This Bourbon Caramelized Onion Jam is the hit of BBQ season this year.
Red onions, combined with bourbon, maple balsamic and maple sugar. Caramelized to perfection. The perfect topping for burgers, sandwiches and so much more.
Between this and Savory Tomato Jam, we have the best homemade condiments for everything!!

Are you a bourbon lover? How about onions? This red onion marmalade is over the top delicious.
I have ALWAYS been a big onion fan. My daughter, on the other hand, is an onion hater. My husband cannot stand eating them raw but LOVES pickled onions and air fryer onion rings.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this caramelized onion recipe can be found at the bottom of the post.
He also LOVES bourbon. Boozy Bourbon Iced Coffee and Grilled Nectarine Bourbon Patio Punch have been enjoyed lots this summer. Perfect for bbq parties.
During the holidays, Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Fudge is a hit on the treat tray (makes an excellent Christmas homemade food gift).
Now, when it comes to cooking onions, caramelized onions are over the top delicious. If you have never tried them before, you are REALLY missing out!
Caramelizing onions takes time (you cannot rush this process). Believe me, IT IS WORTH the effort (which is NOT hard). Have you ever tried caramelized onions on burgers? OMG!!!!
Homemade Onion Gravy is hands down our favourite topper. Perfect for steaks right off the grill. You really need to give it a try.
Ingredients for Sweet Onion Bourbon Jam
For this braised onion compote recipe you will need:
- red onions
- bourbon
- water
- olive oil
- maple balsamic vinegar
- maple sugar
- smoked sea salt
- cracked black pepper
Most recipes for caramelized onions use brown sugar. Maple bourbon is so delicious, I decided to incorporate some maple flavours into this onion relish.
If you have never used (affiliate)*maple sugar before, you really need to give it a try.
I also use (affiliate)* Maple Balsamic and Smoked Sea Salt in this recipe.
How To Make Caramelized Onion Jam
This process is NOT HARD. TIME and PATIENCE is required for cooking onions to perfection.
- Peel onions and thinly slice.
- Combine all the liquid ingredients in a measuring cup.
- Cook onions in a heavy-bottomed skillet with olive oil until soft.
- Add the liquid, bring to a boil, and reduce the heat.
- Cook the onions until soft and liquid is reduced (see recipe card for full instructions).
- DO NOT RUSH the cooking process (very important).
- Remove from heat and cool.
- Place in a glass jar and store in the fridge.
Remember to stir during the cooking process (which takes about an hour). Slowly cooking onions draws out the natural sweetness, allowing the sugar in them to caramelize.
Best Onions To Use
Honestly, this is all personal preference. I like red onions since they are on the sweet side. Feel free to try:
- Spanish
- Vidalia
- Walla Walla
- Maui
- White
- Yellow
- Shallots
All varieties will work nicely. The end result is sweet, tender, dark-brown onions.
How Long Does It Last? This caramelized onion recipe will last for about 2 weeks stored in a glass jar in the fridge. I like to serve it at room temperature.
You can also freeze this onion jam recipe. Place in a freezer bag or ice cube trays. It will last a few months in the freezer. Just thaw before using.
Preserved Onion Uses
Where do we start? SO many places like:
- burgers, hot dogs and sausages
- sandwiches
- use it as a chicken marinade
- on top of brie
- crostini topping
- with bacon and eggs
- perfect on pulled pork and beef brisket (yes it sure is)
- as a pizza topping
- sweet onion spread
I am sure you can think of SO MANY DELICIOUS WAYS to enjoy this thick, rich, easy onion jam. Make the perfect food gift to take to your next bbq party.
Do you have a herb garden? Fresh Herb Salt is a great way to try preserving fresh herbs.
Looking for a few more homemade savoury condiments? Here are a few to try:
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Bourbon Caramelized Onion Jam
Ingredients
- 2 pounds red onions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup bourbon
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons maple flavoured balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup maple sugar
- ½ teaspoons smoked sea salt
- ¼ teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
- Peel onion, cut in ½ and thinly slice with a knife.
- In a measuring cup add the bourbon, water, maple balsamic and maple sugar. Mix well.
- In a heavy-bottomed skillet heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent (about 10 minutes). Season with salt and pepper. Be sure to stir.
- Once the onions are soft, add the liquid mixture.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low.
- Put a lid on the skillet, and cook for about 20 minutes (stirring occasionally).
- Remove the lid, and continue to cook until the liquid reduces (about 30 minutes). Remember to stir.
- Onions are done when the liquid has reduced to the point it coats the onions with a thick syrup. The onions should be very soft, and a nice dark brown colour.
- Remove from heat, and cool slightly.
- Place in a glass jar, and store in the fridge until ready to use.
Charity
I’m a real sucker for onion jam. Put it on a shoe and I’d eat it! LOL. Now you’ve gone and added bourbon, so it has to be twice as awesome! Have to make this recipe for sure!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Hope you enjoy it as much as EVERYONE here does.
Nicole
I had this on a burger once and it was so good. I can’t believe I now have access to a recipe to make it. Thank you sharing this recipe and the step-by-step photos!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
These really are easy to make…and SUPER delicious to eat LOL.
Jacqueline Debono
I love the sound of this onion jam. I’m not sure I can find maple flavoured balsamic here in Italy but I’ll do some research! I can just imagine how good this would be on a burger!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Italy has everything you need. I’m sure they will be amazing!!
Tatiana
This sounds fabulous. Caramelizing the onions just makes my taste buds tingle. My family loves adding different stuff to our burgers, so this will be perfect. Can’t wait to try it!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I am sure they will LOVE these onions. The neighbours sure do when I bring these to bbq parties.
Sara
I LOVE caramelized onions! Adding bourbon to them seems like a dream, as both my fiance and I LOVE bourbon, too! I’ve been wanting to grill out burgers for a while now, and I can’t think of a better excuse to do it now. These onions on top of some grass fed burgers would be absolute heaven. I can’t wait to make these!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
We just had them on brisket at a BBQ party…AMAZING.
Anne Murphy
Oh, my! I make a bacon onion marmalade, and it is amazing (and gets used so many places) – but boubon brings it to a whole new level! This really sounds wonderful!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Well, Bourbon (like bacon) makes everything delicious.
Kate
Wow this looks so delicious and I bet it would taste amazing on pretty much everything! I like that you gave tips on what types of onion to use and how to store it, very helpful!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome…hope you give this recipe a try.
Lizzy
I think tis jam would be amazing on a grilled cheese sandwich! YUM
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I think it would too. Hope you give it a try.
Kylee
This has my name ALL over it!! I mean, anything with bacon and bourbon that I can eat, I’m sold. This looks incredible, Gloria!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks. I just make a huge batch for a bbq party tomorrow.
Dana
The first time I had onion jam was on a burger at a gourmet burger joint. IT WAS SO GOOD. I had no idea any recipe for it would be so approachable, though. The bourbon puts a fun and trendy spin on it, too. I have some bourbon-loving friends who will go wild over this!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is so easy to make. Caramelizing onions takes time, but SOOOO worth the effort.
Donna
Oh wow, I make caramelized onions all the time but this just takes it to the next level!! So jammy and delicious, perfect pairing for a BBQ!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
YES..this ROCK! I am making more for a bbq party this weekend.
Liren Baker
Love the idea of freezing this onion jam! Brilliant!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Cool right?? Such a great idea. We never want any of this to go to waste!!
Lois Christensen
The perfect topping for a burger this summer!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
And so many other ways to use it too. Have you tried it on homemade pizza!! OMG!!
Trish Bozeman
SOOOOO GOOD! I can’t believe I haven’t added bourbon and balsamic to caramelized onions before. This would take my veggie burgers to the next level. Thanks!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
YES…give it a try on homemade pizza too…it is so good.
Dorothy Reinhold
This is going to be one of those things I want in my fridge at all times! Sooooo good!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Me too..making more today!! ENJOY!