve on their own, on a burger, or on top of a steak for a sweet and savory flavor punch.

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About

FOUNDER/BBQ BOSS LADY

Susie is the BBQ Brain behind the Hey Grill Hey website. Her passion for smoked meats and developing fun, new recipes have landed her on the Food Network, cooking turkeys with Shaq, and on a couple of Guinness World Records. When she’s not grilling, she is hanging out with Todd and their three kids, preferably outdoors!

Read More About Me

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Grilled Onions - Hey Grill, Hey (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to grill onions on the grill? ›

Place onions on preheated grill over indirect heat, and close the lid. Cook until tender, about 1 hour. Remove the tops, and cut into bite size chunks. Place in a serving dish with all the juices from the foil.

Do grilled onions spike blood sugar? ›

Onion does not directly raise blood sugar levels. However, it does contain some carbohydrates, which can affect blood sugar levels. Eating onion in moderation is safe for people with diabetes, but it is essential to keep track of your carbohydrate intake and monitor your blood sugar levels regularly.

What's the difference between caramelized onions and grilled onions? ›

Caramelized onions are not synonymous with grilled onions. Both have their place and grilled onions can be delicious, but grilling is about high heat and caramelization happens slowly over low heat.

Why do grilled onions taste so good? ›

Caramelizing or sauteing onions on low or moderate heat causes a reaction between the sugars and the proteins. The onions turn brown, the sugars come free, and the sulphuric compounds react over and over until the pungent flavor is gone and the sweet sugar flavor remains.

What is the best seasoning for onions? ›

Go simple with salt and pepper or use something with more flavor like steak seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Italian seasoning. Grill: Place the onions directly on the grill grates and cook for 5-7 minutes per side.

Does onion burn belly fat? ›

Not only does onion help you lose weight, it has properties that will help you shed belly fat.

Are grilled onions still healthy? ›

Furthermore, onions contain fiber and folic acid, a B vitamin that helps the body make healthy new cells. Onions are healthy whether they're raw or cooked, though raw onions have higher levels of organic sulfur compounds that provide many benefits, according to the BBC.

Should diabetics avoid onions? ›

Eating onions may help regulate blood sugar levels, which is significant for people with diabetes or prediabetes. A small 2010 study in 84 people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes found that eating 100 g of raw red onion significantly reduced fasting blood sugar levels after 4 hours.

Do onions caramelize better with butter or oil? ›

Our Test Kitchen likes to use butter when caramelizing onions, as it offers the richest flavor. If you avoid dairy or don't have butter, you can caramelize onions in other fat such as margarine or olive oil. Add the onion slices. It's okay if they overlap a bit here because they'll shrink as they cook down.

What onion is best for grilling? ›

When it comes to grilling, red onions are our first choice. Cut into wedges, they char nicely on the grill, and their interior texture goes jammy, instead of mushy, like white and yellow onions tend to do.

How does Gordon Ramsay caramelized onions? ›

Caramelize the onions: Heat about 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onions and stir to coat. Let cook, stirring every 5-10 minutes, until deeply caramelized, about 1 ½ - 2 hours.

Why do McDonald's onions taste so good? ›

McDonald's preps its onions by using dehydrated onion pieces that are rehydrated in-store, which means they have already been cut and slowly cooked in a dehydrator.

Why do Mexicans use onion on grill? ›

An onion's natural acidity and fluids can loosen dirt, stuck-on food, and grease, and have your grill looking nearly new in minutes. The natural juices also have antibacterial properties that sanitize the grates and can add a bit of flavor to your cooking.

Is yellow or white better for grilled onions? ›

You can also grill white, yellow, or red onions, just keep in mind that each onion will taste a bit different once grilled. Definitely go with a sweet onion for this recipe, but try out other onions as well! You might find that you prefer one onion type over another on the grill.

How long do grilled onions last? ›

Cooked onions should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated as well. Like most leftovers, cooked onions will last up to four days in the fridge. Another bonus of refrigerating onions is that the cold slows down the enzymes responsible for those pesky onion tears.

How long should grilling take? ›

ThicknessGrilling Time
Steaks and Filets
½ inch4 to 6 minutes
¾ inch6 to 8 minutes
1 inch10 minutes
13 more rows

How long to cook onions? ›

Cook until caramelized. Keep cooking the onions, stiring frequently, until they are brown all over and completely limp. Caramelized onions take some time — anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes total cooking time depending on how deeply caramelized you like your onions.

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