Name: Absolute Best Liver and Onions
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 pounds sliced beef liver; 1.5 cups milk, or as needed; 0.25 cup butter, divided; 2 large Vidalia onions, sliced into rings; 2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed; salt and pepper to taste

Absolute Best Liver and Onions

4.7

(880)

719 Reviews

94 Photos

This liver and onions recipe will turn liver haters into converts! It's very simple to make but the three things that will set your liver above all others are: 1) soak in milk, 2) turn the liver as little as possible when cooking, and 3) don't overcook.

Submitted by JSHULER43

Updated on October 11, 2024

A platter of liver and onions, topped with chopped parsley

Prep Time:

20 mins

Cook Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Make diner-worthy liver and onions at home with this easy recipe.

How to Cook Liver and Onions

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

What You’ll Need to Make Liver and Onions

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade liver and onions recipe:

Liver: This recipe starts with two pounds of sliced beef liver.
Milk: Soak the liver in milk before cooking to cut down on the liver’s bitterness.
Butter: You’ll need half a stick of butter.
Onions: This recipe calls for Vidalia onions, but you can use any sweet or yellow onion you like.
Flour: Coat the liver in flour before you cook it.
Seasonings: The liver is simply seasoned with salt and pepper.

How to Make Liver and Onions

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make liver and onions:

Soak the liver in milk.
Cook the onions in butter, then set aside.
Coat the liver in flour and cook in butter.
Return the onions to the skillet and continue cooking.

What to Serve With Liver and Onions

Pair this liver and onions recipe with mashed potatoes for a perfectly comforting dinner. You might also pair it with roasted green veggies, such as broccoli or asparagus, or with a colorful side salad.

How to Store Liver and Onions

Store your leftover (cooled) liver and onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“10/10, best liver and onions I've ever eaten,” according to lexijanetepley. “I soaked my liver for about 6 hours in milk, and I sautéed my onions before cooking the liver, but other than that followed the directions exactly. I've never had better liver and onions in my life.”

“Awesome recipe,” raves BigDaddy1211. “Simple and quick to make. I added red peppers to the onions and made a great gravy with the leftover flour. I will be making this again!”

“This was a tasty recipe,” says MelK. “I will make it again. Served on a bed of rice. Loved it! The soak in milk is key. I’ve made liver before and it always turned out like an old shoe. This recipe is great!”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

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Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

2 pounds sliced beef liver
1 ½ cups milk, or as needed
¼ cup butter, divided
2 large Vidalia onions, sliced into rings
2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Gather all ingredients.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Gently rinse liver slices under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in a shallow dish; pour in enough milk to cover. Let stand while preparing onions, or set aside for longer if you have time. Soaking will remove any bitterness.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion rings; cook and stir in butter until tender and soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer onions into a bowl and set the skillet aside.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Place flour on a plate; season with salt and pepper. Drain milk from liver and coat liver slices in flour mixture.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet; increase heat to medium-high and fry coated liver slices until lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Return onions to the skillet and reduce heat to medium; continue to cook until onions are heated through and liver is slightly pink inside, or longer to suit your taste.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Serve and enjoy!

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

1,290 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

687	Calories
21g	Fat
74g	Carbs
49g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 687
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g	27%
Saturated Fat 11g	54%
Cholesterol 578mg	193%
Sodium 309mg	13%
Total Carbohydrate 74g	27%
Dietary Fiber 4g	16%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 49g	98%
Vitamin C 13mg	14%
Calcium 165mg	13%
Iron 12mg	67%
Potassium 939mg	20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.