Homemade Caramelized Onion Hummus

Name: Homemade Caramelized Onion Hummus
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 onions, sliced; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed; ¼ cup tahini; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 tsp onion powder; ½ tsp garlic powder; ¼ tsp salt; ¼ cup water

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Homemade caramelized onion hummus is savory, creamy and delicious! The caramelized onions bring such a depth of flavor to this chickpea dip especially combined with the tangy notes of balsamic vinegar. This recipe is a total crowd pleaser!

Hummus is a white bowl with pita chips scattered around topped with caramelized balsamic onions.

Homemade hummus is easy to make and the quality is so much better than store bought! It is easy to modify and add flavors such as this buffalo white bean hummus. Hummus can be enjoyed as a dip, spread or even as dressing!

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Equipment Notes
Ingredient Notes:
Substitutions and Variations
How to Make Caramelized Onion Hummus
Tips & Tricks
How to Store
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You'll Love:
Homemade Caramelized Onion Hummus

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This vegan recipe has simple ingredients with maximum flavor. If you like the flavor or french onion soup then this is the dip for you!
Caramelized onions are particularly magical with their buttery flavors. That’s what makes this hummus so tasty!
Caramelized onion hummus is perfect for a meal prep! Add a scoop of hummus with some fresh veggies or pita chips! Or spread it on bread and layer up your favorite sandwich ingredients.

Equipment Notes

You will need a strainer to drain the chickpeas from the can, a frying pan or cast iron pan to caramelize the onions and a food processor to blend the ingredients together.

Ingredient Notes:

Three yellow onions, a bowl of tahini, a small bowl of balsamic vinegar, a bowl of garbanzo beans, a pinch bowl of spices and a small bowl of olive oil.

Onions - I typically use yellow or sweet onions but feel free to use whatever onions you have on hand!
Olive oil - this is necessary to caramelize the onions. Make sure to save some extra virgin olive oil to garnish with!
Garbanzo beans - I use canned chickpeas for this recipe. You can use home cooked beans, but I find it easier to use canned beans since I like to keep a well-stocked pantry!
Tahini - this condiment is made of roasted, pressed sesame seeds. Tahini is an important element in hummus to ensure it gets a nice smooth consistency.
Balsamic vinegar - this will add a nice tang to the dish. Typically hummus contains lemon juice for the acid but I find that the balsamic vinegar adds enough acidity to the recipe.
Spices - onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Substitutions and Variations

Onions - use whatever variety you want. Try using red onions for red onions hummus or vidalia onions for a bit of a sweeter flavor.
Beans - swap in your favorite white bean in place of the chickpeas. Try using cannellini beans or great northern!
Without tahini - you can omit the tahini if desired, although the consistency may not be as smooth without it.
Smoother - to create a smoother consistency, peel the skins off of each chickpea. This is more time consuming but will create a smoother texture.
Roasted garlic - blend a head of roasted garlic. It will contribute to the savory, buttery flavor of the caramelized onions.
Smokey - blend in ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika.
Spicy - blend in ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

How to Make Caramelized Onion Hummus

Heat the olive oil in a nonstick pan or cast iron skillet. Add the sliced onions and salt. Sauté over medium-low heat for 30-50 minutes until caramelized. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

Caramelized balsamic onions in a frying pan.

Sauté until the onions have developed a deep brown color. Add the balsamic vinegar and stir for a minute until the vinegar reduces a bit. Turn off the heat. Set aside ¼ cup of caramelized onions to use for the topping.

Chickpeas, spices, caramelized onions tahini and water in a food processor.

Combine all ingredients into a blender or food processor.

A food processor after bending up hummus ingredients.

Blend until smooth. Add more olive oil or water if necessary to reach your desired consistency. Serve in a shallow bowl or plate and add the remaining ¼ cup of caramelized onions on top. Enjoy!

Hint: Be careful not to burn the onions! If they are starting to burn, turn down the heat and keep stirring. The perfectly caramelized onions are the secret to making this dish so flavorful!

Caramelized onion hummus in a white bowl with a bowl of pita chips on a wooden board with freshly cut vegetables and glasses of wine.

Tips & Tricks

You can caramelize the onions ahead of time if necessary. Store them in the fridge until ready to blend into hummus!

How to Store

Store caramelized onion hummus in an airtight container in the fridge. Take the hummus out of the fridge about 30 minutes prior to serving. You want to serve hummus at room temperature in a shallow bowl or even plate for easy scooping!

I do not recommend freezing this hummus.

Caramelized onion hummus in a white bowl on a board with fresh vegetables and a bowl of pita chips.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you not burn onions when caramelizing them?

The trick is to cook them over low heat for a long time. Keep a careful eye on the onions and stir them every couple of minutes to ensure they do not burn.

Is caramelized onion hummus good for you?

Hummus is good for you in moderation. It contains plant based protein from the garbanzo beans! Typically hummus has tahini as an ingredient which is high in oil. Consuming large amounts of oil is not good for you, so you will want to be mindful of that.

More Recipes You'll Love:

P.S. I love hearing from you! If you make this recipe please leave a star rating and comment below. To catch the latest recipes subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!