Easy & Creamy Joy Of Cooking Creamed Onions Recipe

Joy of Cooking’s creamed onions represents a classic comfort dish that transforms humble ingredients into a luxurious side.

Small pearl onions nestle beneath a silky, rich sauce that whispers of home and tradition.

Delicate yet deeply satisfying, this recipe connects generations through its simple preparation and timeless appeal.

Soft, tender onions absorb the creamy sauce, creating a harmonious blend of subtle flavors and textures.

Sophisticated without being complicated, these creamed onions elevate any meal with their understated elegance.

Warmth radiates from each spoonful, promising a nostalgic culinary experience that feels both familiar and special.

You’ll find this dish captures the essence of classic home cooking: unpretentious, delicious, and soul-warming: follow these steps to create pure comfort.

Creamed Onions for the Win: Why They Shine

• Savor Creamy Comfort: Dive into a velvety, rich sauce that envelops tender pearl onions, creating a luxurious side dish that feels like a warm culinary hug.
• Master Simple Gourmet Techniques: Learn an easy cooking method that transforms basic ingredients into an impressive dish, perfect for home cooks wanting to elevate their kitchen skills without complicated steps.
• Prep-Ahead Party Pleaser: Enjoy the convenience of making this recipe in advance, allowing you to refrigerate overnight and bake right before serving – a stress-free solution for busy hosts and holiday gatherings.

Onion Essentials for a Silky Dish

• Pearl Onions: Small, sweet onions perfect for creamy side dishes and easy to peel when boiled briefly.

• Butter: Provides rich, smooth base for the creamy sauce and adds depth of flavor.
• Flour: Helps thicken the sauce and create a smooth, velvety texture.
• Heavy Cream: Brings luxurious, rich consistency to the sauce.
• Water: Helps adjust sauce consistency and prevent scorching.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Classic seasonings that enhance the overall taste of the dish.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that adds bright color and subtle herbal notes.
• Cheese: Adds creamy, tangy element to the sauce.
• Pimientos (Optional): Bright red peppers that provide a pop of color and mild sweet flavor.

From Pan to Perfection: Creamed Onions Guide

Step 1: Prepare Boiling Water

Fill a Dutch oven with of water. Bring to a rolling boil. Add pearl onions and cook for 6-7 minutes until softened. Drain the onions and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.

Step 2: Create Creamy Sauce Base

• Flour
• Salt
• Black pepper

Gradually pour in cream and water, stirring constantly to prevent lumps.

Step 3: Thicken and Enhance Sauce

• Cooked onions
• Shredded cheese
• Chopped fresh parsley

Step 4: Prepare for Baking

Transfer mixture to a 1.5-quart baking dish. Cover with lid or aluminum foil. Refrigerate overnight to develop flavors. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to bring to room temperature.

Step 5: Bake and Serve

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Stir contents. Optional: Sprinkle diced pimientos on top. Continue baking for 10 more minutes until heated through and bubbly. Serve hot as a delightful side dish.

Insider Tips for Velvety Onions

• Broil Brilliantly: Create a crispy golden top by watching carefully under the broiler, preventing burning while adding delectable textural contrast.
• Gentle Baking Strategy: Slow-cook the dish at lower temperatures to allow deeper flavor integration and more harmonious ingredient melding.
• Season Strategically: Sample the sauce before incorporating onions, potentially enhancing taste with subtle nutmeg, extra salt, or black pepper adjustments.
• Smooth Sauce Technique: Pour chicken broth and half-and-half cream gradually into the roux, continuously stirring to eliminate potential lumps and guarantee silky consistency.
• Master Roux Perfection: Whisk butter, flour, salt, and pepper meticulously, ensuring an absolutely smooth base without any clumpy interruptions for a flawless sauce foundation.

Storing Creamed Onions: Keep ’Em Fresh

• Preserve Hot: Transfer steaming onions immediately into shallow glass containers allowing quick cooling and preventing bacterial growth. Seal tightly with airtight lids to maintain freshness and prevent moisture absorption.
• Freeze Strategically: Portion creamed onions into individual serving sizes using freezer-safe silicone containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and label with date for organized tracking. Consume within 2-3 weeks for optimal taste and texture.
• Refrigeration Technique: Store in glass or ceramic containers with secure locking mechanisms to prevent odor transfer. Place in the coldest section of refrigerator, typically the back shelf, away from temperature fluctuations. Consume within 3-4 days for best quality and safety.

Tasty Variations on Traditional Creamed Onions

• Herb-Infused Creamed Onions: Enhance the classic recipe by adding fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage to the cream sauce for a fragrant and earthy flavor profile.
• Bacon and Gruyère Creamed Onions: Crisp up some bacon bits and sprinkle them over the dish, then swap the cheese for nutty Gruyère to create a rich, smoky version of the original recipe.
• Spicy Cajun Creamed Onions: Mix in Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and a dash of hot sauce to give the creamy onions a bold, zesty kick that will wake up taste buds.
• Mediterranean-Style Creamed Onions: Incorporate roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese to transform the dish with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients and bright, tangy notes.

Wrap-Up: A Toast to Creamy Goodness

Silky creamed onions embody pure culinary comfort from generations past.

Classic recipes like these connect families through delicious traditions.

Nostalgic ingredients merge into creamy perfection with minimal kitchen effort.

Southern kitchens have long celebrated pearl onions as prestigious side dish stars.

Classic cheese and parsley complement the mild onion sweetness beautifully.

Sharp cheddar and gentle herbs elevate this timeless recipe that could grace holiday tables or weeknight dinners – make sure you bookmark, share with passionate cooks in your circle, comment below with memories of grandmother’s special sides, and spread deliciousness across social media platforms!

Joy Of Cooking Creamed Onions Recipe

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4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy winter comfort awaits with these classic Joy of Cooking creamed onions. Silky pearl onions nestled in a rich, velvety sauce promise pure holiday warmth you’ll savor down to the last delectable spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Vegetables:

• 4 cups (946 ml) pearl onions

Fresh Herbs and Cheese:

• ¼ cup (59 ml) minced fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) grated Parmesan cheese

Cooking Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) butter
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
• Dash pepper
• ¾ cup (177 ml) chicken broth
• ¾ cup (177 ml) half-and-half cream
• Pimiento strips, optional

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Instructions

1. Boil 8 cups (1.9 liters) of water in a large Dutch oven or kettle. Cook pearl onions for 6-7 minutes until tender, then rinse under cold water to remove skins and drain completely.
2. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, salt, and pepper to create a smooth roux, ensuring no lumps remain.
3. Gradually pour cream and water into the roux, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture thickens and reaches a smooth, velvety consistency.
4. Incorporate shredded cheese, cooked pearl onions, and chopped fresh parsley into the sauce. Stir until cheese melts and ingredients are evenly distributed.
5. Transfer the creamy onion mixture to an ungreased 1.5-quart (1.4 liters) baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld.
6. Remove the dish from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to bring to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. Bake covered for 15 minutes, then remove from oven and gently stir. Optional: sprinkle diced pimientos on top for added color and flavor.
8. Return to oven, covered, and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the dish is heated through and bubbling around the edges.

Notes

• Broiling brings out a golden, crispy crust that transforms ordinary creamed onions into an extraordinary side dish, providing a delightful textural contrast with minimal effort.
• Baking at a lower temperature allows flavors to gently meld together, creating a more harmonious and deeply developed taste profile throughout the entire dish.
• Seasoning plays a critical role in elevating the sauce’s complexity, with subtle additions like nutmeg potentially unlocking unexpected depth and warmth in the final preparation.
• Smooth sauce development depends on careful liquid incorporation, requiring constant stirring and gradual addition to prevent unwelcome lumps from forming in the creamy base.
• Precise roux preparation sets the foundation for a velvety sauce, demanding careful whisking and attention to eliminate any potential flour clumps before liquid integration begins.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Side Dish
• Method: Boiling, Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 175 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 238 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 33 mg