Perfect Grilled Onions, Every Single Time!
ICYMI, I totally stan grilled veggies! Charred, smoky-sweet veggies are my absolute favorite thing to grill – it’s both a miracle and one of my deepest joys that grilling season coincides with summer’s abundant harvest. From cauliflower and corn to asparagus and peppers, I can’t think of a single vegetable that isn’t improved by the sizzling of the grill.
And while I’ve never met a grilled vegetable I didn’t like, char-grilled onions are hard to beat. Out of all the veggies we throw on the grill throughout the summer months, these easy grilled onions are my absolute favorite. In fact, whenever I fire up the grill, there’s a 90% chance that I’ve got onions prepped and ready to go.
The grill brings out the natural sweetness of onions beautifully. With their high sugar content, they get a delightful burnt sugar flavor wherever they get charred, while the rest of their petals become sweetly caramelized. The trick is to cut them so the root ends remain intact, which helps to prevent them from falling apart (or, worse yet, falling through the cracks!).
These best-ever grilled onions are so simple to make, with just 4 ingredients and less than 10 minutes of prep. Plus, they are so versatile – there’s really nothing better than whipping up a platter of grilled onions for burgers, sausages, grilled chicken, and grilled steak. Summer’s little superstars, if you ask me!
Craving even more flavor for your grilled veggies? ⇢ Be sure to check out our Go-To Grill Marinades!
What are the Best Onions to Grill?
If you weren’t aware, there are tons of types of onions in the allium family (along with hundreds of other species like garlic, shallots, leeks, chives, and more!). Brightly-hued red onions, sharply flavored white onions, and sweet yellow onions each have a number of different varieties, like Vidalia, Walla Walla, Maui, Texas Supersweets, Spanish onions, Red Beauties, and more!
So, with this vast array of options, what are the best onions for grilling?? ⇢ While I’m a fan of any type of onion on the grill, my faves tend to be the sweeter varieties. If you’re perusing your supermarket aisles, those will tend to be the red and yellow varieties.
Shopping Tip! ⇢ If you get the option to hit your local farmer’s market, ask the vendors for their favorite sweet onions, then taste them side by side. I’m often amazed at the nuanced flavors that particular varieties offer. As a Midwestern gal with Hawaiian roots, Maui onions and Red Wings are a few of my favorites, but I encourage you to find your own grilled onion bliss!
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Grilling onions is seriously so simple, and it’s a great way to add flavor to virtually any meal! Here’s what you’ll do:
Prep the onions for the grill. Slice the onions into 1/8ths lengthwise (i.e. tip-to-tail), leaving the root end intact. Why? ⇢ This knife work makes the onions much easier to handle on the grill since the root end holds all the layers of the onion intact (compared to rounds or rings, for example). From there, place the onions on a small baking sheet or large plate. Drizzle with oil over top, season with salt and ground black pepper then toss to coat. Simple as that! Tip ⇢ small- to medium-sized onions work best for a quick and easy grill experience!
Grill the onions. Place the cut side of the onion directly on the grill grates of a grill preheated for medium-high direct heat grilling (about 450-500 degrees F). Grill 7-8 minutes, flipping the onions halfway through. Grilling Tip! ⇢ The easiest way to flip the onions is to grab the root end with the grill tongs and gently turn it. Work carefully, as you don’t want to break off the root – it’s what holds the onion together on the grill!
Serve! You can serve your grilled onions immediately, hot off the grill. Enjoy them on their own, with a splash of balsamic and a sprinkling of fresh herbs, or slice them up for a smoky-sweet add-on for your favorite summer meals.
Serving Suggestions
Onions go into just about everything savory! They’re nearly as ubiquitous in the kitchen as olive oil or butter. So it should come as no surprise that a grilled onion is a thing of beauty on pretty much any plate.
Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning…
- Grilled Vegetable Salad or Grilled Vegetable Platter – Pair your grilled onions with an abundance of grilled veggies and serve with a zippy, herbaceous sauce or dressing.
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Bowls – Pair with spiced BBQ chicken, smoky-sweet grilled sweet potatoes, and greens for the BEST light-yet-hearty summer dinner.
- Chicken Fajita Burritos or Grilled Veggie Burrito Bowls – Pair with hearty beans and creamy green rice!
- Grilled Steak – Create the ultimate summer dinner by pairing with grilled steak and zippy chimichurri sauce…so good!
- Burger Night – Toss your grilled onions atop any sandwich, burger, or wrap, and serve with a side of grilled veggies.
I can’t wait for you to try this Perfect Grilled Onions recipe! Once you master it, you’ll be grilling onions all summer long – I guarantee it!
If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about and seeing your PWWB creations! ♡Happy grilling!
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10-Minute Sweet & Savory Grilled Onions
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 2-4 1x
- Category: Side Dish Recipes, Techniques & How-Tos
- Method: Grilling & Smoking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Learn how to grill onions perfectly this summer with this simple Grilled Onions recipe. It calls for just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep, and results in a pile of impossibly sweet and irresistibly caramelized goodness. A welcome addition to any summer meal – burger night, BBQ bowls, grilled sausage, you name it!
Naturally vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free.
Ingredients
- 2–3 small or medium onions
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
- for serving, as desired: aged balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, fresh oregano, fresh thyme, etc.
Instructions
- Grilled onions prep: Preheat the grill for medium-high direct heat grilling, about 450-500 degrees F. While the grill preheats, prep the onions. Slice the onion in half lengthwise, leaving both the tip and root end in tact. Peel away the tough outer layers and discard. Slice lengthwise through each half 2-3 more times, taking care to leave the tip and root end in tact, creating 6-8 wedges. Place the sliced onions on a small baking sheet or large plate. Drizzle the oil over top, tossing to coat in the oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired, tossing again to coat.
- Grill the onions: Place the onions on the grill, cut side facing down. Grill 7-8 minutes, flipping the onions halfway through, until tender and charred as desired. For larger onions, the total cook time may be closer to 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately, with a splash of balsamic and sprinkling of fresh herbs as desired. If serving on a grilled vegetable platter, drizzle with a light and bright herbaceous sauce, like pesto or chimichurri. Grilled onions are also amazing add-ons for any variety of meals, from grilled chicken bowls to the best-ever burgers to grilled pizza. Enjoy!
Notes
- Best onions for grilling: If you weren’t aware, there are tons of types of onions in the allium family (along with hundreds of other species like garlic, shallots, leeks, chives, and more!). When it comes to grilled onions, I’m a fan of sweeter onions, which tend to be red and yellow varieties (Walla Walla, Vidalia, Maui Sweet Onions, Red Wings, etc.).
- Storage and Freezing Instructions: Leftover grilled onions will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 1 week.
Recipe by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Eat Love Eat
Ready to Hit the Grill?
If this all still feels new to you, I encourage you to head over to Grilling 101, a compilation of tips and tricks for all of the grilling basics – everything from how to light your grill to how to clean your grill.
All this talk about grilling have you feelin’ ready to hit the grill? Me too! Be sure to check out this post for my 15 go-to marinades you need this grilling season. At our house, a good marinade is at the heart of grilling season. I’m positive these marinades will be on repeat at your house this summer! For even more grilled goodness, be sure to check out all of our Grilling and Smoking recipes.
And lastly! Be sure to give @playswellwithbutter a follow on Instagram – I’ll be teaching you how to grill up some goodness all summer long, and we have so much fun on Instagram!
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