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!!!

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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 PinSave 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

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

How can I improve my casserole flavor? ›

Casseroles can really shine when they achieve a harmonious balance of flavors. Sweet, salty, spicy, and acidic elements should blend well and complement each other. Add ingredients like caramelized onions, olives, or lemon zest to give your casserole a depth of flavor.

Do you cover casserole when cooking? ›

Covering a casserole helps the dish cook evenly, stay moist, and prevents burning.

What are the main ingredients of this casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

How long should a casserole be in the oven for? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

What ingredient is added to casseroles to thicken the dish? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

What to add to a bland casserole? ›

From boring to brilliant: Five easy ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. Advertisem*nt. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chilli peppers. Adding something spicy is a sure way to transform an underseasoned dish. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 13, 2023

What temperature do you cook a casserole at? ›

Casseroles should be baked in a moderately hot oven

But too hot, and it won't cook evenly without some parts of it scorching first, according to KitchenSeer. A great rule of thumb, the site states, is to bake a casserole above 300 degrees F and below 400 degrees F: 350 degrees F is a great sweet spot.

What temperature do you bake a casserole? ›

An oven temperature of 350 degrees F and a cooking time of 20-30 minutes is suitable for reheating most casseroles, but you'll want to make sure that your internal temperature reaches 165, just like when you first prepared it.

Do you cook vegetables before putting in casserole? ›

Par Cook Pasta and Vegetables

"Partially cooking these ingredients is the only way to make a casserole with a satisfying texture," says LaClair. She stresses you should undercook rather than overcook them, as they will continue to cook in the oven—and will dry out quickly if already fully cooked.

What is a meal that has too much onion called? ›

Some people refer to too much onion being oniony, which is not true. Instead, too much onion is said to be sulfury.

What cancels out too much onion? ›

Adding a touch of acidity, such as lemon juice or a splash of vinegar, can help cut through the richness of the onions. Additionally, adding sweeter ingredients like carrots, bell peppers, or even a pinch of sugar can help counterbalance the strong taste.

Who uses the most onions? ›

World onion production is estimated at approximately 105 billion pounds each year. The average annual onion consumption calculates to approximately 13.67 pounds of onions per person across the world. Libya has the highest consumption of onions with an astounding average per capita consumption of 66.8 pounds.

What are three guidelines to follow when preparing casseroles? ›

Top tips for casseroles
  1. Cut your ingredients, such as meat, potatoes and parsnips, into similar-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly. ...
  2. To save time – and washing up – use a flameproof, ovenproof casserole dish. ...
  3. Avoid adding flour after cooking or the raw flour taste will remain.

What are five basic components of most casseroles? ›

According to food blog High Heeled Homemaker, your basic casserole requires five ingredients: a protein, starch, vegetable, sauce, and cheese. If you have those five ingredients in your casserole dish, congratulations; you just made a casserole, whether it's a beloved recipe or a concoction of your own creation.

What are the 4 parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

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