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Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving Recipes

Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

Published: Oct 5, 2024 · Updated: Mar 19, 2025 by Marye

This dish is comfort food at its finest, with the rich, sweet flavor of caramelized onions perfectly complementing the earthy goodness of mushrooms.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Overhead view of caramelized onions and mushrooms for feature image.
Overhead view of caramelized onions and mushrooms in a pan with a title text overlay for Pinterest.

There’s something magical about the rich, deep flavors of caramelized onions and mushrooms. Slowly cooked to golden perfection, they add a burst of savory sweetness to just about any dish.

Overhead view of a pan of caramelized onions and mushrooms with bright green parsley sprinkled on top.
Table of Contents
  • 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
  • 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
  • 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
  • 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
  • 🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
  • 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat caramelized onions & mushrooms
  • Marye's Tip o' the day
  • 💭 Insider tips: things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
  • 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
  • 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose caramelized onions & mushrooms
  • 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.

🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite

  • (why they'll love it)
  • (when to serve it)
  • Serve the caramelized onions and mushrooms alongside grilled chicken, steak, or pork chops for a hearty and flavorful dinner.

The maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness to the dish and helps to enhance the natural flavors of the onions and mushrooms.

Whether you’re topping a steak, layering them on a burger, or stirring them into pasta, this simple yet flavorful duo will elevate your meal in the most delicious way. Get ready to enjoy a warm, cozy flavor that brings out the best in your favorite comfort foods!

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

📖 Make it your own: yummy variations

  1. For an extra flavor boost, add a few cloves of minced garlic to the pan with the onions and mushrooms.
  2. Sprinkle some grated Parmesan or crumbled feta cheese over the top just before serving.
  3. If you don't have maple syrup, you could use honey or brown sugar instead.
  4. Cremini, shiitake, or wild mushrooms would all work well.
  5. White onions caramelize the best but you could use yellow onions, too.
  6. Use any light-flavored oil you like.

🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.

Sliced mushrooms and chopped onions on a cutting board.

Cut up onions and slice mushrooms.

Butter melted with olive oil in a pan.

Heat butter and olive oil together in a pan.

Mushrooms and onions being sauteed.

Saute mushrooms and onions.

Finished mushrooms and onions in a pan.

Add maple syrup, season, and finish cooking.

🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -

A pinch of sugar added to the mushrooms and onions at the beginning of cooking time will help them caramelize and bring out all the flavors.

zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive

🍴Must have tools: essential equipment

  1. skillet
  2. chef's knife
  3. cutting board

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🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat caramelized onions & mushrooms

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This dish does not freeze well.

Closeup of mushrooms and onioons on a spoon.

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Marye's Tip o' the day

Wait until the onions and mushrooms are almost done to add salt and pepper. Salting too early can draw out moisture, making them steam instead of caramelize.

💭 Insider tips: things to know

  1. Be sure to slice your mushrooms evenly so that they cook at the same rate.
  2. The key to perfectly caramelized onions is to cook them low and slow. Don't rush the process! 
  3. Resist the urge to stir the onions and mushrooms too often. Let them sit in the pan and develop those delicious caramelized bits on the bottom.
  4. Be sure to use butter and oil. A combination of butter and oil prevents burning and adds richness. Butter gives flavor, while oil raises the smoke point.

👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!

Can I use frozen mushrooms for this recipe?

While fresh mushrooms will give you the best results, you can use frozen mushrooms in a pinch. Just be aware that they may release more moisture as they cook, so you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. I don't care for the texture of mushrooms after they've been frozen.

Can I double the recipe?

Sure! You can easily double or even triple this recipe to serve a crowd. Just make sure you use a large enough skillet to accommodate all of the ingredients without overcrowding.

Sauteed mushrooms and onions in a bowl on the table.

⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -

Buy pre-sliced mushrooms and onions to reduce prep time. You can usually find them in the produce section.

📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love

  • Overhead view of pickles in a white bowl
    Sweet Heat Refrigerator Pickles
  • Overhead view of skillet with finished cabbage in it. Feature image.
    Creamed Cabbage
  • A crunchy topped casserole with a serving spoon in it.
    Pineapple Casserole
  • Overhead view of orange cream salad with a serving spoon in it.
    Orange Creamsicle Salad

🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose caramelized onions & mushrooms

  • Stir into a casserole like this French onion ground beef casserole.
  • Use leftovers to fill empanadas.
  • Spoon over toast or biscuits.

📞 Wrapping it up: the last word

Caramelized onions and mushrooms are a delicious side dish but they're also a classic garnish for steaks, are fantastic with chicken, and take your omelets to the next level!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

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Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

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This dish is comfort food at its finest, with the rich, sweet flavor of caramelized onions perfectly complementing the earthy goodness of mushrooms.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings:6
Calories:112
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 16 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cups white onion, dice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • fresh cracked pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • fresh parsley, or thyme, or oregano

Instructions

  • Dice the onion and slice mushrooms thinly and evenly.
  • Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
  • Add the onions and mushrooms to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and mushrooms are soft and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Drizzle the maple syrup over the onions and mushrooms and stir to combine. Continue cooking for 10 minutes
  • Once cooked taste and add salt and pepper to taste, then serve hot.
  • Serve your caramelized onion and mushrooms as a side dish, over pasta, on toast, or alongside grilled meat.

Notes

Storage and Freezing Tips:
Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: This dish does not freeze well.
Tips:
  • Be sure to slice your mushrooms evenly so that they cook at the same rate.
  • The key to perfectly caramelized onions is to cook them low and slow. Don't rush the process!
  • Resist the urge to stir the onions and mushrooms too often. Let them sit in the pan and develop those delicious caramelized bits on the bottom.
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 439mg | Potassium: 323mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 176IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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