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35 Easy Onion Recipes To Try

We're suckers for this flavorful allium.

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french onion chicken meatballs
Parker Feierbach

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.

1

Easy French Onion Soup

easy french onion soup
Parker feierbach

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.

2

Fried Onions

fried onions
Parker feierbach

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

sour cream and onion dip
Andrew bui

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 Sour Cream & Onion Dip recipe.

4

Baked Bloomin' Onion

baked bloomin' onion
Ethan calabrese

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

french onion chicken meatballs
Parker Feierbach

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.

6

Buttermilk Onion Rings

buttermilk onion rings
Parker feierbach

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

hamburger steaks
Erik bernstein

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.

8

Scallion Pancakes

scallion pancakes
Andrew bui

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

pickled red onions

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.

10

French Onion Chicken

french onion chicken
Parker Feierbach

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

savory matzo brei
Erik bernstein

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.

12

Caramelized Onions

caramelized onions
Parker Feierbach

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

air fryer blooming onion
Parker Feierbach

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.

14

Potato Kugel

potato kugel
Chelsea lupkin

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

classic green bean casserole
Ethan calabrese

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.

16

French Dip Squares

french dip squares
Emily hlavac green

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

french onion rice
June xie

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.

18

Sheet-Pan Pork Chops With Apples

sheet pan pork chops with apples
Andrew bui

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

baked cream cheese pasta
Lucy schaeffer

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.

20

Sausage & Peppers

sausage and peppers
Parker Feierbach

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 sausage & peppers foil packs.

Get the Sausage & Peppers recipe.

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