Description
Tennessee Onions are a Southern favorite made with layers of sweet onions, melted cheese, and butter baked to golden perfection. This easy comfort food side dish is creamy, cheesy, and savory — a baked alternative to onion rings that’s perfect for family dinners, BBQs, and holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large sweet onions (about 700 g), sliced into ½-inch rings
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (50 g) grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: ½ cup (30 g) crushed buttery crackers or breadcrumbs for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- Layer Onions: Slice onions into thick rings and spread evenly in the dish, overlapping slightly for coverage.
- Season: Sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Drizzle melted butter over all the layers.
- Add Cheese: Combine mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan in a bowl. Sprinkle evenly over onions. Add optional cracker crumbs for crunch.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm as a side dish or over baked potatoes or steak.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Assemble the dish up to one day in advance, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes or microwave individual portions.
- Freeze: Freeze unbaked for up to 2 months; thaw overnight before baking.
- Variations: Add BBQ sauce for a smoky flavor, or use pepper jack cheese for a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Comfort Food, Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Tennessee Onions, Cheesy Onion Bake, Southern Side Dish, Onion Casserole, Baked Onions, Comfort Food Recipes, Holiday Sides