Quick Look at How to Make Perfect Grilled Onions
- Ready In: about 10 minutes!
- Serves: 4
- Main Ingredients: onions, oil, salt and pepper – that’s it!
- Dietary Info: Whole30, Paleo, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, plant-based
- Flavor Profile: smoky, sweet
- Best For: adding to a perfectly grilled burger, on the side of the best grilled steaks, or any other summer main dish.
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Key Ingredients + Substitutions
Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.
- Onions – any variety of onions (i.e. red onions, yellow onions, Vidalia onions, white onions, etc.) can be used and they can be cut into slices or wedges.
- Olive Oil – swap it out for avocado oil to stay Whole30/Paleo compliant.
Best Onions for Grilling
- Sweet onions (Vidalia or Walla Walla): naturally sweet and caramelize beautifully.
- Red onions: slightly sharper flavor and such a pretty color with a little char on them.
- Yellow onions: great all-purpose option with classic onion flavor.
- White onions: best for fajitas, tacos, and Mexican-inspired dishes.
How To Grill Onions
Step 1 – Option to cut into wedges, but cutting in half. Leave the end to hold them together.
Step 2 – Cut each half into quarters or thirds, depending on the size you want.
How to Cut an Onion for Grilling
For best results, keep sliced onions fairly thick so that they don’t fall between the grill grates or get too soft too quick and fall apart. Onion slices should be about 3/4 of an inch thick. Use a sharp knife or mandolin. Another option would be to cut onions into small wedges. For this, do not cut the end off the onion. Simply remove the peel and let the end hold everything together.
Step 3 – Cut off the ends and then slice into 3/4 inch thick slices.
Step 4 – Brush or rub oil on the outsides of the sliced onions.
Step 5 – Season with salt and pepper.
Step 6 – Grill for 3-4 minutes per side or to desired softness.
Best Ways To Serve Grilled Onions
These easy grilled onions can be enjoyed so many different ways! They are the perfect addition to char grilled burgers, a veggie burger, add to easy steak fajitas, or chop and toss on a fresh summer salad. They would also be great on grilled elote steak tacos or the best grilled chicken sandwich!
Are Grilled Onions the Same as Caramelized Onions
No, they are not. Grilling an onion will result in slight caramelizing of the natural sugars, but it is not a fully caramelized onion. Grilled onions are thicker and stay more crisp or firm. A fully caramelized onion is sliced thinner and will be much softer and more brown in color. To follow an onion caramelization process, checkout our post on how to caramelize onions.
Other Grilled Side Dishes You Might Like
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Ingredients
- 1 onion, red, yellow or white
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, sub avocado oil
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the grill to 450℉ and clean the grill grates. Thickly slice 1 onion (about ¾ inch thick) into circles OR cut into wedges.
- Season: Place onions on a baking sheet or large plate and drizzle with ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Using hands, rub the oil over all sides of the onions (carefully keeping all of the rings in tact). Sprinkle with kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- Grill: Cook on direct heat (directly over flame) for 3-4 minutes per side, or until each side is nicely charred.
- Serve: Remove from grill and enjoy immediately – we love them on a perfectly grilled cheeseburger!
Notes
- Cooking time: The longer you grill the onion, the softer it will become. If you prefer more crispy onions, cook closer to the 6 minute mark. If you want a softer, more charred onion, then cook closer to 8 minutes.
- Storage: keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
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