Description
Tennessee Onions are a delightful baked side dish featuring sweet onions smothered in a blend of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan cheeses, seasoned with garlic, thyme, and black pepper. This easy-to-make recipe delivers a rich, cheesy flavor that’s a fantastic alternative to traditional onion rings, baked to golden bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Onions
- 3 large sweet onions (such as Vidalia), sliced into ½-inch rings
Cheese Mixture
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings & Butter
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Arrange Onion Rings: Place the sliced onions in an even layer inside the prepared baking dish, carefully separating the rings to allow uniform cooking and cheese coverage.
- Add Butter and Seasonings: Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the onions. Then sprinkle the garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper evenly to infuse flavor throughout the dish.
- Top with Cheese: Spread the shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, and grated Parmesan cheeses evenly over the buttered and seasoned onion rings, ensuring a rich cheesy layer.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil to retain moisture and bake for 25 minutes, allowing the onions to soften and the cheese to melt into the layers.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese turns golden and bubbly, giving a delicious crispy top.
- Cool and Serve: Let the Tennessee Onions cool slightly before serving. Enjoy this cheesy, flavorful side dish that’s perfect for any meal!
Notes
- Using sweet onions like Vidalia enhances the natural sweetness, balancing the savory cheese flavor.
- To make this recipe vegetarian-friendly, ensure cheeses are made with vegetable rennet.
- For a sharper flavor, you can mix in a bit of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper with the seasonings.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, BBQ, or as a hearty vegetarian side.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Tennessee Onions, baked onion rings, cheesy onions, cheddar Monterey Jack Parmesan, side dish, baked onions, sweet onions recipe
