Tennessee Onions
Tennessee Onions are a Southern side dish that steal the show every time! This cheesy onion casserole is a classic Southern side dish that makes the very most out of simple ingredients you already love.
I always feel like a good Southerner when I can recreate an old classic, like perfecting my shrimp and grits recipe or when I learned how to make fried green tomatoes. These Tennessee Onions are another dish that gave me a little swell of pride. You get the perfectly crispy, cheesy edges on the tender onions, all bursting with the most delicious sweet-spicy-salty-umami flavor. You’ll see exactly why these became popular in the depression era… It’s such a cheap way to spruce up a staple, and it pairs perfectly with all our Southern dinner favorites! Try these with grilled meats, on sandwiches, or in a dozen other ways, and you’ll see exactly why people love this onion casserole.
Why you will love this onion recipe:
- Easy to Make – This recipe is as simple as “slice, season, bake.” There’s no constant stirring, babysitting, flipping, or fussing. Beginner cooks will be able to pull this off without a problem.
- Super Versatile – These can be used as a topping to immediately upgrade steaks, pork chops, or burgers. It’s a fantastic side dish with common flavors that work well with many different types of cuisines and dishes.
- Meal Prep Friendly – These cheesy onions reheat super easily in the microwave, on the grill, or in the oven, so you can add these to your meal prep day and enjoy them all week!
Ingredients for Tennessee Onions
Here’s a quick overview of what you will need for this side dish. Scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements.
- Onions – Use the sweetest onions you can get your hands on. I highly recommend Vidalia onions, but the sweeter the better.
- Cheddar Cheese, Gouda Cheese, and Salted Butter – This delicious blend provides the perfect sharp and flavorful contrast to the sweet onions and bold spices! Smoked gouda is an excellent choice if you have it.
- Seasonings: Italian Seasoning, Dry Mustard, Cayenne Pepper, and Paprika
How to Make the Tennessee Onions
This recipe is super easy, great for people who just don’t have the energy or are new to cooking! Here’s a step-by-step:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F while you slice the onions. You want them to all be sliced to the same thickness, about 1/4″ each. This will help them cook evenly and caramelize nicely.
- Toss the onion slices into your spices, then place them in a greased 9×13 baking pan.
- Top your sliced onions with the cubed butter and shredded cheeses, then cover the pan (aluminum foil or a glass lid will work fine).
- Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking another 10-15 minutes. Once the onions are as tender as you like and the cheese is nice and melty, you can remove it from the oven and serve.
What to Serve with Tennessee Onions
This easy dish is so versatile. We like to serve it as an onion casserole side dish with Mississippi Chicken, Grilled Portobello Mushrooms, and this gluten free biscuit recipe for a delicious, comforting Southern dinner. Leftovers get put on top of a juicy burger, with some steak and eggs at breakfast, or atop crunchy pork chops for a creamy, flavorful boost.
Storage and Reheating
Allow the cheesy onions to cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. These can be reheated in a variety of ways, some even great for cookouts and potlucks.
- Oven – In an oven-safe dish, 350 degrees, covered, 20-30 minutes
- Grill – In an aluminum tray, any heat, covered, until warmed through
- Microwave – In a microwave-safe dish, 50% power, covered, 1-3 1-minute blasts
- Slow Cooker – low heat, 1-2 hours, will need to stir occasionally
Tennessee Onions Recipe FAQs
I like my onions to still have a little bite to them, but if you like them ultra soft and tender, you can cook the onions 15-30 minutes longer while covered. If you cook them longer uncovered, you are likely to get some very charred pieces and the top bites could come out a bit dry.
While we don’t add any high-carb ingredients to this dish, onions themselves have a decent amount of carbohydrates. That brings each serving of this recipe to have about 12 net carbs each. This recipe is nut-free, gluten-free, and egg-free, but you would need to use commercial cheese substitutes to make this dairy-free.
The sweeter the onion, the greater the contrast you get with the salty cheese and savory seasonings. Technically you could use other onions if you like, but they will bring out a different flavor.
More Popular Recipes:
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Roasted Zucchini
- Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Protein Muffins
- Chicken and Mushroom Recipe
Get the Recipe: Tennessee Onions Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet onions
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1 cup shredded gouda cheese
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- Slice the onions thick (aim for about 1/4" thick so they get evenly cooked), then toss in spices and place in 9×13 greased baking dish
- Top with cubed butter and cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until the onions have reached your desired tenderness and the cheese is completely melted.
