Classic Creamed Pearl Onions

In my family if someone liked a certain dish, it became "their dish" at every holiday meal. We had to have cheesecake for my sister, crudités for my cousin Nate, gumdrops for my cousin Jonathan and Creamed Pearl Onions for my cousin Chris. After so many years of doing this, we began to switch things up and try new recipes, but I have to admit, I'm still partial to these traditions.

These Creamed Onions are cooked to perfection in a thick creamy sauce topped with minced parsley. This dish is best served with a flavorful protein and something to mop up all that sauce.

Jump to:

• Where to find Pearl Onions
• How to peel pearl onions
• Best times to make creamed pearl onions
• How to make this a meal
• Ingredients Needed
• Equipment Needed
• Storage Tips
• Creamed Pearl Onions
• About Michelle

Where to find Pearl Onions

Pearl onions can be found at most grocery stores. I was able to find them in the produce section by the other onions and root vegetables. Sometimes they will be loose, but it's also common to find them bagged like garlic or shallots.

Pearl onions are also commonly found in the frozen food section with the other frozen vegetables. For this recipe, I used frozen onions for ease of use (from my testing I found no change in texture or taste when using frozen over raw onions).

How to peel pearl onions

The easiest option for pearl onions is to buy them frozen as they are already peeled. However if that is not an option or not preferred, there are a few tricks to peel them easily.

My favorite method is to cut off the tip of the onions, boil them for 1-2 minutes, then put them in an ice bath. Once this is done, the onion can be popped out of the skin by squeezing the root end and pushing the onion out.

Best times to make creamed pearl onions

Creamed pearl onions are a traditional holiday side dish at holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. However you can make creamed onions for any occasion as it's a fairly simple recipe. The most time intensive part is peeling the onions. But if you buy frozen, you'll save a good amount of time.

How to make this a meal

Because this is such a rich side dish, I like pairing creamed onions with a robust protein that can pair well with the creaminess of this dish. Beef recipes are a common go to and my recipes for Flank Steak with Pan Gravy, Garlic Rosemary London Broil, or Lemon Pepper London Broil would make great choices. Savory chicken recipes like this Garlic Rosemary Roasted Chicken would also pair well.

Ingredients Needed

Equipment Needed

• Chef's Knife
• Cutting Board
• Sauce Pan
• Saute Pan
• Wooden Spoon

Storage Tips

Fridge: Creamed onions can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.

Freezer: Creamed onions can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months in an airtight container. To defrost, warm in the microwave until heated through.

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