20+ Warm & Cozy Yellow Onion Recipes
Onions. They just might be the most popular, versatile, and delicious vegetables around. Beyond adding a wonderful depth of flavor to various cuisines, they can be the star of the show in soups, stews, pasta bakes, pizza, and even baked goods.
Onions keep well for a very long time without refrigeration, making them a good pantry staple to stock up on without having to worry about spoilage. And if they're ever on the verge of going bad, you can easily toss them into just about any dish for extra flavor.
So whether you've got a pantry full of onions, or you're craving something slightly sweet and super savory, here are 20 of our favorite onion recipes.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Caramelized Onion and Fennel Tarts
Perfectly tender caramelized onions and crispy puff pastry balance each other out perfectly to create these tarts.
Serve them as a simple and flavorful appetizer or enjoy them as a warm, midday snack.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
2 medium yellow onions, julienned
1 large fennel bulb, trimmed and sliced thin
2 tablespoons white wine
Pinch of salt
8 ounces soft chevre
2 eggs
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
Pinch each of salt and ground black pepper
2 tablespoons pine nuts
3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
1 14-ounce package puff pastry, thawed
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375° F.
In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add the onions, fennel, white wine, and a pinch of salt, and sauté for 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are dark brown and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
While the onions and fennel are cooking, mix the chevre, one beaten egg, fresh rosemary, and a pinch of salt and black pepper in a small mixing bowl. Blend well and set aside.
Carefully remove the puff pastry from its package and lay it on a floured surface (if necessary, roll out the pastry dough into a large rectangle). Cut the dough into 12 equal rectangles. Place the rectangles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Fold over ¼ inch of dough around each edge to make a small border to contain the filling. Beat the other egg to make an egg wash. Brush just the folded edges of the puff pastry with egg wash.
Gently spread equal amounts of softened goat cheese mix on each of the rectangles of dough. Divide the caramelized onions and fennel over the top of the goat cheese. Sprinkle each tart with a few pine nuts and a little Parmesan cheese. Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is puffy and just starting to brown.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Linguini with Artichokes and Caramelized Onions
With ingredients like asparagus, walnuts, artichokes, olives, and caramelized onions, this isn't your standard homemade spaghetti.
Know what would make this dish even more special? Our housemade pasta!
Ingredients
1/2 pound whole-wheat linguini
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1 yellow onion, julienned 1/4" thick
2 cloves garlic,, peeled and minced
1/4 pound asparagus, cut into small spears
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and diced
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1 - 6.5-ounce jar of marinated artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
2 tablespoons pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Heat a large pot of water to boiling. Cook linguini according to package directions. Drain.
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over low to medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until they are soft and caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the rest of the olive oil to the pan, along with the garlic, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, and walnuts, and cook for 5 more minutes until asparagus becomes tender. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the artichokes, oregano, and olives. Toss the veggies with the pasta, add salt and pepper to taste, and top each serving with Parmesan cheese.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Caramelized Onion Pizza
Onions are one of those pizza toppings that you don't necessarily think to request, but every time it ends up on a pizza, it's delicious.
Here, caramelized onions are paired with peppers, goat cheese, and grilled chicken to create a protein-dense pizza that's full of flavor.
Ingredients
1 ready to bake pizza crust
2 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups sliced yellow onions (about 3 medium onions)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup chopped roasted red pepper or grilled bell peppers
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
2 ounces shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped grilled chicken (optional)
Directions
To caramelize the onions, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook over medium-low heat for about 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are very soft and lightly browned. Add the balsamic vinegar and cook a few more minutes, then remove from heat.
Preheat the grill to low-medium heat (or preheat your oven to 400°F).
Spread the caramelized onions evenly over the pizza crust. Top the onions with the chopped peppers, crumbled goat cheese, shredded provolone, and chicken if using. Bake for 10-15 minutes, making sure the crust does not burn. Remove from the grill or oven and let set 5 minutes before slicing.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Slow-Cooker Onion-Herb Focaccia
Bread made in a slow-cooker? Believe it or not, yes!
This non-knead dough rises inside the cooker, and then heat is added to boost the rise as it bakes. The onions and herbs cook on top resulting in a chewy bread with a crispy exterior.
Ingredients
For the Dough
2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup lukewarm milk
1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For the Topping
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, rinsed and drained
1 small onion, slivered
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Directions
Line the bottom of a large oval slow cooker with parchment paper, then brush with olive oil.
For the dough: in a mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast and salt. In a cup, stir the warm milk, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the cider vinegar, then stir into the flour mixture. Stir until well-mixed; the dough will be sticky. Scrape the dough into the slow cooker and spread it out, then let rise for 30 minutes, with the lid on.
While the dough is rising, mince the thyme and rosemary, then mix with the slivered onion and remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a cup. Let stand at room temperature. At 30 minutes, sprinkle the onion mixture over the dough in the cooker.
Turn the cooker to high and drape a kitchen towel across the top to absorb condensation. Put the lid on over the towel. Cook for 2 hours, until the center of the focaccia springs back when pressed, and the edges of the focaccia are lightly browned.
Recipe and photo adapted from Welcome to the Table
One-Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake
French onion soup, but make it pasta.
This creamy pasta bake is the perfect comfort food on a rainy PNW day and features all those delicious flavors you'll find in a french onion soup.
Make sure to deeply caramelize your onions for that delectable rich and subtly sweet flavor. And don't forget to load on the gruyere!
Triple-Threat Onion Galette
You might be more familiar with a sweet galette that's packed full of fresh fruit.
Here, that same simple pastry crust is topped with caramelized onions, thinly sliced scallions, and garlic to create a savory galette.
Enjoy it as an appetizer at dinner or as a side dish at brunch!
Savory Cheddar Scones with Caramelized Onions
Again, baked goods might not be the first thing that come to mind when you think of onions, but these cheddar scones are a mind-changer!
Made with rye flour and featuring caramelized onions, these scones are the perfect addition to soups and stews.
Baked Chicken with Onions & Leeks
If you're looking for an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love, consider going with baked chicken.
Not only is it a crowd-pleaser, but it's one of those dishes that only require a few simple steps that are straightforward and easy to follow.
Again, make sure you give your onions plenty of time to caramelize: low and slow, low and slow!
Classic French Onion Soup
Of course, we simply couldn't put together an onion recipe round-up without including some delicious french onion soup!
This classic recipe sticks to the ingredients you'd expect: butter, onions, sugar, beef broth, a bay leaf, and a generous serving of gruyere.
You really can't go wrong, as long as you give those onions lots of time to cook down.
French Onion Beef Noodle Soup
Aaaaand, here's a non-traditional take on french onion soup!
You can think of this soup as sort of a cross between french onion soup and pho, and its full of rich flavorful broth that you'll enjoy every little sip of.
Something to note is that this recipe gives you a huge portion of soup, so you may need to cut it down if you're just serving a few people.
Caramelized Onions, Thyme, & Ferndale Farmstead Fontina Crostini
Next time you enjoy a fancy Italian dinner at home, consider making a little appetizer to go along with it.
This crostini features local Ferndale Farmstead fontina cheese, some low-and-slow caramelized onions, and fresh thyme.
It’s a simple recipe with just a few ingredients, allowing the rich flavor of the fontina to be the center of attention.
Caramelized Onion & Pepper Vegan Quesadillas
The best part about quesadillas is that they're easy to customize and adjust to fit your tastes and whatever you have available in the fridge.
And here, quesadillas are given a vegan twist with homemade cashew cheese sauce, bell peppers, spinach, and caramelized onions.
Serve these for an easy weeknight dinner with your favorite salsa recipe.
Gluten-Free Blooming Onion
Calling for just a few simple ingredients, this blooming onion is full of rich, delectable onion flavor that's perfectly creamy.
This is definitely a dish for a crowd, and is the perfect appetizer when its served with a tray of fresh veggies.
This dish is also gluten-free and vegan!
Potato, Pancetta & Onion Frittata
A frittata is another dish that's just begging for a big healthy addition of onions.
And here, hearty potatoes, salty pancetta, and perfectly tender onions come together to create a crowd-pleasing dish that's perfect for brunch.
Caramelized Onion French Lentils and Cheesy Toast
Here's another twist on french onion soup that incorporates lentils into the mix for a little extra texture and protein.
Though it's totally optional, adding in some shredded Brussels sprouts adds a touch of color and even more texture.
Again, don't forget a big serving of gruyere!
Slow Cooker Beef & Root Vegetable Stew
One of the easiest weeknight meals is something you can prep fairly quickly and toss in the crockpot before you head out to work.
And given that onions cook down so perfectly, they're a wonderful addition to beef stew!
Hearty and delicious, this comfort food is perfect for cool, fall weather.
Ham, Cheese, and Onion Empanadas
Here's a unique twist on empanadas that incorporates ham and cheese into the mix!
Enjoy these as appetizers or the perfect little snack for brunch.
If ham with cheese isn't really your thing, you can sub in a different meat. We recommend our housemade chorizo!
Caramelized Onion Dip
If you've got a house full of people who absolutely love onions, consider making this caramelized onion dip!
Rather than being made out of powdered onion, this dip is made out of the real thing and is great for get togethers.
Serve your dip with your favorite chip!
Find the full recipe at Food & Wine
More Yellow Onion Recipes
French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Feasting at Home
Three Onion Fried Rice from A Couple Cooks
Onion Kugel from The Spruce Eats