Incredible Tennessee Onions Cooking

These rich Tennessee Onions turn ordinary sweet onions into a cheesy, indulgent side that blows regular onion rings out of the water. With tender baked onions topped by a bubbly golden cheese crust, you'll get comfort food that goes great with everything from grilled steaks to family dinners.

I whipped this up for a summer cookout when I was tired of the same old sides. When the dish came back empty and everyone asked how I made it, I knew this would be a regular in my kitchen from then on.

Ingredients

• Sweet Vidalia onions these naturally sweet gems get even better when baked, giving you sweetness without adding any sugar
• Unsalted butter adds a luxurious quality and helps the onions get perfectly soft
• Salt brings out all the tastes and cuts through the onions' sweetness
• Garlic powder gives a mellow savory kick without the sharpness of fresh garlic
• Dried oregano adds wonderful earthy notes that work great with the cheeses
• Italian cheese blend delivers layered flavors and that amazing stretchy pull when served
• Sharp cheddar cheese brings bright color and punchy taste that pairs with the sweet onions
• Parmesan cheese forms that irresistible crispy golden top that makes everyone go for seconds

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare Your Oven

Put your rack right in the middle of the oven and heat it to 350°F. This temp lets the onions get soft slowly while the cheese melts perfectly without getting too dark.

Prep Your Baking Dish

Give your 9×13 dish a quick spray with nonstick cooking spray. This little step stops the cheese from sticking and makes serving and washing up so much easier.

Slice The Onions

Take your peeled Vidalias and cut them across into 1/4inch rounds. Don't break apart the rings—keeping them together helps them cook evenly and hold their shape.

Season The Base

Lay out the onion slices across your dish then sprinkle salt, garlic powder and oregano over them. This way the flavor goes right into the onions as they cook, not just on the cheese.

Add Butter For Richness

Place butter pieces evenly across everything. They'll melt down and mix with the spices, making a tasty butter sauce that soaks into the whole dish.

Layer The Cheese

First add the Italian blend, then the cheddar, and finish with Parmesan on top. This order makes sure everything melts right and creates a nice blanket that helps steam the onions underneath.

Bake To Golden Perfection

Stick it in your hot oven and cook for 3540 minutes until you see that beautiful golden bubbly cheese and the onions get soft. That mix of crispy top and tender onions is what makes this dish so special.

Rest Before Serving

Let it cool just a bit before you dig in. This helps the melted cheese firm up just enough to stay together when you serve it, but still stays wonderfully gooey.

Save This

Vidalia onions really make this dish what it is. I tried making it once with regular onions and though it wasn't bad, the natural sweetness you get from Vidalias turns this simple side into something you won't forget. Even my grandma, who always said she hated onions, asked for more when I brought this to our family dinner.

Choosing The Right Onions

Vidalias are your best bet for this dish thanks to their amazing sweetness and soft flavor. These special onions from Georgia have less sulfur than other types, which gives them that gentle taste everyone loves. If you can't find Vidalias, look for other sweet kinds like Walla Walla, Texas Sweet, or Maui onions. You want onions that'll get nice and caramelized without being too sharp. Regular yellow onions will do in a pinch but you won't get that same melt-in-your-mouth sweetness.

Make It Your Own

You can easily change this recipe to suit your taste. Try adding a bit of smoked paprika or Italian seasoning to mix up the flavors. If you love bacon, throw some cooked crumbles between the onions and cheese for an even richer dish. Want something lighter? Switch half the cheese for breadcrumbs mixed with a little olive oil to get a crunchy top with less heaviness. Many vegetarians enjoy this as a main course served over rice or with a simple green salad, letting these tasty onions be the star.

Serving Suggestions

These Tennessee Onions taste amazing next to simple grilled meats, especially steak or burgers where their sweetness works perfectly with those charred flavors. They're also a standout holiday side that's different from the usual options. For a complete meal, serve them with a basic protein and something green like roasted asparagus or a fresh salad. Don't waste the cheesy sauce that collects at the bottom of the dish—it's like liquid gold! Pour it over potatoes or soak it up with crusty bread. This dish works just as well for casual weeknight meals as it does for special occasions, showing how simple ingredients can create something truly awesome.

Common Queries

→ What type of onions work best for this dish?

Sweet Vidalia onions work great because of their mild flavor, but you can use any sweet onion type you find at your grocery store.

→ Can I substitute the cheese blend with other cheeses?

Absolutely, feel free to swap in whatever cheeses you love. Try some mozzarella, Gruyere, or even extra-sharp cheddar for different flavors.

→ How do I prevent the onions from breaking apart during preparation?

Cut your onions into thick rounds and move them carefully when you put them in your baking dish.

→ What's the best way to serve this dish?

It's awesome hot from the oven next to some grilled steak or chicken, but it's also tasty enough to eat on its own.

→ Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Sure thing, you can get everything ready to go, cover the dish, and stick it in the fridge for up to a day before you need to bake it.