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***
jack morrison says
This dish was spectacular I used it on Hamburgers delish
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jack! I'm glad you loved it! Thanks for coming back and leaving a comment!
Helen Akin says
Made this today and it was awesome as side for pinto beans
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Helen, I'm so glad you found what you needed and that you loved it so! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving a comment and rating. I appreciate it a great deal! Enjoy those Vidalias while we have them, YUM!
The Happy Whisk says
Thanks for posting this, a friend sent me this and I love using onions and this looks like fun. I also like the lay-out of your post, easy to read and super helpful. Wishing you a yummy day!
Wendi Spraker says
I hope that you love them! Thank you so much for leaving a comment!
Louise Leslie says
This is simply the best onion casserole I have ever tasted.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Louise, Thanks so much! I tickled that you enjoyed it!
Brenda Hurley says
I love onions too. Unfortunately my hubs hates them! This makes me wonder how we ever got together 😉 I’ll be trying this recipe today (made smaller for me, just me.)
Wendi Spraker says
Oh Brenda, I married one of those too! It's ok, we just have to treat ourselves sometimes! Have fun and enjoy! (The good news is that the leftovers are all for you too!).
debbie f young says
Def gonna give this a try. I love all things onion. I would use them in a dessert if I could but havent found one yet. LOL
I can so relate to the verse. Mom of 3 and Gmom of 7.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Debbie! I hope you love them!
Wanda says
Delicious!!! And I can so relate to the children. Was on the church softball team one year when they were small. Said something about killing one of them. Another young mother said,"I thought I was the only one" rather sheepishly.I replied, "Nope. Good parents.just don't do it,😆"
Wendi Spraker says
Ain't it the truth?! lol. I get together with my adult children and their children once a week. I get great joy out of hearing them fuss about the things their kids are doing because it doesn't seem that long ago to me that I was fussing at them for the very same things. lol.
Louise says
Sounds terrific!
Wendi Spraker says
I hope you'll give it a go!
Lisa Marie says
What a yummy sounding dish...can not wait to try this...I may let mine go longer and get the onions more carmelized! Thanks for sharing~!
Wendi Spraker says
Sounds great, just be careful not to burn your cheese. If you are wanting really carmelized onions, you may want to cook them ahead of time, then add the other ingredients and melt the cheese, etc.
Marilyn Lee says
Great recipe. I used my air fryer and it worked well. Next time I will cook the onions until almost done (about 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes) in the air fryer, add the cheeses and continue about 3-5 minutes.
The onions are very rich and delicious. @cantstopcooking
Wendi Spraker says
Marilynn Lee, That's great information.Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
JJ says
I made this last night as a last minute side to go with Beer Can chicken and it was DELICIOUS! I made it almost exactly as written but I did not have sharp cheddar so I used Mexican blend cheese in its place. I also added a little olive oil, used Janes Crazy Mixed-Up salt instead of salt/pepper/garlic salt and threw in some thyme and rosemary. Baked on 350 for about 35-40 min and then threw on the broiler for about 5. So good...my little boys ate it all! You can really play with this recipe to suit your family's needs. Thanks!
Joyce Arnold says
Going out to get the ingredients now! Thanks so much.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Joyce!
I hope it was everything you were hoping for! (and more). 🙂
elaine gunter says
Years ago I had a recipe similar to this but the onions were also layered with thin sliced potatoes. I can't wait to give it a try it.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for leaving me a comment! If you decide to add potatoes, please parboil or precook them because this recipe does not bake long enough to cook potatoes enough. You'll end up with crunchy potatoes. If you precook or parboil, you should be fine!
E says
since Vidalia’s are on sale, I looked for an interesting recipe & tried this one. delish!! my new go to recipe!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi! Thanks so much for coming back and leaving a comment! I'm so glad you loved it! Have a wonderful weekend!
Randy says
Awesome recipe. We had as a side dish to smoked pork ribs. Will be great with burgers, steak or pulled pork sandwiches. My grandson loved them and he does not like onions. I made a few alterations by drizzling a couple tablespoons of olive oil and dried basil before the cheese then topped with pre-cooked real bacon chunks.
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks for coming back and letting me know Randy and I'm so glad you were able to "make it your own" by adding some ingredients. Enjoy!