Prepare to meet your new favorite condiment. These Bourbon Brown Sugar Caramelized Onions are a game-changer, transforming the humble onion into a jammy, sweet, and savory masterpiece. The deep notes of bourbon meld with the sweetness of brown sugar erythritol, creating a rich, bold flavor that’s almost dessert-like in its complexity. Spoon them over a juicy steak, pile them onto a burger, or just eat them with a fork—we won’t judge. This is the secret weapon your kitchen has been missing.
Ingredients
• FOR THE ONIONS
• 2 tablespoons / 30 ml avocado oil or olive oil
• 2 large onions, cut into ½-inch-thick slices
• ½ teaspoon / 2 g garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon / 3 g sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon / 1 g ground black pepper
• FOR THE SAUCE
• ½ cup / 120 ml bourbon
• 2 tablespoons / 30 ml reduced-sugar ketchup
• 1 tablespoon / 12 g brown sugar erythritol
• 1 tablespoon / 15 ml Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon / 15 ml balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon / 15 ml cooking sherry
• 1 or 2 sprigs fresh thyme, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. DIRECTIONS
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and beginning to brown around the edges.
3. While the onions cook, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the bourbon, ketchup, brown sugar erythritol, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and cooking sherry. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Allow it to simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until the sauce has reduced slightly and started to thicken.
4. Carefully pour the thickened sauce over the sautéed onions in the skillet. Stir well to coat everything evenly. Continue to cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently, as the onions absorb the sauce and become deeply caramelized and jammy. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs before serving, if desired.
Nutritional Information
• NUTRITION INFORMATION
• MAKES: 8 servings
• PREP TIME: 10 minutes
• COOK TIME: 20 minutes
• PER SERVING
• CALORIES: 83
• FAT: 3.5g
• PROTEIN: 0.4g
• TOTAL CARBS: 4.4g
• FIBER: 0.7g
• NET CARBS: 3.7g
• ERYTHRITOL: 1.5g
Pro Tips
• For a delicious bacon jam variation, finely chop the onions instead of slicing them. Stir in crumbled crispy bacon just before serving.
• Use a sweet onion variety like Vidalia or Walla Walla for an even sweeter, more complex flavor profile.
• For a non-alcoholic version, replace the bourbon and sherry with an equal amount of beef broth and an extra splash of balsamic vinegar for acidity.
• These onions can be made ahead of time. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. The flavor deepens overnight!
FAQ
Q: Can I make these caramelized onions without alcohol
A: Yes, for a non-alcoholic version, you can replace the bourbon and cooking sherry with an equal amount of beef broth. The recipe also suggests adding an extra splash of balsamic vinegar for acidity.
Q: What are the best onions for this recipe
A: For an even sweeter and more complex flavor, the recipe recommends using a sweet onion variety like Vidalia or Walla Walla. However, any large onion will work well.
Q: How should I store these bourbon caramelized onions
A: These onions can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. The flavor tends to deepen and improve overnight.
Q: Is this recipe keto-friendly
A: Yes, this recipe is designed to be low-carb. It uses brown sugar erythritol instead of regular sugar, resulting in just 3.7g of net carbs per serving, making it suitable for a keto diet.
