An Edible Mosaic™

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Home » Type » Side Dishes » Creamed Onions

Creamed Onions

December 18, 2019 by Faith 58 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This heirloom Creamed Onions recipe is a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavor in a rich, buttery cream sauce. Serve it up for any holiday or special occasion meal!

Easy Creamed Onions Recipe in a White Bowl with Spoon on Dark Wooden Table

One of the perks of food blogging is all the creative and thoughtful gifts that people bestow once they find out about your blog.

I’ve received wonderful things like fresh, home-grown produce, exotic spices, and unique baked goods (you wouldn’t believe how tasty potato chip cookies are!). Despite all these treats, I think my favorite gifts are heirloom recipes.

This Creamed Onions recipe is a holiday tradition that comes from my grandfather on my mom’s side.

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My mom told me this dish is one of my grandfather’s absolute favorites and nary a holiday feast goes by that he doesn’t make creamed onions to accompany.

According to my grandfather, this is a traditional American farmer dish typically made to go with holiday meals. Sweet onions were always used because this recipe was a good way to use up a lot of them at once, since their shelf life is shorter than cooking onions.

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Be sure not to overcook the onions when making Creamed Onions. The onions are ready to drain when they’re soft and translucent but not mushy, as pictured in the photo above.

In This Article

  • What Are Sweet Onions?
  • How to Peel Pearl Onions:
  • Can I Use Pearl Onions to Make Creamed Onions?
  • More Traditional Holiday Side Dish Recipes:
  • Creamed Onions

What Are Sweet Onions?

Sweet onions are onions that taste sweeter and less pungent than other onions. According to Wikipedia, their sweetness is due to their low sulfur content and high water content. Types of sweet onion include Vidalia, Walla Walla, and Maui.

How to Peel Pearl Onions:

  1. Fill a 5-quart pot 2/3 full with water, and bring it to a boil.
  2. Add the unpeeled onions to the boiling water.
  3. Bring back up to a boil, and then let it boil for 3 minutes.
  4. Drain the onions, and transfer them to a large bowl full of ice water.
  5. Once cooled, drain the onions.
  6. Cut the root end off an onion and gently squeeze the other end. The onion will slip out of its skin. Continue this way until all the onions are peeled.

Close Up Top View of Creamed Onions Recipe in White Bowl on Wooden Table

Can I Use Pearl Onions to Make Creamed Onions?

Yes, pearl onions are delicious in this Creamed Onions recipe! Use about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds of pearl onions, and peel them as directed in the section above. Then continue on with the recipe below.

More Traditional Holiday Side Dish Recipes:

  • Sweet and Savory Quinoa Pilaf with Cranberries, Roasted Butternut, and Toasted Almonds
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Festive Christmas Salad Recipe
  • Funeral Potatoes
  • Butternut Squash Puree with Fontina Cheese, Fresh Thyme, and Brown Butter
  • Rosemary Vanilla Cranberry Sauce (Low Carb Cranberry Sauce)

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Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith

Creamed Onions in Small White Bowl on Dark Wood Table

Creamed Onions

By: Faith Gorsky
This heirloom Creamed Onions recipe is a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavor in a rich, buttery cream sauce. Serve it up for any holiday or special occasion meal!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 13 servings
Calories 227 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large sweet onions such as Vidalia sliced into 1/4 to 1/2-inch strips
  • 8 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Put the onions in a 3-quart pot with a lid and barely cover them with water. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat, cover the pot, and simmer until soft and translucent but not mushy, about 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Drain the onions and put back into the pot.
  • Add the butter, cream, sugar, and salt, and cook over low heat until warm throughout.

Faith's Tips

  • This recipe can be made up to 3 days ahead. Keep it covered in the fridge and reheat until warm on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Creamed Onions
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 227 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 69mg23%
Sodium 171mg7%
Potassium 118mg3%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 754IU15%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 41mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Creamed Onions
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Easy Creamed Onions Recipe Pin

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on December 22, 2010. It was updated with new photos on March 13, 2013, and more information on December 18, 2019. As a point of comparison to show how much my photography has evolved, I kept one of my original photos (below).

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Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items, which helps me keep this site alive – thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged: Christmas Recipes, Creamed Onions, Heirloom Recipes, Holiday Side Dishes, Recipes, Thanksgiving Recipes, Traditional Recipes

Comments

  1. Megan says

    December 5, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    I make something like this, but with parmesan added and we serve it with steak…yummy goodness! I’ll have to try this!

    Reply
  2. Carolyn Jung says

    December 27, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    I was guessing this was a side dish. But a first course? How interesting! I bet it’s just perfect on a cool winter evening, too. Nothing like a bowl of creamy goodness to warm you up from the inside out. Happy holidays! ;)

    Reply
  3. nancy at good food matters says

    December 27, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Hi Faith–I love the white-on-white look of this dish—the way you’ve sliced the onions elevates the appearance. This is always such a delicious, savory-sweet treat.

    Reply
  4. Raina says

    December 26, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    This is really unique. I have never seen this dish. It does sound delicious. I agree; those recipes passed down are the best, even more special that it is your grandfather’s favorite:)

    I hope you had a very merry Christmas!

    Reply
  5. Chaya says

    December 26, 2010 at 12:23 am

    Wishing you the happiest of holidays.

    I am an onion lover and this is an ideal way of serving onions.

    Reply
  6. marla {family fresh cooking} says

    December 25, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Merry Christmas Faith! It is heavenly what things we can give & receive as food bloggers. I have never heard of creamed onions, sounds so interesting! XO

    Reply
  7. Susan: My Food Obsession says

    December 25, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    I agree, Heirloom recipes are truly something special!

    Merry Christmas :)

    Reply
  8. jen cheung says

    December 25, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    Passion4Food here to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. May 2011 bring you lots of happiness and friendship. Have an awesome day with your love ones!!

    jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca

    Reply
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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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