Experience a taste of Southern goodness with our Tennessee Onions recipe. Made primarily with sweet Vidalia onions, a trifecta of cheeses, and savory butter and herbs, it’s a mouthwatering side dish you won’t want to miss.
Ah, Tennessee Onions. This dish takes me down a nostalgic lane, back to my Grandma Eleanor’s quaint kitchen in Knoxville. The smell of these onions baking would waft through her home, announcing that a feast was on its way. As kids, my siblings and I would be playing outside, and the moment we caught that tantalizing aroma, we’d race each other to the kitchen, with bets on who could sneak a bite first. Grandma would chuckle, always letting us believe we were sneaky, while in reality, she always baked extra, expecting our little thefts. It wasn’t just about the onions or the cheese; it was about the love and memories baked into each layer. Every time I cook this now, I’m transported to those golden days, and I hope you feel a touch of that warmth and love with every bite you take.
Ingredients
- ▢3-4 Vidalia sweet onions
- ▢4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- ▢1 teaspoon of salt adjust according to preference
- ▢1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- ▢1/2 teaspoon of oregano
- ▢1 cup of Italian blend cheese finely shredded
- ▢1 cup of cheddar cheese finely shredded
- ▢½ cup of parmesan cheese finely shredded
Instructions
- Begin by preheating the oven to a temperature of 350°F (175°C). Subsequently, coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with a suitable non-stick cooking spray.
- After cleaning and peeling the Vidalia sweet onions, position them sideways and proceed to slice them into rounds that are approximately ¼ inch in thickness. Following this, it is necessary to separate the sliced rounds into individual onion rings.
- Next, arrange the separated onion rings uniformly across the base of the previously prepared baking dish. Once arranged, season the onion rings evenly with the salt, garlic powder, and oregano.
- The butter should then be cut into roughly eight even portions or pats. Distribute these butter pats evenly across the seasoned onion rings in the baking dish.
- Continue by uniformly sprinkling the Italian blend cheese and cheddar cheese over the arranged onion rings. Finish this cheese layering with a final topping of the shredded parmesan cheese.
- Once assembled, place the baking dish into the preheated oven. Allow the dish to bake for a duration of 35-40 minutes. The dish should be removed when the cheese has begun to brown and bubble.
- For optimal taste, it is advised to serve the dish promptly while it remains warm.
