A simple recipe using your Instant Pot slow cooker setting. Make the most delicious balsamic onions to dehydrate. Good luck keeping them around!
Would you believe an onion can taste like candy? Well, I think these dehydrated balsamic onions do!
I have made these onions two ways. I used my Instant Pot to speed up the process and found that when cooking onions under high pressure, they become mushy. If you don’t care about any type of presentation, then by all means toss that puppy on high and pressure cook them.
But I wanted something that resembled an onion and didn’t want to make a powder so for my purposes, I feel that the slow cook method does a better job keeping the onion somewhat… onion-shaped.
This recipe is SO simple yet packs BIG flavor. You just have to try it. If you aren’t fan of onion smell, be sure to put your dehydrator in a back room with a window that can be opened. Personally, the smell of these onions is heaven to me so I don’t do that. I do find myself hungry most of the day though. I keep thinking a nice juicy burger with these onions on top would be divine…
A simple recipe using your Instant Pot slow cooker setting. Make the most delicious balsamic onions to dehydrate. Good luck keeping them around for very long!
- 3-4 large onions peeled and sliced up to 1/4" thickness
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar I like 3
- 1 tbsp brown sugar *optional*
- salt and pepper to taste *optional*
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Peel your onions and using a mandolin slicer or your amazing knife skills, slice into 1/4" thick rounds. Set aside. Be SURE to save your peelings to make broth later!
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Put 3 tbsp olive oil in the slow cooker.
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Add onions, balsamic vinegar and if you choose to do so, brown sugar.
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Mix well until the vinegar and sugar coat all the onions.
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Put lid on slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours being sure to check on the onions periodically and give them a stir. If you are using the slow cook setting on your Instant Pot, just hit the "slow cook" button.
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The onions should have a golden brown look to them when they are done. Bonus: they smell heavenly! Add salt and pepper to taste if you like.
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*I like to add an additional small splash of balsamic vinegar at this time, right before I transfer to the dehydrator sheets but that's just an option not a must do.
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Remove from slow cooker and transfer to your lined dehydrator racks.
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Dehydrate at 135° for approximately 8-10 hours (all dehydrators are different so be sure to check from time to time for doneness). I keep a log of what I dehydrate with the time it took to do so, then all I have to do is check my book for times.
Besides just snacking on them (truly) I like to use these onions crunched up in salads, tossed into soups or even added to gravies! I’ll definitely be trying these crumbled into popcorn… my ultimate test 🙂
Let me know how you use these onions!
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Hi Nikki! Ohhhhh my goodness, can’t wait to try this one! You are awesome my friend. ❤
Have to warn you… they are addictive!
Oh my goodness, I’ll bet these are divine and your house smelled heavenly! I wish onions didn’t have so many carbs, because I think I’d have a very hard time staying out of them. 😉
Well it looks like I’ll have to come up with a special dehydrated treat for you 🙂
Can you just can them after they are made instead of dehydrating?