Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (2024)

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Want to know what was ‘pon Rocky Top? Tennessee Onions! That’s what, the premier Vidalia Onion Recipe! You want an exceptional andEASYsavory dish, right? Yeah, I thought so! This Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe – Easy is the right recipe for you, delicious cheesy onions!

Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (1)

This delightful Vidalia Onion Recipes is made with sweet vidalia onions resulting in a vidalia onion casserole!

Basically, I’ve been eating this vidalia onion casserole for 30 years now, and I don’t forsee a time when I’ll stop. You should try it!

Sweet onions cut into onion rings, sprinkled with garlic powder and covered with cheddar cheese then baked in a prepared baking dish.

What could be easier? You’ll love it, I promise!

Why This Baked Vidalia Onion Recipe Works!

Contents show

  • It has simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen like sweet vidalia onions, butter and garlic.
  • This has been rated as one of the BEST vidalia onion recipes out there!
  • What can go wrong with melted mozzarella cheeses, garlic and a sweet vidalia onion?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What to Cook for Vegetarians

This vidalia onion recipes is a perfect recipe for your vegetarian friends.

What Are Tennessee Onions

Good question! Sweet Onions like Tennessee Onions are baked Vidalia (or other sweet onions) Onions with butter, cheese, garlic and various herbs.

This dish of Tennessee Onions is a creation using sweet vidalia onions from the recipe of a great grandmother of a good friend of mine.

I have no idea why she called this vidalia onion casserole Tennessee Onions. You’ll catch some great flavors of the south and it’s the best dish for the most ardent onion fan, like me!

Vidalia onions are the mighty onion that come from Georgia, not Tennessee! Who knows – let’s just roll with it – OK?

Is a Vidalia Onion and Sweet Onion

Yes, vidalia onions are sweet onions. If you can’t find Vidalias try substituting Cipollini onions, Texas Sweet or other sweet onions.

Where are Vidalia Onions Grown

According to my research, REAL vidalia onions are grown in Georgia!

How Do I Store Vidalia Onions

Store Vidalia onions (and all onions) in a cool dry dark place. If you happen to have an old pair of panty hose, you can drop a Vidalia down into the foot, tie a knot, drop another in and so on.

Just cut the bottom one off as you need an onion! This works GREAT!

When are Vidalia Onions in Season

Vidalia Onions are in season in the summer time. You will be able to find other types of sweet onions all year long.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Tennessee Onions Recipe

  • Serve Tennessee Onions over hamburgers, as teh backbone of soups, over steak, as a side dish at your cookout or even as a “burger option” for your vegetarian friends.
  • Cut the sweet onions in even thicknesses and separate out the rings
  • Cut the sweet onions about 1/2 inch thick slices
  • Use Vidalia Onions when available. Texas Sweets will do as well. Any sweet onion will do in a pinch but Vidalias are the best.
  • These Tennessee Onions do not make a custard pie like filling, they simply make baked onions with a cheesy topping – YUM!
  • Use the best quality cheese that you can afford for this – it makes a difference.
  • Check to see if it needs salt before adding any, cheese and garlic salt are both salty already
  • Be sure to prepare your dish with non-stick cooking spray, it helps with prep time and clean up.
  • Just bake until the onions are soft – this might be 35-40 minutes, but if your slices are thinner, it will be done sooner.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Sprinkle with your choice of fresh herbs

Serving Suggestions

So, you are probably wondering how to serve this fabulous Tennessee Onion Bake. Vidalia onions in this baked Tennessee Onions dish are TERRIFICwithHangry Hamburgers,Potato Saladand agreen caprese saladwith a dessert ofBanana Pudding

Here’s How You Do It

STEP 1. First cut the onions into 1/2 inch rounds and layer in the baking dish.

STEP 2. Place pats of butter, shredded cheese and herbs on top of the onions.

Part 3. Bake in the oven!

STEP 4. Enjoy!!!

Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (2)
Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (3)
Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (4)
Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (5)

Watch Sarah Make Tennessee Onions

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Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (6)

Tennessee Onions

Baked Vidalia Onions with Cheese, Butter and Herbs

5 from 30 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Tennessee Onions, Vidalia onion recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 150kcal

Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

  • 2-3 whole Vidalia onions or any sweet onion will do
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp Garlic salt
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper
  • 1 Cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese the better quality, the better taste
  • 1 Cup shredded mozzarella Cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh oregano or other herbs for garnish

Instructions

  • Using non-stick cooking spray, prepare a 9×9 (or 9×13) baking dish.

  • Heat oven to 350

  • Slice the Vidalia onions in 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices and separate the rings.

  • Lay the rings in the prepared baking dish

  • Sprinkle the onion rings with garlic salt (about 1 tsp), pepper (about 1/2 tsp).

  • Cut the butter into pats and place around the dish on top of the onions.

  • Spread the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses on top of the onions and then top with the grated parmesan cheese.

  • Bake at 350 uncovered for 30 minutes or until bubbly and the cheese has started to brown (browned cheese bits is one of the best parts!)

  • Remove from the oven, allow to cool for a few minutes, garnish with some fresh herbs (oregano, chives, thyme all work well) and then serve.

Notes

  • Serve Tennessee Onions over hamburgers, over steak, as a side dish at your cookout or even as a “burger option” for your vegetarian friends.
  • Cut the sweet onions in even thicknesses and separate out the rings
  • Cut the sweet onions about 1/2 inch thick
  • Use Vidalia Onions when available. Texas Sweets will do as well. Any sweet onion will do in a pinch but Vidalias are the best.
  • These Tennessee Onions do not make a custard pie like filling, they simply make baked onions with a cheesy topping – YUM!
  • Use the best quality cheese that you can afford for this – it makes a difference.
  • Check to see if it needs salt before adding any, cheese and garlic salt are both salty already

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Tennessee Onions

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Cholesterol 30mg10%

Sodium 282mg12%

Potassium 128mg4%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 285IU6%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 263mg26%

Iron 0.4mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

The folks in the Bible eating Manna for all those days reminds me how thankful I am for things like Tennessee Onions, cheesy, tangy, flavorful. Thank God for manna and thank good for onions!

John 6:31

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

***THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED BY WENDI WITH NEW INFORMATION***

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Wendi Spraker

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy (2024)

FAQs

Are Vidalia onions the same as sweet onions? ›

A Vidalia onion is a type of sweet onion. It has a mild flavor, a uniquely flat shape, and a relatively high sugar content. The soil in Vidalia, Georgia has an unusually low amount of sulfur — that's why this variety is more sweet than sharp.

What kind of onion is best for sauce? ›

Yellow onions are perfect for stews, soups, barbecues, roasts and sauces. Avoid eating them raw as they have a strong flavour.

What are the best onions for soup base? ›

When you are sauteing onions to build flavor as a base for your dish (soup, tomato sauce, you name it), the yellow onion is your friend. That being said, white onions are a totally acceptable substitute for yellow, especially if you're cooking them.

What is the difference between yellow onions and sweet onions? ›

Larger and slightly flatter than yellow onions (they look like they've been squashed), sweet onions contain extra sugar, making them good for caramelizing. Their larger size also make them perfect for making onion rings (my favorite diner dish by the way).

Can you eat the green part of a Vidalia onion? ›

If you find an onion with the long greens still attached (mostly in spring), don't throw those greens away! They have a lovely mild onion flavor and you can use them just as you would use a scallion. Chop them up and mix them with Neufchâtel cream cheese to spread on a cracker or add them to fresh salsa.

Do Vidalia onions need to be refrigerated? ›

The key to preserving Vidalias is to keep them cool, dry, and separated. When stored properly, our Vidalias can last as long as 1-2 months on the counter, or 3-6 months when placed into refrigerator veggie bin (mentioned below).

Which onion has the most flavor when cooked? ›

White onions are probably the strongest-tasting onion on this list. They're typically used in Asian and Mexican dishes, as well as potato and macaroni salads. You can also sauté them, making them ideal for French onion soup or any other food in which you want to add sweet or sour flavor.

What type of onion do Italians use? ›

Italian onions, or cipollini onions, are flat and are red, white, or yellow in colour and often have a mild, sweet flavour. They are used raw for salads and sandwiches, and their outer rings make an attractive garnish.

Do Italians use onions in their sauce? ›

A true, Italian Pomodoro sauce often begins with soffritto: finely chopped celery, carrot and onion fried in extra virgin olive oil. Then, San Marzano or other sweet tomatoes are added in.

What onions do Mexican restaurants use? ›

White Onions

If you love Mexican food, this is your go-to onion. With a bite that doesn't linger for too long, they add an onion-y brightness without overpowering other flavors. White onions are delicious when used raw—especially in salsa, salads, or sprinkled on tacos as a garnish.

What onion is best for chili? ›

Sweet Onion

Sweet onions are great for caramelizing due to their higher sugar content. You can cook them into your chili, serve them raw over top, or even elevate your chili with a sophisticated caramelized onion topping! Some of my favorite sweet onions are Walla, Walla, Maui, and Vidalia Onions.

How do you get the bitterness out of onion soup? ›

Soaking the onions in cold water for 10 minutes before cooking can help to reduce the unpleasant taste and smell. Additionally, adding a pinch of sugar to the cooking onions can also help to reduce their pungent flavor.

What is the healthiest onion? ›

Red onions

All types of onions are good for you, but this dark reddish-purple variety, sometimes called purple onion, has especially high levels of quercetin and other helpful plant compounds known as flavonoids. Flavonoids give many fruits, vegetables, and flowers their colors.

What type of onions are walla walla? ›

Walla Walla onions, botanically classified as Allium cepa, are one of the only non-hybrid, sweet onions that are members of the Amaryllidaceae family. Known as a long-day variety, Walla Walla onions are named for their specific growing region in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington in the pacific northwest.

Which onion is best for hair growth? ›

Red onion. Yes, Red onion. Red onions have numerous benefits for your hair like growth, hair loss control and lots more. You are probably wondering how an onion – a common kitchen staple – can be used in hair and can in fact, be beneficial.

What is the sweetest onion you can buy? ›

Vidalia Onions have developed an international reputation as the “world's sweetest onion.” Their mild flavor is due to the unique combination of soils and climate found in the 20 county production area. Through Federal regulation, the Vidalia Onion growers developed Federal Marketing Order No.

Can Vidalia onions be eaten raw? ›

The Vidalia Onion is certainly unique in all the world. The sugar content of this onion is comparable to that of an apple, or a bottle of cola. It's a mild, succulent onion that is delicious raw on hamburgers, sliced alongside your steak, in a garden salad, or just eaten raw.

Can you grow Vidalia onions anywhere? ›

1. Vidalia onions can only be grown in Georgia. According to the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986, there are only 20 counties in the United States that are allowed to grow Vidalia onions and sell them under the trademarked name. All of them are in Georgia, centered around the small town of Vidalia, GA.

What is another name for a sweet onion? ›

Sweet onion varieties include Walla Walla, Maui, Vidalia, as well as others with the word "sweet" in the name.

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