BEST Caramelized Onion Jam Recipe (For Meat, Cheese & Veggies!) (2024)

Savory jams are among my favorite condiments and this Caramelized Onion Jam is one I love. Sweet onions combine with earthy olive oil and thyme as well as the sweet balsamic for a jam that you can use at any meal.

Onions have a natural sweetness to them that shines in this simple recipe. With only five other ingredients, they are definitely the star of the show.

Whether you want to add a simple addition to your meal or you’re whipping up a gourmet appetizer, you’ll want to keep this recipe on hand!

What is Caramelized Onion Jam?

Onion jam is a sweet mix of caramelized onions and sugar balanced out by thyme and vinegar. Use it as a great topper for meat, vegetables, and cheeses, or just spread it on bread.

The key to a good onion jam is cooking it slowly on medium heat or low heat so that the onions caramelize perfectly and the flavors can come together. Don’t miss out on that flavor in the bottom of the pan either – scrape your skillet occasionally while stirring.

This savory jam is bound to become one of your new favorite easy recipes. Make a double batch so you have plenty ready when you want it!

Why You’ll Love This Caramelized Onion Jam

A sweet onion jam recipe that’s full of deep flavor and has plenty of uses- what’s not to love!

• Versatile spread – You can use this jam on just about anything you’d like to. It’s a delicious condiment that tastes good on almost anything.
• Great for gifting – This onion jam is a unique way to gift something yummy to friends and loved ones.
• Great balance of flavors – The perfect balance of savory and sweet, this onion jam has the best flavor.

Ingredients

You are going to love the simple ingredients in this easy recipe. Just a handful of ingredients to make this homemade onion jam!

• Olive oil– Extra virgin olive oil works best for this recipe.
• Large sweet onions– I think that Vidalias are the best onions for this recipe, but you can use any large onions that you have handy. Chop them however you choose, but diced onions are ideal if you’re using the jam as a condiment.
• Coarse Kosher salt– Try to use this instead of table salt – it really brings out the flavor of the onions.
• Sugar– Cane sugar or white granulated sugar will work — they are interchangeable in this recipe.
• Red wine vinegar– This helps to add some balance, introducing some acid to the dish.
• White balsamic vinegar– White balsamic tends to be higher quality – it really elevates the flavors.
• Fresh thyme leaves– Fresh is always best. However, if you don’t have it, remember the simple conversion of 1 tsp dried to 1 tbsp fresh herbs.

How to Use Caramelized Onion Jam

Whether adding to a simple grilled cheese sandwich or combining with cream cheese, there are plenty of ways to use this delicious jam.

• Burger topping – Try this savory sauce on top of your burgers to kick them up a notch.
• Steak– These onions are delicious over top of a freshly grilled steak. I like to add sautéed mushrooms, too.
• Braise chicken in it– Let the chicken soak up the flavors of the caramelized onions while it’s cooking.
• Pizza– Spread over top of a pizza before cooking, or entirely replace the pizza sauce with onion jam.
• Sandwiches– Use it on any sandwich.
• Cheese board – Blue cheese, goat cheese, and cheddar are all made better with a bit of this.
• Puff pastry and tarts – Particularly, puff pastry wrapped rounds of brie pair perfectly.
• Charcuterie board – Spread some onion jam on baguette slices and top them with salty meats like salami, prosciutto, and sopressata.
• Steamed or roasted vegetables – Toss it with steamed or roasted veggies.
• French onion soup – If you use this caramelized onion jam to make the soup, it means most of the work is already done when you’re trying to serve up dinner.
• Butter Board– What in the world is a butter board? Like a communal butter plate, but better. Check it out!

Variations

The combination of sweet onions pairs so well with any number of these variations.

• Brown sugar– Instead of white sugar you can use brown for a more molasses-infused flavor. You can also reduce the sugar for a more savory jam.
• Lemon juice– Adding just a little lemon juice at the end of cooking will help to brighten the flavors.
• Mustard seed– You can use mustard seeds to impart a somewhat nutty flavor.
• Bay leaves– Adding a bay leaf or two at the beginning of the cooking process for a little extra brightness as well. Take the bay leaf out after cooking.
• Black pepper– You can spice up your onion jam by adding a bit of black pepper to taste.
• Other types of onions– Experiment with other onions. Any variety of white onions are an option and red onions will work as well.
• Vinegar– Instead, try using apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or regular balsamic vinegar.

Storage and Freezing

Storage: Store your caramelized onion jam in an airtight container for up to a week.

Freezing: If you want to store it for several months, you can use an ice cube trays to store and freeze the jam. You can also keep it for a long time by canning it.

Other Savory Sauces and Jams

• Bourbon Bacon Jam
• Spicy Aioli
• Tomato Jam
• Sweet Thai Chile Sauce