Smoked onions make an incredibly flavorful topping for a variety of meals! The smoker transforms sweet onions into golden brown and caramelized onions, vegetables with a deep smoke flavor. They’re the perfect topping to jazz up things like taco salads, hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, roasted pork chops, ribeye steak, and more!
If you’ve never had smoked onions, you’re in for a treat!
They’re similar to caramelized onions or oven roasted onions but with a smoky flavor that is truly next-level. Add them to your favorite dishes for a rich flavor and a subtle touch of smokiness that will elevate the entire meal.
Why This Recipe Works
There’s so much to love about this easy smoked onions recipe.
When smoked at a low temperature until tender and golden brown, the humble onion becomes the topping of all toppings.
We use our Traeger, but you can use a similar pellet grill or smoker for this recipe. One great thing about it is if you’re already smoking meats like pork shoulder, turkey or chicken wings, you can make the most of the extra grill space by slicing up a few whole onions and tossing them on the grill.
Smoked onions are:
- savory, smoky and delicious
- tender and beautifully caramelized
- simple to prepare with just a few ingredients required.
The Ingredient List
To make these tasty smoked onions, you will need the following ingredients:
- Whole onions. You’ll need about medium 4-6 onions total, any variety.
- Olive oil. A little bit of olive oil on the outside of the onions will help them caramelize in the pellet smoker.
- Spices and seasonings. You’ll need a mix of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika and ground cumin. The combination gives the onions a delicious flavor that compliments the smokiness.
- Butter. Adding 1-2 tablespoons of butter to the onions gives it an extra rich flavor you’ll love.
You can use any variety of onions, including white onions, yellow onions and red onions.
How to Smoke Onions
This easy smoked onion recipe is a breeze to prep! We’re sharing the steps below but be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to view the printable recipe card.
First, preheat the smoker or pellet grill to 225°F.
Peel the outer skin off the onions and slice them in half. Place the raw onion in a baking pan.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cumin (or use your favorite rub). Top the onion halves with a pat of butter.
Smoke for 2-½ to 3 hours or until soft. They’ll be golden brown and caramelized on the bottom of the onion. Remove and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- If you want both sides of the onions to get caramelized, you can flip them over after about 1-1/2 hours of smoke time.
- The smoke time for the onions will depend on the size of the onions.
- Store any leftover smoked onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
What to Serve with Smoked Onions
The great thing about smoked onions is that you really can enjoy it with so many dishes. From barbecued meats to Mexican-inspired fare to homestyle cooking, smoked onions add a delicious yet subtle smoky flavor.
- Honey Garlic Glazed Pork Chops
- Reverse Sear Cowboy Steak
- Taco Baked Potatoes
- Lightened Up Green Bean Casserole
- Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich
More Grilling Recipes
- Smoked London Broil
- Bacon Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf
- Traeger Smoked Ham
- Smoked Traeger Jalapeno Poppers
- 35 Grill Master Traeger Recipes
More Recipes You Will Love:
Our Beefy French Onion Soup is thick with caramelized onions in a rich, beef and wine broth. Each serving is topped with a slice of toasted bread and gooey melted Gruyère cheese for a rich, savory and comforting meal.
Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce is a mustard-based barbecue sauce with a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s super versatile and adds amazing flavor to your favorite barbecue dishes like pulled pork, country style ribs, lemon pepper chicken wings, and beef brisket.
Our Fast and Easy French Onion Dip is creamy and savory and the perfect party dip for cut veggies or salty potato chips. Our version low sodium and gluten free.
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Traeger Smoked Onions
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 medium onions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 to 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker or pellet grill to 225°F.
- Peel the onions and slice them in half. Place the onions in a baking pan.
- Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cumin (or use your favorite rub).
- Top the onion halves with a dollop of butter
- Smoke for 2-½ to 3 hours or until soft. The onions will get golden brown and caramelized on the bottom. If you want both sides of the onions to get caramelized, turn them over after 1-½ hours into the cooking time.
