Want to know what was ‘pon Rocky Top? Tennessee Onions! That’s what, the premier Vidalia Onion Recipe! You want an exceptional and EASY savory dish, right? Yeah, I thought so! This Southern Tennessee Onions Casserole Recipe - Easy is the right recipe for you, delicious cheesy onions!
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!
- 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 ½ 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 TERRIFIC with Hangry Hamburgers, Potato Salad and a green caprese salad with a dessert of Banana Pudding
Here's How You Do It
STEP 1. First cut the onions into ½ 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!!!
Watch Sarah Make Tennessee Onions
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Tennessee Onions
Ingredients
- 2-3 whole Vidalia onions or any sweet onion will do
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon Garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon 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 9x9 (or 9x13) baking dish.
- Heat oven to 350
- Slice the Vidalia onions in ¼ to ½ 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 ½ 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 ½ 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
A VERSE TO SHARE
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***
Judy says
Made this tonight the onions went so good with grilled steak and grilled vegetables this is a keeper best I’ve ever had Thank you
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Judy! Thanks so much for coming back and letting me know! I appreciate it so much!
Linda Peacock says
Good recipe. I don't have access to Vidalia onions or any other kind of sweet onions where I live, so I just used regular white onions. Onions become sweet when sauteed/baked and these did too. Worked out fine not using sweet onions. Just so others know to try it out,
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Linda,
Thank you so much for letting us all know about your success! Thanks!
Elise Goan says
Wow!!! Just made this wonderful casserole. I’ll be making it again and have already shared with family and friends. I did have to leave in the oven longer than 30 minutes before good browning took place. Different ovens. Love, love this! 😘
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Elise! Thanks so much for letting me know! I'm tickled to death that you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Hope Benson says
Looks great!
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Hope!!
Donna says
So simple but looks really yummy! I am definitely going to try this one.
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Donna! I hope you love it!
Carla says
Was looking for a good barbeque dish for the weekend and think I have found it ! This sounds so delish and I can't wait
to make it for the family. thanks for the posting .
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Carla! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Sandra says
I'm betting the issue she had with your vegetarianism was a protein replacement.
Katie says
I found this recipe looking for some sort of side dish to make with a bag of sweet onions I bought. But they are small....so 2-3 onions will barely make a dent in a 9x13 dish. How full should the dish be? Even layer on the bottom? Halfway? To the top? Thank you!
Wendi Spraker says
Half way to the top of a 9x13 works good!
Elicia P says
Note to self: do not look at food blogs before lunch time. These look really good and now I want onions!
Deborah says
Has anyone tried this recipe? all the comments are they are going to. let me know how it tastes please
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Deborah. I had some Tuesday night for dinner and thought that they were pretty darn good but maybe someone else will leave a comment and tell you. Have a great day!
Maigan Thompson says
It’s called Tennessee onions because it’s orange like UT Vols!
Wendi Spraker says
Lol. Well, there IS that. Lol
Moxie says
This recipe has been shared over 83,000 times - it is that good!
Donna Falco says
Thanks for the recipe! Looks amazing. I'll try it soon. Also, thanks for the scripture reference, Joel 19:25. It fed my spirit. 🙂
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Donna! Thanks for saying so! 🙂
Patti says
I was so happy to see this on my newsfeed on Facebook! I love onions and will pile them onto anything I eat, or any dish I make, so to have an onion dish...can't wait to make it!! I know it's going to be delicious. I'd probably mix it up and try some red onions too. Oh, and since I love bell peppers, I'd make another dish and mix them all together. Can you imagine how beautiful it'd be?? (Knowing that the peppers will cook quicker, so adjusting the recipe some.) Thank you for sharing!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Patti! I'm so so glad that you are so inspired to cook something so beautiful and probably tasty! Come back and let me know how it went!
Faye Hight says
Hi Wendi, this will be delicious I'm sure.My husband loves to cook with bell peppers and onions. We love onions. My mom cooked fried onions and potatoes together and with a bowl of pinto beans and cornbread you couldn't ask for more.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Faye! You make me smile! Isn't that the great thing about food- besides tasting so wonderful, it has the power to bring back lovely memories.
Bev says
@Faye Hight, growing up, a big ol pot of pintos, fried taters and onions and cornbread was practically a weekly meal. 😋
Doris says
I don't understand how you would be eating this dish with lots of cheese and butter, if you were a lacto-ovo vegetarian?! Surely both cheese and butter are derived from milk.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Doris! I'm so glad you asked and that you commented today! You are EXACTLY right! Cheese and butter ARE derived from milk! A Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat but does consume some animal products like eggs and dairy. Here is a link to Wikipedia, if that helps. Thanks for visiting and for asking! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo-lacto_vegetarianism
Emily says
You can use non dairy substitutes to replace the cheese and butter. Some vegetarians will eat milk products, some not. My sister in law eats cheese, as long as the cheese isn't made with cow rennet. But I've tried some of the different vegan cheeses out there, and some of them are not bad. You just have to do a little research. But vegans eat no animal products, some vegetarians eat animal by-products (or as my SIL says "nothing with a face."), but most traditional vegetarians abstain from milk, eggs, cheese and meats. But this is a great dish for the lacto-ovos amongst your family and friends who are sick of just eating salads!
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks for a good reference Emily!
Loveofamom says
Thank you for that comment. I was about to ask if vegan cheese would work in this because it requires so many varieties.