Tennessee Onions

Imagine onions as tender and caramelized as those you’d find in a bowl of French onion soup, only they’re topped with melted cheese and served as a side dish or a topping. That’s Tennessee onions! This recipe thinly slices sweet onions and layers them with spices and shredded cheese, then slowly bakes them until they’re meltingly tender. Tennessee onions are definitely at the top of the list of my all-time favorite onion recipes.

What are Tennessee onions?

Although we don’t know who created Tennessee onions, we do know it’s one of the many iconic Southern side dishes. The star of the recipe is the Vidalia onion, a type of onion that’s sweet instead of pungent. The sweet onions are thinly sliced, tossed with seasonings and baked with shredded cheese. In the oven, the onions caramelize thanks to their natural sugars and a small amount of brown sugar added to the spice blend.

These tender onions make a wonderful accompaniment to roasts like Thanksgiving turkey or roast beef. They’re delicious with barbecued meats, or as a tasty topping for burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches.

Ingredients for Tennessee Onions

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

• Sweet onions: Our recipe calls for Vidalia, but Walla Wallas and Mauis are some sweet onions you can use instead. Sweetness means you can cut the onions without crying!
• Butter: You can use salted or unsalted here. It melts into the onions as they bake, making them tender.
• Cheeses: This Tennessee onion recipe has a lot of cheese! We use a blend of shredded mozzarella and cheddar, along with grated Parmesan. Grate your own cheese instead of using the bagged stuff; it will melt much better.
• Brown sugar: The onions are tossed with a little brown sugar to enhance their natural sweetness. The additional sugar also contributes to caramelization.
• Seasonings: This recipe uses a variety of spices to give it savory flavor. They include thyme, pepper, salt, smoked paprika, oregano, ground mustard, garlic powder and a little cayenne.
• Parsley: Chop fresh herbs like parsley and sprinkle them over the onions just before serving to add a few flecks of color to the browned dish.

Directions

Step 1: Coat the onions

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9-inch baking dish.

In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave 1 tablespoon of butter for 30 seconds or until it’s melted. Add the sliced onions to the bowl and toss to coat them in the butter. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, thyme, garlic powder, salt, smoked paprika, oregano, mustard, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Pour the spice blend over the onions, then toss the onions and spices together.

Editor’s Tip: Separate the sliced onions into individual rings so that they all cook evenly and become tender.

Step 2: Layer the onions and cheese

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

Mix the mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan together in a medium bowl. Measure out 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture and set it aside for later. Lay half of the seasoned onions in the bottom of the baking dish. Layer half of the remaining cheese mixture over the onions.

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

Repeat these steps with the rest of the onions and the other half of the remaining cheese mixture. Then, slice the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter into five or six pieces and dot them over the top of the cheese.

Step 3: Bake the Tennessee onions

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and put it in the oven. Bake the covered dish for 45 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake the onions, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. Sprinkle the reserved 3/4 cup of shredded cheese over the top. Bake the onions for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 4: Add parsley and serve

Move the pan to a wire rack to cool slightly. Sprinkle fresh, chopped parsley over the top and serve the Tennessee onions while they’re warm.

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

Tennessee Onions Variations

• Use fresh garlic: To add another dimension of flavor to the onions, mince fresh garlic with tools like a Microplane zester or mini chopper and add it to the dish.
• Try other cheeses: The combination of cheeses in this recipe is perfect, but you can also swap in other good melting cheeses. Consider Swiss, Havarti, sharp cheddar or smoked Gouda.
• Add Cajun spice: A favorite twist on Tennessee onions is to use a Cajun seasoning blend in place of the spice blend as called for in our recipe. With lots of pepper and chili powder, it gives the onions a spicy kick.

How to Store Tennessee Onions

Allow the Tennessee onions to cool, and then transfer them to tightly sealed food storage containers. Store the onions in the fridge.

How long do Tennessee onions last?

For the best flavor and texture, it’s best to enjoy Tennessee onions within three to four days of baking them.

Can you freeze Tennessee onions?

We prefer not to freeze Tennessee onions. The freezing and thawing process leaves the caramelized onions with an unpleasant, mushy texture. It’s best to keep them in the fridge and use them within a few days.

How do you reheat Tennessee onions?

Place Tennessee onions in a baking dish and cover them with foil. Reheat the onions at 350° for 20 to 30 minutes until they’re hot. Small portions of the onions can also be reheated in the microwave in a loosely covered dish. Microwave the onions in 30-second bursts, stirring after each one, until they’re heated through.

Tennessee Onions Tips

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

What’s the best way to slice onions?

For this Tennessee onions recipe, the best way to slice the sweet onions is into thin rings. Thicker rings can be a little rubbery and hard to bite through, so thin rings will be easy to eat once baked. Start with a sharp kitchen knife and cut the top off the sweet onion. Peel off the outer skin. Hold the onion on its side on a cutting board and carefully slice it horizontally into 1/4-inch rings. If you’re having trouble keeping the onion steady, slice a little piece off the part that rests on the cutting board so it sits flat. And remember to take your time! It’s better to be safe than sorry.

What should you serve with Tennessee onions?

These sweet onions are delicious served alongside any kind of roast, whether it’s a Sunday roast chicken, a holiday turkey or a pork roast. At your next barbecue, set Tennessee onions out to enjoy with grilled sausages, pulled pork, burgers and barbecued chicken. Use Tennessee onions as a filling in grilled cheese sandwiches, deli sandwiches or Reubens. You could even mix them into mashed potatoes! For anyone who loves caramelized onions, the possibilities here are endless.