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)
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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

What kind of onion is a Vidalia onion? ›

The Vidalia is a type of sweet yellow onion. They're different from other types of yellow onions because of their high sugar content and low sulfur content. Most onions contain about 5 percent sugar, while Vidalias contain a whopping 12 percent.

What to use sweet onions for? ›

Just cooking them like other onions is a waste of the uniquely bright flavor sweet onions bring to the party. The mild flavor of sweet onions makes them perfect for using raw in salads and relishes or chopped as a garnish. Want to cook them? Sweet onions are lovely when turned into onion rings or when simply roasted.

What are sweet onions in the UK? ›

Mild Onions

Sweet onions come into this category and are generally paler and thinner skinned. Sweetness is an entirely subjective assessment with these onions.

What onion is closest to Vidalia? ›

Substitutes for Vidalia Onions

There are many other types of sweet onions available, including Walla-Walla (after the city in Washington State) and Texas Sweets, and these can easily be used in any recipe calling for Vidalia Onions.

Which onion is sweeter, Vidalia or Walla Walla? ›

It's a matter of terroir, he explains. And the Walla Walla soil and growing conditions give that onion a more complex flavor profile "that tells you that this is an onion," he says. The Vidalia may be milder or sweeter, but to Dean, flavor makes the winner.

What not to store onions with? ›

It's not just potatoes you need to worry about. Other produce that releases ethylene gas, such as apples, citrus, and bananas, will accelerate an onion's degradation, as will moisture-rich fruits such as melons and cucumbers, says Alibrandi. An onion's absorbent nature also means it easily picks up smells.

Can you freeze whole onions? ›

You can freeze onions with or without blanching. You must blanch when freezing whole onion bulbs. Use a blanching time of three minutes for small onions, seven minutes for larger. For safe freezing, blanching must heat onions all the way to the center of the bulb.

Can I freeze onions? ›

Even though onions are freezer-friendly, stick to using them in cooked dishes rather than salads, because their texture will inevitably be different. Frozen onions will retain their flavor for 3-6 months — they're likely still good past that, but they won't be as potent.

What is the tastiest onion? ›

Vidalia, Walla Walla, Cipollini varieties are inherently sweet onions. These varieties have become extremely popular and for good reason. They are good cooked but they are very mild and are excellent eaten raw. These varieties of onion have a thinner husk and therefore don't store as well as wintering onions.

What does adding sugar to onions do? ›

To help speed up caramelization of onions, you can add a little bit of sugar to the onions in the pan, but you will still need to be patient and cook the onions over low heat for proper caramelization.

What is the strongest onion in the world? ›

White Onions: A stronger, spicier, more pungent flavour than yellow onions. More oniony, for lack of a better term, than yellow onions.

What is onion slang for? ›

slang (originally U.S.). A foolish or contemptible person

What is the sweetest onion in the world? ›

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.

Which onion is healthiest? ›

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 is the difference between a sweet onion and a Vidalia onion? ›

Vidalia Onions: Vidalia onions are a specific type of sweet onion grown in the Vidalia region of Georgia, USA. These onions are known for their exceptionally sweet and mild flavor, attributed to the low sulfur content in the soil and unique growing conditions of the Vidalia area.

Is a Vidalia onion a Bermuda onion? ›

The sweet onions remained a mostly local secret until the 1940s. In that decade, according to the University of Georgia, Earle Jordan planted the yellow granex onion, a hybrid of the Bermuda and Grano onions developed by Henry Jones of Texas A&M. It was this onion that eventually became the famous Vidalia onion.

Are white onions and Vidalia onions the same? ›

Sweet onions, like Maui and Vidalia, are technically white onions - but they have a much higher sugar content, and a lower sulphur content, so they don't have that sharp bite to them. They often have a limited season, from spring to summer, so it's always great to pick up a few when they're available.

Can you grow Vidalia onions anywhere? ›

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.

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