Name: Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 Large Vidalia Onion; 4 tablespoons butter; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/2 cup Diet A&W Root Beer

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AWMemories

Spicy Caramelized Onions make a great topper for your savory main dish protein! The onions are glazed at the end of cooking with some Diet A&W® Root Beer, giving the spicy kick of the onions a sweet heat factor that is loved by so many!

With summertime grilling in full force, it is time to add some kick to your burgers and sandwiches! These delicious caramelized onions have a few dashes of red chili pepper flakes added while cooking and then are finished off with a sugar-free Root Beer glaze. This sweet, savory, and slightly spicy onion topping is perfect for any type of burger - be it chicken, beef, or pork! They also are delicious on hotdogs!

A photo of a chicken cutlet sandwich made on keto slider bun with cilantro and caramelized onions with rootbeer glaze and blurred image of A&W Root Beer in background

What inspired me to make Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze

As a young girl, I would go with my mom to the local village and shop. Our shopping trips usually entailed stopping for a treat before we went home. Often times, it was for a beverage and my choice was always A&W Root Beer!

Because it is the 100th anniversary of A&W, I felt it would be appropriate to share with you how I still bring A&W memories into my life! It is my choice of a beverage, except now when I drink it, I choose the Diet beverage since it has zero sugar! Because I love the root beer flavor so much, I will also incorporate it into my cooking!

Upclose image of a chicken sandwich with the glazed onions on top of the chicken and a glass of root beer in the background

My love for A&W Root Beer continues!

The days of shopping with Mom are far and few between anymore. I no longer live in my hometown. And, most of my shopping over the last few years has been on my own. The world has grown, and with it, so have I!

While I am at Walmart, I always grab some A&W Root Beer. Not only because I love it, but because it will bring back my memories of the days I would go to town with Mom as a young girl! I like to bring those memories home with me and create new ones with my family and friends. And, one of those ways is to incorporate the root beer flavor in my food, like I did with these Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze and Root Beer Float Cupcakes!

Walmart grocery bag with groceries sitting on counter next to it

Spicy Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze Recipe

I have always looked forward to any barbeque, family gatherings, or picnic that would be on the agenda. Burgers and dogs were always on the grill and there was no better topping for my sandwich than caramelized onions. So, it made sense for me to create a spicy Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze, incorporating my favorite, Diet A&W Root Beer flavor.

What are the best type of onions to make Caramelized Onions with?

For this caramelized onion recipe I went with the Vidalia Onion. It is firm and crisp cooks and not as pugnet as yellow onions. However, you can use any type of onion you wish.

Can I freeze Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze?

You can freeze Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze! When you are ready to use your onions, just take them out of the freezer and defrost them on your counter. Then, pop them in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat to warm them up!

Can you taste the Root Beer in these Caramelized Onions?

Yes! That is what I love about this recipe! The flavor of the rootbeer is very prevalent and it really compliments the spicy red pepper you added to the onions when caramelizing!

Are Caramelized Onions low carb?

This particular recipe is 4 carbs per serving. I used the A&W Diet Root Beer which is sugar-free and zero carbohydrate. If you use the regular A&W Root Beer, then you will need to account for the carbs in beverage.

Will my picky eater like these Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze?

Picky eaters are just that, picky! However, I can tell you that my picky eater loves these caramelized onions! I like to think it’s because that “edge” is taken off by adding the rootbeer to the onions. 🙂

How to make Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze

A spicy sweet caramelized onion topping with root beer glaze! Perfect for topping sandwiches, burgers, and dogs!

Cook onion slices. Melt butter in a hot skillet. Add onion slices to skillet.

step one - raw onion slices in a skillet on cooktop

Add Red Pepper. Sprinkle onions with red pepper flakes and stir to combine.

step 2 red pepper flakes sprinkled on top of ingredients in skillet

Cook over medium heat. Stir onions periodically while cooking over medium heat.

a wooden spoon stirring the ingredients together

Continue cooking over medium heat about 30 minutes. Watching carefully and stirring periodically, continue to cook onions for about 30 minutes, or until they begin to caramelize.

Pour Diet A&W Root Beer over cooked onions. Simmer onions in Root Beer until sauce has thickened and onions have glazed over.

pouring root beer over top of ingredients

Simmer onions. Turn heat down to low and simmer onions until root beer has cooked down and glazed the onions.

Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze in skillet

Serve as desired. I like to serve my caramelized onions with root beer glaze in a chicken cutlet sandwich served with a Keto Slider Bun and some fresh cilantro!

Chicken Cutlet Sandwich on a keto slider bun topped with Caramelized Onions with Root Beer Glaze

What #AWMemories are you making with your family?

We continue to enjoy A&W Root Beer with our friends and family! After a long day of work, we love to sit down to a meal with family and friends with an ice cold A&W Root Beer. We even send said friends home with an extra bottle of root beer with some meal leftovers! What memories are you making with your family?