Onion Boil Recipe (Buttery, Cajun-Spiced, Ready in 1 Hour)
An onion boil is a whole sweet onion hollowed out, filled with butter, Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, and garlic powder, wrapped tightly in foil, and roasted until it melts into tender, buttery, pull-apart layers — despite the name, nothing is actually boiled.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time50 minutes mins
Total Time55 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 onions
Calories: 344kcal
- 2 large sweet onions
- ¼ cup butter divided
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tsp cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp crushed garlic
- 1 tsp chili onion crunch can sub for red chili flakes
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Take a small melon baller and scoop out the top center of the onions (about 1/2 down) to create a “well” for the seasonings.
Place the onion on a sheet of aluminum foil. Add 1 tbsp butter into the middle of each of the onion wells.
In a small bowl, melt the remaining 2 tbsp butter in microwave. Then add the paprika, Old Bay seasoning, cajun, italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, crushed garlic and chili onion crunch. Pour the mixture evenly over the onions so it drips down the sides. Sprinkle with a little extra salt.
Wrap the onion tightly in foil and place it in a baking dish or cast iron skillet to catch any drips. Roast for 50-55 minutes on the center rack. Check for tenderness; if needed, bake another 10 minutes until fork-tender.
Optional: Turn the oven to broil. Open the foil, drizzle a bit more butter or olive oil, and sprinkle extra salt. Broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely for a golden brown, caramelized top.
Peel away the outer layer and enjoy each soft, flavorful layer with an extra sprinkle of salt. Don’t forget to pour all the delicious juices from the foil over the onion for maximum flavor!
Serving: 1onion | Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 1649mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 19g