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Home » Recipe Index » Side Dishes

Roasted Onions with Thyme

Published: Dec 1, 2022 · Updated: Dec 1, 2022 Author: Alexandra Cook

For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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These Roasted Onions with Thyme are an ideal side dish, easy enough for weeknight meals as well as being a perfect addition to your festive table.  The simple process of roasting the onions totally transforms them; as they cook, their sugars caramelise, enhancing their natural sweetness. And they are so easy to make! Just add the trimmed, halved onions to a baking dish along with some olive oil, season with salt, pepper and sprigs of thyme then roast. A drizzle of sweet, yet tart, Balsamic Glaze just before serving takes this side dish to new heights.

White rectangular dish with roasted onions, garnished with some fresh thyme leaves.
Jump to:
  • Why you’ll love this recipe:
  • Ingredients in this recipe:
  • How to Roast Onions:
  • Tips for success and FAQs:
  • Variations and substitutions:
  • What variety of onion is best to use?
  • Serving suggestions:
  • More delicious recipes for you to try:
  • Roasted Onions with Thyme
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Why you’ll love this recipe:

The onions are roasted in the oven until they become meltingly tender, and their flavour mellows, while at the same time, the onions become flavoursome from the sprigs of fresh thyme.

This easy dish is perfect for busy people as it requires very little hands-on time.

You will love these Roasted Onions with Thyme because:

  • This is a healthy side dish that is easy to make and full of flavour, as well as being budget-friendly.
  • You can transform an everyday ingredient into a full-flavoured side dish which will be ideal to serve with meat, fish or poultry such as our Spatchcock Chicken. As well, they are a great addition to salads, added to a sandwich or wrap or served at a barbecue.
  • The Roasted Onions are naturally gluten-free and vegan, making them suitable for many people with specific dietary requirements.
  • Whether you are cooking for a large or small number of people, you can scale this recipe up or down, depending on your requirements.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Ingredients in this recipe on a white marble background.

Brown/yellow and red onions – we use two varieties for the colour variation, but you can use any onion that you prefer. The red onion is sweeter than the brown/yellow or white onion.

Extra virgin olive oil – this is our preference for flavour and nutritional benefit. Use the best olive oil that you have.

Fresh thyme – a few sprigs of this aromatic, fresh herb add great flavour to the onions.

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – add to suit your taste.

Balsamic glaze – optional, but is fantastic when serving. It adds a sweet, tart flavour that perfectly complements the Roasted Onions.

How to Roast Onions:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Steps 1-2 of preparing this recipe - the onion halves in a white rectangular baking dish and after they've roasted in the oven.

1 – Place your onions in a baking dish:
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C (390 F).

Cut the onions in half lengthways, and peel. Trim the stem end and leave the root intact to hold the onion halves together.

In a small cast iron skillet or baking dish, place the onions cut side up and drizzle with the olive oil. Top with the sprigs of thyme and season with salt and pepper.

2 – Roast until tender:
Roast for 35 minutes, turning the onions over halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Remove from the oven when they are tender. Arrange on a serving platter and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Spoon holding up a roasted onion half from a dish of roasted onions.

Tips for success and FAQs:

When a recipe has so few ingredients, it is essential that they be of the best quality. Choose onions that are heavy in your hand, firm, with dry, papery skins and free of blemishes. Avoid any with soft spots, signs of sprouting or a strong odour. For the best appearance and even cooking, choose onions of a similar size.

What is the best way to use leftovers?

Store leftover Roasted Onions in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The onions are at their best when fresh from the oven, but leftovers can be added to salads, soups, stews or burgers.  

Can I prepare the Roasted Onions in advance?

You certainly can, they are ideal for meal prep. To get ahead, prepare the onions a day ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.

Star

Variations and substitutions:

Brown/yellow and red onion – use any onion variety that you prefer. Cipollini onions are also a good choice.
 
Fresh thyme – you could substitute with fresh rosemary sprigs or sage leaves.

Serving – the onions are delicious served on a bed of rocket/arugula leaves and topped with some fresh goat cheese.

What variety of onion is best to use?

You can use most onions for roasting. Here’s a little information on some suitable varieties to use:

Brown/yellow onions – this is the most versatile onion and the variety most used as an all-rounder. This variety includes globe onions and the slightly sweeter Spanish onions.

White onions – this variety is named for its white flesh and thin white skin. Their flavour is milder than brown or red onions.

Red onions – also known as purple onions, they are sweeter than brown/yellow and white onions.

Sweet onions – these onions have a mild flavour. They have a lower sulphur content which makes their sugar content more noticeable. Popular varieties are Vidalias, Walla Wallas and Mauis.

Cipollini – this is an Italian heirloom onion variety. Their name, in Italian, means “little onion”. Cipollini is a more uncommon variety of onion, but they are worth seeking out. The onions are a flat, saucer shape with thin, papery skins. These onions contain more natural sugar than regular white or brown onions, and as such, when roasted they caramelise beautifully.

Round dish of roasted onions garnished with some fresh thyme leaves and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Serving suggestions:

These Roasted Onions are a great addition to a barbecued steak, hamburger, or any roast meal, along with my Whole Roasted Baby Potatoes or Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli.

As well, for a light meal or vegetarian appetiser, serve the Roasted Onions on a bed of rocket, drizzled with Balsamic Glaze and scattered with some fresh goat cheese or feta. The mild acidity of the cheese beautifully complements the sweetness of the onions. 

They also make a delicious appetiser. Make some Crostini, spread them with soft goat cheese and top with some onion and a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves.

This easily made dish of Roasted Onions is a must for all onion lovers. With just a few simple ingredients, the humble onion is transformed into a side dish which is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. I look forward to hearing if you try it.

Alex xx

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    Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
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Round dish of roasted onions garnished with some fresh thyme leaves and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Roasted Onions with Thyme

These Roasted Onions with Thyme are an ideal side dish, easy enough for weeknight meals as well as being a perfect addition to your festive table.  The simple process of roasting the onions totally transforms them; as they cook, their sugars caramelise, enhancing their natural sweetness. And they are so easy to make! Just add the trimmed, halved onions to a baking dish along with some olive oil, season with salt, pepper and sprigs of thyme then roast.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Review
Course: Entree, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 185kcal
Author: Alexandra Cook – It’s Not Complicated Recipes

Please note:

For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.

Ingredients

  • 2 brown/yellow onions See Note 1
  • 2 red onions
  • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil See Note 2
  • 8 stalks fresh thyme
  • sea salt and black pepper – to taste

To serve (optional):

  • balsamic glaze See Note 3
  • rocket/arugula leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200 Degrees C (390 F).
  • Cut the onions in half, remove the stem and peel. Leave the root intact to hold the onion half in place.
  • In a small cast iron skillet or baking dish, place the onions cut side up, and drizzle with the olive oil.
    Distribute the thyme over and around the onions and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Roast for 35 minutes, turning over halfway through to ensure even cooking.
    Remove from oven when they are tender and cooked through – check with the point of a sharp knife.
    The exact roasting time will vary depending on the size of your onions.
  • Serve as is, or with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Notes

  1. Onions: I have used a combination of brown/yellow and red onions. Cipollini onions also work well and can be roasted whole.
  2. Tablespoon: we use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20 ml (4 teaspoons).
  3. Balsamic glaze: use store-bought or make your own.
 
 
Made this recipe? We’d be so grateful if you could leave a comment and rating at the bottom of the page!

Nutrition Estimate:

Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 55mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional Disclaimer:

The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.

This post was originally published in October 2018. It has been updated with new photos and more information. The recipe has been altered slightly.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patricia A Giza

    December 13, 2022 at 11:08 am

    5 stars
    love this recipe. Simple and ea

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      December 15, 2022 at 9:14 am

      Thank you, Patricia!

      Reply
  2. Bree

    May 23, 2019 at 4:43 am

    5 stars
    These Roasted onions are seriously SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!!

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      May 24, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      I am so happy to hear that Bree. Have a great weekend. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Christina

    October 13, 2018 at 4:09 am

    5 stars
    Sooooo yummy! And with goat cheese – DELICIOUS! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      October 13, 2018 at 7:22 am

      My pleasure, Christina! Enjoy!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. gemma redford

    October 11, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, these are so yummy! And easy to make! great recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      October 12, 2018 at 1:24 am

      Thank you, Gemma! Appreciate you stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  5. Chad

    October 10, 2018 at 5:32 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t thank you enough for this awesome recipe! It turned out to be DELICIOUS!!!

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      October 11, 2018 at 2:19 am

      Hello Chad, thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂

      Reply

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