Skip to main content

Pearl Onion and Sweet Pepper Skillet

Pearl Onion and Sweet Peppers in a skillet on a piece of fabric
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Tim Ferro

Frozen pearl onions are cute and easy to use—no peeling required! But the little alliums require a bit of love to make them as tender and sweet as possible. In this one-skillet recipe—which is just as great for brunch as it is a simple vegetarian dinner—you’ll cook through their firm, dense layers by braising them quickly with butter, sugar, and salt. The result is a panful of glazy, well-seasoned onions that play nicely with sweet peppers and runny steamed eggs.

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    35 minutes

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 14.4-oz. bag frozen pearl onions, thawed
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 1-lb. bag mini sweet peppers, thinly sliced
¼ cup tomato paste
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
4 large eggs
Freshly ground pepper
Flaky sea salt
Chopped parsley and toasted bread (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook one 14.4-oz. bag frozen pearl onions, thawed, 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces, 2 tsp. sugar, 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton salt, and ½ cup water in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, shaking pan occasionally to toss onions, until liquid evaporates and onions are tender, 9–12 minutes. Transfer onions to a medium bowl.

    Step 2

    Heat 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in same skillet. Add 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Add one 1-lb. bag mini sweet peppers, thinly sliced, and season with kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened and turning golden brown, about 4 minutes. Return onions to pan and toss to combine.

    Step 3

    Add ¼ cup tomato paste and ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes to pot and cook, stirring constantly, until vegetables are coated and paste is slightly darkened in color, about 2 minutes. Pour in 3 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar and cook, scraping up any browned bits, 1 minute. Pour in 1½ cups water and cook, stirring to incorporate, until liquid is slightly reduced, about 1 minute.

    Step 4

    Crack 4 large eggs into pan and cover skillet (a baking sheet works great if you don’t have a lid). Steam until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Uncover and season with freshly ground black pepper and flaky sea salt and sprinkle some chopped parsley over. Serve with toasted bread alongside for dipping.

Sign In or Subscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Pearl Onion and Sweet Pepper Skillet?

Leave a Review

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Nothing’s cuter (or more delicious) than pairing tiny pastina with bite sized meatballs in an elevated twist on Spaghettios.
Tossed in a verdant sauce that recalls green goddess dressing, this striking herby spin on potato salad will have long-time skeptics reconsidering their stance.
Mofongo is a garlicky, salty green-plantain-based dish hailing from the island of Puerto Rico, though it has woven itself into the cultural fabric of the Dominican Republic and parts of Cuba as well.
Inspired by the flavors of qorma-e-sabzi, an Afghan spinach stew, this simple soup relies on pantry staples and a box of frozen spinach.
Spiced, schmaltzy rice and tender braised chicken legs cook together in one Dutch oven—and the result feels like a warm hug.
Swiss chard, bitsy ditalini, salty feta, toasted pistachios, and sage take your average pasta salad into winter territory.
Neither a tamale nor a pie, this cozy Tex-Mex casserole is a mash-up of beefy bean chili and homemade cornbread.
All markers of good paella—saffron, sausage, shrimp, crispy rice on the bottom—with the time-saving advantages of fried rice.