Grilled Onions

5 from 1 vote

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

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

Pile of Grilled red Onions.

How to Make Grilled Onions

If you’ve never made grilled onions before I think it’s safe to say that your world is about to change dramatically for the better. Grilling turns onions into something sweet and silky and sultry, the perfect accompaniment to just about anything else you will throw on the grill that day.

Sliced red onions with grill marks.

Best Onion for Grilling

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.

How to Grill Onions

Heat the grill to medium.

Peel the onions and cut them into thick slices, about ½-inch thick.

Woman slicing red onions with a large knife.

Brush the onions on both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle them with salt.

Seasoning onions with salt and olive oil

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).

Onions on the grill

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.

Spatula flipping sliced red onion on a grill.

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.

Sliced red onions on a grill.

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

Tweet This

Ways to Use Grilled Onions:

You can obviously serve them up plain, alongside a piece of grilled chicken or fish or meat, or as part of a larger grilled vegetable assortment.

You can also:

Grilled onions and lemons

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It
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 will throw on the grill that day.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 People

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 ½-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.

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
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

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.

You May Also Like:

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating