Traeger Smoked Caramelized Onions are such a huge flavor upgrade to whatever dish you’re making! Throw them on burgers, use in the best French Onion Soup you’ll ever have, or mix them into a dip that’ll put every other onion dip to shame.

Smoked Caramelized Onions

Caramelized Onions are one of the favorite things that I discovered I loved as an adult, that I assumed I hated as a kid. They are magical. Know what is better than regular caramelized onion though?

SMOKED Caramelized Onions.

Oh. Good. Gravy.

These are just slightly smokey, intensely flavorful, and all the way worth the effort.

Make a few pans of these, make a big batch of my Traeger French Onion Soup, and save some extras for things like these Blackstone Pierogies. You can put them in my French Onion Stuffed Meatballs too, or my Instant Pot French Onion Beef Stroganoff.

Want to eat them for an appetizer? My French Onion Dip would be perfect. How about mixed into this Smoked Caramelized Onion Butter, and then dolloped onto a big baked potato. 

See all of my Traeger Recipes here!

Traeger Caramelized Onions shopping list

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Onions
• Salted Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Salt

Smoked Cipollini Onions

How to make Smoked Caramelized Onions

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Preheat your Traeger grill to 325°F.
2. Slice onions and combine them with butter, sugar, and salt in a cast-iron skillet.
3. Place the skillet on the grill, cooking for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
4. Cook until onions are golden brown and caramelized.
5. Remove from heat and serve as desired.

How do you caramelize onions?

It is SO easy, especially on the Traeger. Heaps of onions meet butter and a pinch of salt and sugar are put into a cast iron pan, and then just left to do their thing.

They cook on medium-low heat for 30-45 minutes, and you just open up the lid and stir it every 5-10 minutes or so. Remove when they like the photos in this post, and then hoard them as if your life depends on it.

The key to getting good caramelized onions is to just be patient and try not to rush things. Time, patience, and a Traeger or other wood-pellet grill.

No Traeger? No problem. Stovetop caramelized onions are also delicious.

Grilled Balsamic Onions

FAQ

What’s the best temp for caramelizing onions on the pellet grill?

I ran these at 325°. I like the level of smoke that happens at that temp, and it doesn’t cook them too fast. The last thing you want is to open up the grill at the end of the cook and have a big pile of burnt ick.

Other times, I’ve cooked them for longer at 275° which was equally delicious, but just takes a little longer than it does at the higher temps.

Cooking these at a lower temperature will help combat that, but I’d stick relatively close-by during the final 10-15 minutes of the cook time.

How long do caramelized onions last?

You should plan on using your cooked caramelized onions in 3-4 days, at the most. If you’d like to hold them beyond that, the Kitchn has a fantastic post on freezing them.

I’d recommend that too. Freeze them in an ice cube tray and then pop into a big freezer baggie, and have them available anytime you want.

How long does it take to properly caramelize onions?

A LONG time. The longer the better, in fact. You really cannot rush it. You can speed things along by grilling at the upper end of the temp range I detailed above, but you’re still looking at an hour, easily. When I cook them at 275° it has taken 5-6 hours at times. This will depend on the onions, the day, what else you have on the grill, what the weather is like, how often you open the grill and for how long it is kept open, and many other factors.

Like most of my recipes, there’s wiggle room here, so keep your eyes open and be aware, and trust your instincts over the recipe.

What are the best types of onions to use for this recipe?

I really like to use a mix of different onions including Vidalia or Walla Walla sweet onions, classic yellow onions, and red onions. If you don’t have a mix around, go for the giant sweet onions, and you’ll never be sorry!

Can you caramelize onions in the microwave?

Maybe, but I’m a little offended that you are asking.

Of all the things to cook in the microwave, caramelized onions aren’t one of them.

Nope.

If you got here searching for that, you’d better stay a while and take some notes cause you need some help, and I have some microwave judgment to pass your way. Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Turn on your oven or your stovetop or your grill and do this the right way already. 😉

In summary, make these. Just do it. You need them in your life, like nowsies.