
Yields:
4 serving(s)
Prep Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Cal/Serv:
283
Have you made an onion boil yet? I hate to say it… but I’m kind of obsessed. Using the most humble of pantry ingredients, this viral TikTok sensation features a whole sweet onion (such as a Vidalia) cored out, stuffed with a spiced-savory butter, and roasted until it becomes meltingly tender. Questioning its deliciousness? Make it and see for yourself.
Cooking the onion boil:
Contrary to the name, an onion boil isn’t actually boiled. It’s slathered in seasoned butter, tightly wrapped in foil, and roasted/steamed inside the foil in the oven until it becomes super-tender. It’s called a “boil” partially because the seasoned butter is typically spiked with Old Bay seasoning, an ingredient often used in seafood boils. Also, when you open up the foil right after the onion comes out of the oven, it will be bubbling in that spiced melted butter.
Serving the onion boil:
You can absolutely eat an onion boil on its own—but I don’t recommend it. Part of the magic of the onion boil lies in all those buttery onion juices that collect in the bottom of the foil, so having some carby situation on hand to soak them up is key. A crusty piece of baguette would be great, or you could opt for rice or quinoa, or another grain if you prefer.
Storage:
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The butter will be solid once it’s chilled, but should liquify when you reheat it.
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup
(1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 tsp.
paprika
- 1 Tbsp.
garlic powder
- 2 tsp.
kosher salt
- 2 tsp.
Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tsp.
dried thyme
- 1 tsp.
freshly ground black pepper
- 4
large yellow onions (preferably sweet ones, such as Vidalia, 8 to 10 oz. each)
Finely chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
Directions
- Step 1Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°. Cut out 4 (12" x 12") squares of foil.
- Step 2In a small bowl, mix butter, paprika, garlic powder, salt, Old Bay, thyme, and pepper until smooth.
- Step 3Peel onions. Trim at root and stem ends so onions sit flat on a work surface. Using a small sharp knife, cut out center core from the top of each onion, leaving the bottom third of core intact (the cut-out center should be about 1/2" wide). Score top of onions in a cross pattern, cutting about 1" deep.
- Step 4Stuff about 2 tsp. seasoned butter into center of each onion, then spread 4 tsp. seasoned butter on top of each; reserve remaining butter for serving.
- Step 5Place an onion in the center of a foil square. Carefully fold up foil to enclose each onion and crease at the top to seal as tightly as possible. Arrange on an unlined baking sheet.
- Step 6Bake onions until tender in the center, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes before opening. Baste with reserved seasoned butter. Top with parsley (if using).
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