These delicious Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms are a great way to add flavor to any dish! Made with white wine, Worcestershire, honey, and other flavorful ingredients, expect a delicious taste in every bite. Add this mushrooms caramelized onions recipe to burgers, pizza, and more!
I love making these caramelized onions and mushrooms when I want to elevate a dish. These easy caramelized onions and mushrooms include simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, making this a budget-friendly dish. You can even freeze the caramelized veggies in an airtight container and enjoy them over the course of a few months.
If you have leftover onions after making this recipe, consider using them up in one of the following dishes: French Onion Mac & Cheese, Fried Cabbage with Bacon & Onions, or French Onion Chicken Bake.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Full of flavor – The garlic, onions, seasoning, and sauces in this caramelized onions and mushrooms recipe help create a delicious, irresistible taste.
- Made with simple ingredients – If you cook regularly at home, you’ll likely already have most of the ingredients, making this an easy weeknight meal.
- Versatile – Use this recipe of caramelized onion and mushroom for steak, burgers, pasta, fish, pork chops, etc. It pairs well with many mains.
- Elevates recipes – Adding this side dish to any recipe will make it restaurant-worthy.
- Complex flavors – Expect a tangy, sweet, savory taste in each bite of this caramelized onions and mushrooms brown sugar recipe.
What Kind of Onions and Mushrooms To Use
I recommend using baby bella sliced mushrooms when creating this caramelized onions and mushrooms dish. They have a delicious, savory, earthy taste that compliments the recipe well. White mushrooms are also a great choice but have a milder taste.
As far as onions, I love using yellow or sweet onions. Both have natural sugars, which makes caramelizing them easier. However, if you use sweet onions, I’d recommend using less brown sugar or skipping the sugar as they’re quite a bit sweeter. This sauteed mushrooms and onions recipe will also work with red onions, though they can create a more bitter-tasting side dish.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Mushrooms: I recommend using baby bella mushrooms for this caramelized onions and mushrooms side, but you can also swap them for white mushrooms.
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- White Wine: For this recipe, use a dry white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc. If you don’t want to use wine, swap it out in a 1:1 ratio with chicken/beef broth.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Make Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
Quick Overview
- Heat butter/oil.
- Add ingredients.
- Sauté.
- Deglaze.
- Sauté.
Step by Step Instructions
Use a combination of oil and butter for caramelized onions and mushrooms, as the oil will prevent the butter from browning too quickly.
Step 1: Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pan over medium heat until the butter melts and the oil shimmers.
Step 2: Add the mushrooms, onions, and garlic to the pan, gently stirring until they are well combined.
Step 3: Season the mixture with the salt, pepper, and thyme.
Step 4: Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, honey, and roughly half of the wine.
The vegetables are done when they are golden brown, and the onions have a jammy consistency.
Step 5: Sauté the mixture for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms and onions become tender.
Step 6: Deglaze the pan by adding the remaining wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
Step 7: Continue sautéing for another 10-15 minutes until the vegetables caramelize and any excess liquid evaporates. If necessary, increase the heat to medium-high to aid in caramelization.
Step 8: Once the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables start to brown, remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool slightly before serving.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish the caramelized onions and mushrooms with chopped chives, a sprinkle of cayenne powder (for heat), or other fresh herbs. I love serving this side dish with burgers, steak, chicken, fish, pasta, and pizza options. Here are a few ideas:
Expert Tips
- Wash the mushrooms well. Mushrooms typically have dirt and debris straight from the store. To avoid a grainy consistency in this caramelized onions and mushrooms recipe, be sure to wash them well. You may even want to use a gentle vegetable scrubber.
- Use butter and oil. Butter and oil is a must-have combination for caramelizing onions and mushrooms. The oil has a higher smoke point, so it helps keep the butter from burning as the vegetables caramelize.
- Do not cover the pan. I recommend leaving the cover off when caramelizing vegetables, as it can prevent them from browning.
- Cook off all of the excess water. A major part of creating caramelized vegetables is getting rid of all the excess liquid. This step helps create a deliciously rich caramelized flavor and beautiful brown color.
Additions & Variations
- Add a splash of balsamic vinegar. While not necessary, I recommend adding a splash of vinegar to caramelized onions and mushrooms. I find it balances out the flavors and really brings this side dish together.
- Use other vegetables. This recipe for caramelized onions and mushrooms for burger also works well with other vegetables. You can use it to caramelize zucchini, squash, etc.
Recipe FAQs
I recommend adding both to the pan at the same time when creating caramelized onions and mushrooms. Both onions and mushrooms have a higher water content, so it will take a while to release the extra moisture either way.
This side dish works great with quite a few mains. Some of my favorite pairings to serve caramelized onions and mushrooms with are burgers, pizza, patty melts, cold sandwiches, and cheesesteaks.
The biggest secret to caramelizing onions for recipes like caramelized onions and mushroom pasta is patience. It will take a while for the moisture to boil out. Keep cooking this side dish until it is golden-brown in color.
For the best results, caramelize onions using a combination of butter and oil. See the above notes for more details.
More Side Dish Recipes
Shop my Amazon Storefront!
If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or comment! I always appreciate your feedback. Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram.
Caramelized Mushrooms and Onions
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 16 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms*
- 3 yellow onions, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced finely
- 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup dry white wine*
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey or brown sugar
Instructions
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pan over medium heat until the butter melts and the oil shimmers.2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- Add the mushrooms, onions, and garlic to the pan, gently stirring until they are well combined.16 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms*, 3 yellow onions, sliced, 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced finely
- Season the mixture with the salt, pepper, and thyme.1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*, freshly cracked black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, honey, and roughly half of the wine.1/2 cup dry white wine*, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon honey or brown sugar
- Sauté the mixture for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms and onions become tender.
- Deglaze the pan by adding the remaining wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Continue sautéing for another 10-15 minutes until the vegetables caramelize and any excess liquid evaporates. If necessary, increase the heat to medium-high to aid in caramelization.
- Once the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables start to brown, remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Mushrooms: I recommend using baby bella mushrooms for this caramelized onions and mushrooms side, but you can also swap them for white mushrooms.
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- White Wine: For this recipe, use a dry white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc. If you don’t want to use wine, swap it out in a 1:1 ratio with chicken/beef broth.
- Wash the mushrooms well. Mushrooms typically have dirt and debris straight from the store. To avoid a grainy consistency in this caramelized onions and mushrooms recipe, be sure to wash them well. You may even want to use a gentle vegetable scrubber.
- Use butter and oil. Butter and oil is a must-have combination for caramelizing onions and mushrooms. The oil has a higher smoke point, so it helps keep the butter from burning as the vegetables caramelize.
- Do not cover the pan. I recommend leaving the cover off when caramelizing vegetables, as it can prevent them from browning.
- Cook off all of the excess water. A major part of creating caramelized vegetables is getting rid of all the excess liquid. This step helps create a deliciously rich caramelized flavor and beautiful brown color.
- Add a splash of balsamic vinegar. While not necessary, I recommend adding a splash of vinegar to caramelized onions and mushrooms. I find it balances out the flavors and really brings this side dish together.
- Use other vegetables. This recipe for caramelized onions and mushrooms for burger also works well with other vegetables. You can use it to caramelize zucchini, squash, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Perfect on steak or burgers!!