The combination of garlic + onion + cheese + bread is impossible not to love if you’re generally a fan of these ingredients on their own. The caramelized onions add a natural sweetness that works in perfect harmony with the savory cheese and buttery toast. You can serve caramelized onion garlic cheese toast as an impressive (but easy) appetizer or alongside your favorite pasta dish.
First, you need to make the caramelized onions. Although the process is easy, it does take time and patience to caramelize onions while drawing out their natural sweet flavor without burning them. There are so many ways to use caramelized onions, so I typically like to make extra and will use it in a few different recipes throughout the week.
HOW TO MAKE CARAMELIZED ONIONS
Start by cutting the onions into thin slices. You can use any type of onion, so feel free to use whatever you have at home. This is also a great way to use up any onions sitting around in your pantry.
On medium-high heat, add the onions, butter, and extra virgin olive oil to a sauce pan. This next step is optional, but I like to sprinkle a little sugar over the onions to encourage the caramelization process. Once the onions are coated in the olive oil and butter, drop the heat to medium-low.
Do not stir the onions too often, as this will disrupt the caramelization process. If the onions look too dry, add a little more oil to the pan. You’ll start to notice the onions become more translucent as they cook down.
It may seem like the onions are taking forever to brown, but resist the temptation to turn the heat up to cook them faster. Be patient and before you know it you will start to see the onions get some color!
Your onions may only take 30 minutes to reach the level of caramelization that you prefer. I have found that I need to spend 50-60 minutes monitoring and stirring the onions in the pan before they look about done. Right before I take the onions out of the pan, I deglaze the pan with balsamic vinegar to add even more flavor.
The onions cook down quite a bit and lose a lot of their volume during the cooking process, so I recommend making more than you think you will need because you don’t want to regret not having enough. Once you’re done making the caramelized onions, set aside or keep in the fridge until you’re ready to make the garlic cheese bread.
INGREDIENTS
- bread loaf – French bread is a great option for this recipe, because it will be crusty on the outside but soft, chewy, and tender on the inside. I used a potato sourdough loaf, which has a similar texture as a French bread loaf.
- unsalted butter – softened, so it’s easy to mix and spread
- caramelized onions
- minced garlic – You can use garlic powder as well.
- cheese – I used mozzarella and parmesan cheese, but you can use any combination of cheese you like (including cheddar, gruyere, gouda, etc.)
- fresh parsley – You can also use dried parsley flakes instead.
- salt and pepper
HOW TO MAKE CARAMELIZED ONION GARLIC CHEESE BREAD
STEP 1: Mix the butter, onions, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl.
STEP 2: Spread the butter mixture on each half of the loaf. Sprinkle cheese on top.
STEP 3: Wrap in foil and bake for 10 minutes covered. Uncover and bake for 5 to 7 more minutes, or until cheese has fully melted. You can also put the garlic bread under the broiler for a couple of minutes.
Take out and cut into serving pieces.
Caramelized Onion Garlic Cheese Bread
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
- 2 whole yellow or white onions thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil plus more as needed
- ½ teaspoon white sugar optional
Caramelized Onion Garlic Cheese Bread
- 1 loaf of bread
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup caramelized onions
Instructions
Caramelized Onions
- Add the onions, butter, and extra virgin olive oil to a sauce pan on medium-high heat. Sprinkle sugar on top. Once the onions are coated in the olive oil and butter, drop the heat to medium-low.
- Occasionally stir the onions. If the onions look too dry, add a little more oil to the pan. Cook for 40-55 minutes until onions are caramelized, Deglaze the pan with a splash of balsamic vinegar and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Caramelized Onion Garlic Cheese Bread
- Preheat oven to 350 ℉. Cut the bread loaf in half using a serrated knife.
- Mix the butter, onions, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Spread the butter mixture on each half of the loaf. Sprinkle cheese on top.
- Wrap in foil and bake for 10 minutes covered. Uncover and bake for 5 to 7 more minutes, or until cheese has fully melted. You can also put the garlic bread under the broiler for a couple of minutes.
- Take out and cut into serving pieces.
