Description
Tennessee Onions are a cheesy, baked twist on classic onion rings, featuring layers of sweet Vidalia onions smothered in a blend of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan cheeses with fragrant herbs and spices. This easy-to-make casserole is perfect as a flavorful side dish or appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Onions
- 3 large sweet onions (such as Vidalia), sliced into ½-inch rings
Cheese Topping
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning & Butter
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and prepare for even cooking.
- Arrange Onions: Spread the sliced sweet onions evenly in the prepared baking dish, making sure to separate the rings so that they cook uniformly.
- Add Butter and Seasoning: Drizzle the melted unsalted butter evenly over the onions. Then sprinkle garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper evenly to enhance the flavor.
- Top with Cheese: Evenly distribute the shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, and grated Parmesan cheeses over the onions to create a rich, cheesy crust.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. This allows the onions to soften and the cheese to melt gently.
- Finish Baking Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, creating a deliciously crisp top.
- Rest and Serve: Let the dish cool slightly before serving to allow the cheese to set. Enjoy your Tennessee Onions as a flavorful side dish or appetizer.
Notes
- Use sweet onions like Vidalia for the best natural sweetness.
- Separating onion rings helps them cook evenly and prevents clumping.
- You can adjust the amount of garlic powder and thyme according to your taste preference.
- For a sharper cheese flavor, increase the cheddar cheese slightly.
- Letting the dish rest after baking helps the cheese firm up and makes serving easier.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Keywords: Tennessee Onions, baked onion rings, cheesy onion casserole, southern side dish, Vidalia onions, baked cheese onions
