Slow-Roasted Caramelized Onions With Sage And Thyme

Name: Slow-Roasted Caramelized Onions With Sage and Thyme
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 large sweet onions, sliced into 1-inch thick rounds; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted; 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped; 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 1 cup vegetable broth; fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish

Slow-roasted caramelized onions with sage and thyme are sweet, tender rounds that collapse into a luxurious side dish. Low-effort roasting concentrates natural sugars into deep caramelization without constant stirring.

🌍American 🏷️Melting onions 🏷️Roasted onions 🏷️Caramelized onions 🏷️Onion recipe Side dish

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🏷️Vegetarian

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TikTok

Total

1h 10m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$19–$31

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

3 large sweet onions, sliced into 1-inch thick rounds
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 cup vegetable broth
fresh thyme sprigs, for garnishoptional

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Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2
Arrange the thick onion slices in a single layer in a baking dish.
3
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, melted butter, chopped fresh sage, chopped fresh thyme, salt, and pepper.
4
Spoon the herb and oil mixture evenly over each onion slice.
5
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the onions are nicely caramelized and browned on top.
6
Carefully remove the dish from the oven and pour the vegetable broth into the bottom of the pan.
7
Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 20-30 minutes, until the onions are extremely soft, tender, and falling apart.
8
Serve the melting onions immediately, spooning some of the pan sauce over the top. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Slice onions into thick 1-inch rounds rather than thin slices to keep them intact and create tender, cohesive pieces that don't fall apart during roasting.
Don't skip the vegetable broth — it prevents sticking and creates a light pan sauce that concentrates as onions release moisture.
Add fresh herbs in the last 10-15 minutes of roasting so they retain bright flavor instead of becoming muted by prolonged heat.
Stir the onions every 15-20 minutes for even caramelization; neglecting them may cause browning on bottom edges while tops remain pale.

Substitutions

Olive oil → butter (use 6 tablespoons total butter, omitting the separate melted butter for a richer flavor)
Fresh sage and thyme → rosemary, oregano, or garlic (1 tablespoon fresh herbs total for equivalent seasoning)
Vegetable broth → chicken broth or dry white wine (maintains moisture and adds subtle flavor depth)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled roasted onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat or in a covered baking dish at 325°F for 10-15 minutes.

Common Questions

How long does it take to caramelize onions in the oven?

Slow roasting at low temperature typically takes 45 minutes to 1 hour until onions are deeply golden and very tender, depending on oven and onion size.