Sweet onions are the best onions for burgers because they have a slightly sweet flavor even when raw. If you like strong flavors, go for yellow onions. They are renowned for their very sharp taste.
As a prep cook, I have made burgers with different professional chefs who have widely varying opinions regarding the best onions for burgers. It comes down to personal preference. The type of onion you choose to add to your burger will directly affect its taste and quality.
In this article, I will explain the different onion varieties available and how each can best be integrated into your burger recipes.
All onion species are packed with a degree of distinctive taste and aroma and have wildly varying characteristics.
Some have a sharp flavor profile and a stronger aroma than others that have a mild onion flavor depending on their sulphur levels.
Raw onions are higher in sulphur and when cooked, heat inactivates the sulphur compounds responsible for the sharp taste of raw onions.
Onions that are high in sulphur, like yellow and red onions, also have a sharper taste and a more pungent aroma than onions with less sulphur like sweet onions. Let’s take a closer look:
Yellow onions are also called brown onions. They are the most common onions and are widely used in cooking across the globe. Yellow onions are known for their versatility. They are used in many recipes from pasta, to stews and barbecues.
Yellow onions have a bitter taste and pungent smell when raw. However, they are one of the best for burgers since they become sweeter as they cook.
Brown onions for burgers are best caramelized because they have a natural sweetness when cooked. Brown onions are also great when grilled, fried, sautéed, caramelized, or roasted as onion rings.
White onions are a familiar ingredient in Mexican and African cooking. They are very spicy with a crunchy texture. White onions are pretty much like yellow onions except that they have a more prominent flavor profile.
White onions have a high moisture content which makes them perfect for crispy fried onions. This is why they’re one of the best options for burgers. You can also add diced white onions to guacamole, chutney, and salsa.
Red onions stand out because of their deep purple color. The color is so intense that it gets on your hands and work surfaces when being prepared.
They also make their way into salads and sandwiches because they add to the aesthetics of the meal. Red onions are the obvious choice if you want to add an inviting color to your burger.
This onion’s unique flavor profile makes it one of the best onions for your burger.
It has a sharp flavor and mouth-watering aroma when cooked. Some people find red onions to be too spicy. If you’re one of these people, try soaking the onions in cold water after slicing them. This will dampen the sharp taste and make them crisper when cooked.
Here’s a tip: red onions grill really well so I like to lay them out on my grill and sear them on medium-high heat as I whip up my burger patties. You can’t go wrong. Red onions also give great results on burgers when pickled or added to onion chutney.
To pickle red onions for burgers, try a white vinegar base and some fresh herb mix. I recommend the MasterFoods Mixed herbs since it contains all my favorite spices.
Sweet onions have no bitter taste to speak of. It is a sweet addition to any meal. They are usually confused with yellow onions since they both have a golden color.
However, sweet onions are usually larger and have a high sugar content due to their low sulphur levels.
It is the best option for your burger if you prefer your onion raw since they don’t have a sharp bitter taste like yellow onions.
Their large size and high sugar content makes them great for caramelizing and making onion rings. The most common varieties of sweet onions are Vidalia onions, Maui, Walla Walla, and Texas Sweets.
Shallots are elongated, tiny onions that grow in clusters. They have a purple color like red onions. They have a slight sweetness and mild flavor. This makes shallots a great option for caramelized onions in burgers.
Shallots are mostly used in vinaigrettes and are perfect if you like raw onions on your burger. If not raw, try frying or pickling shallots for your burger.
I find pearl onions to be fancy. They only grow to a diameter of about 1.5 inches earning the name baby onions. In some places, they call them creamers. They have a round shape just like yellow onions.
Pearl onions taste a lot like shallots but without any garlic tones. Try pearl onions for burgers by splitting them in half and roasting them on medium-high heat. Alternatively, you can introduce them to your burger in a sauce or salsa.
Cipollini onion has a distinct short donut shape. They resemble yellow onions but are much sweeter. The tiny stature of the Cipollini onion makes it great for sliders when cut into onion rings.
They can also be toasted whole and slapped onto your burger since they caramelize perfectly. If toasted does not work for you, try adding them to a dip or salsa.
If you’re feeling experimental, try out any of these herbs that are commonly used in place of the onion because they mirror its taste:
Chives are long, green stems that have a mild onion flavor. They add depth to dishes and are widely used in dips, soups, fish dishes, omelets, and mashed potatoes. Chives are best added to the burger meat during preparation or in a dipping sauce, salsa, or guacamole.
I like the taste of garlic chives so I sometimes grab some stems and chop them finely to sprinkle in my burger. The seductive look of this burger is just a bonus.
There are 2 common species of chives grown, garlic chives and common chives.
Common chives grow in clumps of slender bulbs with green leaves. The colors of its flowers vary between red, purple, and pink depending on the variety, while garlic chives have white flowers and a mild garlic flavor that you can’t miss.
They are also referred to as green onions. They have a leafy texture and are dark green at the top. Towards the bottom, it’s white, with a tiny bulb much like other onions but a lot smaller.
Green onions have an inviting aroma and mild onion flavor. They are best integrated into your burger in the burger meat alongside garlic and teriyaki sauce. Green onions are sometimes mistakenly referred to as spring onions.
Spring onions are very young onions that are harvested before the bulb develops. They have a milder onion flavor than both green onions or scallions to soothe even the pickiest eater. You can also sauté spring onion to use as topping on your burger.
I don’t recommend cooking spring onions since their unique flavor is lost. It is best to savor spring onions raw or pickled.
Leeks are readily available from late fall through to early spring. Leeks look like scallions but are much larger. They have a very mild flavor and a moderate sweetness.
I don’t recommend adding them to your burger raw because leeks are fibrous and can be a task to chew. I only use leeks for my breakfast burgers when thinly sliced and braised. You can also grill, roast, fry, or sauté them.
Now let’s look at how exactly to go about using onions in your burger. How should you slice them and prep them?
Thousands of restaurants around the world slice their onions into full circles. Firstly, I find this method too tactical when all you’re trying to do is enjoy a burger at home.
Onion rings don’t sit well on the burger, forcing you to keep reassembling the burger in an attempt to stack the rings evenly. There’s just no winning with onion rings.
Secondly, this method is unnecessarily dangerous to your fingers. Cutting full onion rings without anything to keep the onion base flat is an injury waiting to happen.
If you have to cut full onion rings, use a mandoline or a deli-style cutter. I recommend this Fullstar Mandoline slicer because it’s a multipurpose gadget that gives me value for my money.
If, like me, you don’t have time to start messing around with fancy equipment, cut your onions for burgers into orbital slices if you’re going to use them raw.
Orbital slicing means that you first cut the full onion into two right through the middle before making thin slices from the top to the bottom of the onion. These slices look better and make it easier to hold a burger without ingredients squeezing out.
If this slicing technique doesn’t tickle your fancy, try diced onions.
Cook onion for your burger in any of the following ways:
To make grilled onion for burgers, start by warming up your skillet over medium heat. As it heats, quickly slice the onions.
Add some butter and sliced onions to the heated skillet and sprinkle some salt. Cook while stirring frequently till they turn golden brown.
Sautéed onions are tossed in a very hot pan. When done correctly, the onions will get a golden color and become crisp while remaining moist.
Pour some olive on a shallow pan that you have a good grip on. Let the pan get hot as you slice the onions but do not let the oil burn.
Add the onions slices and toss continuously or stir consistently for at most 30 seconds. Lay the sautéed onions on your burger and enjoy.
Fried onions are amongst the best onions for a burger because they have a sweet taste that’s appreciated across different palettes.
Make crispy fried onions by heating some oil in a frying pan until it gets hot, but don’t let the oil burn.
Add a pinch of flour to the onions to give your onions more crispiness. When the oil is hot, reduce the heat to medium-high and add onions. Fry until golden brown. Transfer the onions onto an absorbent paper to get rid of excess oil before slapping on a burger.
Caramelize onions for your burger by placing a slice of butter on a skillet. Put it over medium-high heat. Slice the onions and add to the skillet.
Add brown sugar and soy sauce. You can also add in some whiskey if you like. When the onions start browning, sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. When they are golden brown and soft, the caramelized onions are ready to top your burger.
For roasted onions, preheat your oven to 275ºF. As it heats up, cut your onions in two and place them on an oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle salt and pepper generously over the onions.
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and let the onions cook till the surface of the onions turns brown. It should take around 30-40 minutes. Remove the onions from the oven and drizzle some balsamic vinegar over them before adding them to your burger.
To make the pickling spice for pickled onions, add vinegar, salt, and water in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar and salt dissolve. Turn the heat off and set it aside to cool.
As that cools, slice your onions and put them in mason jars. Pour the cool pickling spice over the onions. When the pickled onions get to room temperature, you can move them to the fridge.
These pickled onions can be slapped on your burger in 30 minutes but for best results, consider refrigerating them at least overnight for the flavors to develop.
You can also make onion jam or onion chutney for your burger. The only difference between jam and chutney is that onion jam is sweet while onion chutney is savory and has a tangy taste.
Make onion jam by sautéing your sliced onion till soft and golden brown. Add balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and a little water. Stir consistently till the sugar and salt are dissolved.
Reduce the heat to low and cook until the jam thickens. This will take around half an hour. You can mix maple syrup into your jam if you like it extra sweet.
Heat olive or canola oil in a saucepan. Fry sliced onions, ginger, garlic, and coriander for around 10 minutes. Sprinkle some smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon. Pour in red wine vinegar.
Keep cooking for two minutes and add mustard. Season with salt. Simmer until the chutney is dark and thick. Let it cool before spreading it on the burger.
This is good news for bacon lovers. Consider wrapping your onion with bacon. Brush some olive oil on the bacon-wrapped onions and pop them in the air fryer for about 10 minutes.
You can also place them on the grill and cook them over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes.
This is not exactly a preparation method but it deserves a mention. Raw onions are one of the best options for burger recipes and are widely served because it is the easiest to whip up.
All you have to do is chop them up into toothsome pieces you can easily handle and savor the moment.
Try different onion varieties on your burgers separately or try mixing different onions until you nail a formula you like. The limit is your imagination.
