Grilled Onions

5 from 1 vote

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Grilling turns onions into something sweet and silky and sultry, the perfect accompaniment to just about anything else you throw on the grill that day.

Pile of grilled onions on plate.

Grilling turns onions into something sweet and silky and sultry, the perfect accompaniment to just about anything else you throw on the grill that day. Think of these in the same way that you think of caramelized onions, perfect with everything from Grilled Halibut to grilled top sirloin steaks to turkey burgers.

These are fantastic alongside other Grilled Vegetables, as a side dish or a vegetarian main. They are also great in salads, like this Grilled Corn Salad, adding a smoky flavor and soft texture. One of my favorite combos is grilling onions with Lamb Loin Chops — the combination of lamb, sweet onions, and herb-y salad is unbeatable.

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How to Grill Onions

  1. Prepare to grill: Heat the grill to medium. Peel the onions and cut them into thick slices, about 1/2-inch thick.
Woman peeling and slicing onions on cutting board.
  1. Season: Brush the onions on both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle them with salt.
Adding butter and salt to onion slices.
  1. Grill: Place the onion slices on the grill (use a vegetable grilling rack if you have one). Cook, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes until they get nice grill marks on the bottom and begin to soften.
Onions on the grill.
  1. Flip the onions and grill for another 4 minutes or so. Remove from the grill and serve warm or at room temperature.

Kitchen Smarts

Move them about the grill to cooler spots if they are browning too quickly. You can cook them longer if you want softer onions; just make sure to flip them as needed and not let the heat get too high — you want them lightly browned and caramelized, not too dark or crispy.

    Grilling and flipping onions with spatula.

    What to Know About Grilling Onions

    Which onions are good for grilling?

    Any onions will grill up nicely. Sweet onions, like Vidalia or Walla Walla, have more natural sugar in them, so they will caramelize a bit more. Watch that the heat doesn’t get too high — this will cause the onions to burn. I also particularly love red or purple onions on the grill, which also have a nice level of sweetness, and add color to whatever you serve them with.

    What is the difference between grilled onions and caramelized onions?

    Grilled onions are cooked relatively quickly over live fire, on a gas, charcoal, or other type of grill, and usually have more texture than onions that are caramelized. Caramelized onions are cooked slowly in a pan over low heat until very soft and deep brown.

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

    About 4 or 5 minutes per side.

    How to Use Grilled Onions

    Serve them with these recipes, too…

    Grilled Lamb Chops and Onions with Herb Salad on plate at barbecue.
    Grilled Lamb Chops and Onions with Herb Salad

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    5 from 1 vote

    Grilled Onions

    Grilling turns onions into something sweet and silky and sultry, the perfect accompaniment to just about anything else you throw on the grill that day.
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 6 People
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    Equipment

    Ingredients 

    • 4 onions (preferably sweet onions, like Vidalia or Walla Walla, or red or purple onions)
    • 3 tbsps olive oil (for brushing, approximately)
    • Kosher salt (to taste)

    Instructions 

    • Heat the grill to medium.
    • Peel the onions and cut them into thick slices, about 1/2-inch thick.
    • Brush the onions on both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle them with salt.
    • Place the onion slices on the grill (you can place them directly on the grill or on a vegetable grilling rack if you have one). Grill the onions, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes until they get nice grill marks on the bottom and begin to soften, then flip them and grill for another 4 minutes or so. You should feel free to move them about the grill to cooler spots if they look like they are browning too quickly before they become tender. You can grill them for longer, if you want softer onions, just make sure to flip them as needed and not let the heat get too high – you want them lightly browned and caramelized, not too dark or crispy.
    • Remove from the grill and serve warm or at room temperature.

    Notes

    Any onions will grill up nicely, but sweet onions, like Vidalia or Walla Walla, have more natural sugar in them, so they caramelize better. Watch that the heat doesn’t get too high which will cause the onions to burn. I also particularly love red or purple onions on the grill, which also have a nice level of sweetness and add color to whatever you serve them with.

    Storage

    Grilled onions are a great thing to make ahead of time. They reheat easily in a microwave or a skillet. I definitely recommend making extra whenever you’re already grilling, just to have around. They will keep in the fridge for up to several days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 91kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 107mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg
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    More Grilled Vegetable Recipes

    About Katie Workman

    Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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