Last Updated on 17th December 2021 by
Everyone could use a little more convenience in their life, that’s why when it comes to pearl onions, frozen is the way to go!
Cooking with frozen pearl onions saves you a lot of time since they come pre-peeled! That’s right, you won’t have to go through the hassle of peeling those tiny jewels.
Not to mention, the frozen version cooks faster because the freezing process usually breaks down some of the cell membranes.
If you’re ready to introduce frozen pearl onions to your kitchen, then you came to the right place. Today, we’re showing you how to cook frozen pearl onions and even throwing in 5 pearl onion recipes to get you started.
How to Cook Frozen Pearl Onions
Cooking frozen pearl onions is very easy and quick, yet it yields one of the most flavorful side dishes you can put on the table. The best part? There are many ways you can cook frozen pearl onions, and for once, the fresh form of pearl onions doesn’t have the edge!
Frozen pearl onions come already peeled, so they already save you tons of precious time especially on holidays when you’re busting in the kitchen to feed the whole family.
Frozen pearl onions make for fantastic side dishes that add depth and richness to any meal. If you’re looking for a simple recipe to cook frozen pearl onions and still offer a unique taste, try the Dijon mustard recipe.
Pearl Onions with Dijon Mustard
Ingredients
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen pearl onions thawed
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp plus 1-½ teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large skillet, saute the onions in butter until tender. This should take around 10 to 13 minutes.
- Once tender, add the mustard and brown sugar.
- Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Top with parsley and serve.
5 Pearl Onion Recipes
If you just can’t get enough of those little drops of flavor, we have below a bunch of ways you can cook frozen pearl onions, categorized under 5 major pearl onions recipes. So buckle up and let’s dive into action!
Glazed Pearl Onions
Browned and glossy, these sweet and tangy pearls are a beautiful addition to your table.
Throughout the recipes below, you may be tempted to keep stirring the
Balsamic-Glazed Pearl Onions
Ingredients
- 2 (14.5-oz.) packages frozen pearl onions thawed and drained
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 ½ tbsp unsalted butter divided
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup water as needed
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
- Over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet.
- Add the onions and let them cook for 20 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Add the sugar and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the vinegar then cover the skillet, turn down the heat, and cook for 25 minutes. You can add up to 1/4 cup of water if the pan starts to dry, do it 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Stir in the rest of the butter.
- Add the salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Red Wine Vinegar-Glazed Pearl Onions
Ingredients
- 42 ounces frozen pearl onions thawed
- 2 tsp red wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add the onions, butter, chicken broth, and sugar.
- Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat to simmer.
- Stirring occasionally, cook over medium-low heat until the onions start to soften and the liquid has evaporated. This should take between 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add the water and cook until the onions are glazed. That’s around an extra 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in vinegar and thyme.
- Top with thyme sprigs and serve.
Caramelized Glazed Pearl Onions
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen pearl onions thawed and patted dry
- 2 tsp sugar
- Coarse salt
- Ground pepper
- ⅔ cup water
- 1 ½ tsp fresh thyme or, ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook until they start to brown, tossing occasionally. This will be around 5 minutes.
- Add the sugar.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the water and thyme.
- Stirring occasionally, cook the mixture until the onions are tender and the liquid has evaporated.
- That’s approximately 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle with thyme and serve.
Creamed Pearl Onions
Rich, creamy, and comforting, frozen pearl onions in cream sauce are simple a to-die-for combination. Below are a couple of creamed frozen pearl recipes that go great with turkey, prime rib, steak, or pork.
Creamed Pearl Onions with Heavy Cream
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) bag frozen pearl onions thawed
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp fresh garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt, to taste
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, add the onions, cream, bay leaves, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Let the mixture simmer on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes.
- Take out the bay leaves.
- Add the chicken stock and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer.
- Remove from heat.
- Top with fresh parsley and chives, and serve.
Creamy Pearl Onions with Whipping Cream
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) bag frozen pearl onions
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup whipping cream
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
- ¼ cup minced fresh parsley
- 3 Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, pour the water and bring it to a boil.
- Add the frozen pearl onions, cover and boil for 5 minutes or until the onions are tender, then set aside. (Don't overcook the onions as they’ll be baked later on)
- In another saucepan, melt the butter on medium to medium-low heat.
- Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper until smooth consistency.
- Gradually stir in the broth, milk, and whipping cream. Bring to a boil then cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
- Stir in the parsley, cheese, and onions.
- Remove from heat.
- Pour into an ungreased 1-quart baking dish.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
- Cover and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
- Stir then bake uncovered for 10 more minutes or until bubbly.
Roasted Pearl Onions
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) package frozen pearl onions
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix the onions with the olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Make sure the onions are well-coated.
- Transfer the onions to the air fryer basket.
- Set the air fryer to 400°F for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until onions are tender and lightly charred. Stir once or twice during the cooking time.
Creamed Peas and Pearl Onions
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) bag frozen pearl onions
- 5 cups fresh or frozen peas thawed
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp finely chopped fresh mint optional
Instructions
- Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a boil
- Add the onions and let them simmer gently for 5 minutes then drain.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the peas and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and cook for 1 minute, with stirring.
- Add the chicken broth and heavy cream gradually, mixing it in as you pour.
- Add the salt, sugar, and black pepper.
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened.
- Sprinkle with mint and serve.
Sauteed Mushrooms and Pearl Onions
Ingredients
- 1 (14.4-ounce) bag frozen pearl onions thawed
- 12 ounces white mushrooms tems cut at the base of the cap
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil divided
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ tsp fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
- 3 cups baby arugula
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil and the butter over medium heat.
- Add the onions and sugar.
- Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally until lightly browned.
- Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes longer.
- Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Return the skillet to the stove and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.
- Add the mushrooms, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Cook until the mushrooms are browned and tender.
- That’s about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in the onions and cook for 2 extra minutes.
- Remove from the heat, allow to cool for 3 minutes, and stir in the arugula.
Wrap Up
There you have it, a complete guide on how to cook frozen pearl onions as well as a variety of recipes to go with any meal!
I'm Pauline, a mother of four grown children, my passion for cooking stemmed from the joy i get cooking for my family. I love to try new dishes, especially when dining out but creating and sharing my own recipes is my favourite thing to do!
