Tennessee Onions Recipe (7 Ingredients, 4 Steps)

Name: Tennessee Onion Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 4 large Vidalia onions or sweet onions, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and separated into rings (about 3 pounds); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon dry mustard; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) salted butter, cut into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded havarti cheese, divided; 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided; 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, optional; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

These tender, sweet onions with layers of butter and cheese melting throughout are proof that even the simplest ingredients deserve their time to shine. This homestyle casserole spotlights Vidalia onions, which are only grown in and around Vidalia, Georgia. Their sweetness is credited to the unique soil of the 20-county growing region that surrounds it.

Why do they call it Tennessee Onion Casserole?

Though this dish gets its sweet and savory flavor from onions grown in Georgia, many believe that the casserole originated in Tennessee. Hence, the name!

Cooking the onions for a long time enhances their sweetness, perfectly contrasting the salty, melty cheese situation. Even the butter in the bottom of the baking dish is nicely spiced and seasoned. The “sauce” at the bottom of the pan is essentially buttery onion goodness, perfect for dunking.

How To Serve Cheesy Tennessee Onions

This simple is tasty enough to be the main star of your dinner or an impressive side dish. Serve them as a side dish to just about any protein, like roasted chicken or pan-seared steak. Serve them on top of mashed or baked potatoes, or even just over plain white rice and a simple protein. Is there anything better than buttered rice? You can even pile them on top of a burger or sandwich.

Easy Tweaks to This Onion Casserole Recipe

Add dried herbs and different spices like cumin or chili powder to the onions.
Add smashed whole garlic cloves.
Add a few sprigs of hearty herbs like rosemary or thyme.
Swap the cheeses out with others like Muenster, fontina, and Monterey Jack cheese.

Tennessee Onions

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 70 mins

Total Time 80 mins

Servings 10 servings

This recipe was developed by Marianne Williams

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

4 large Vidalia onions or sweet onions, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and separated into rings (about 3 pounds)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) salted butter, cut into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded havarti cheese, divided
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, optional
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Prepare the onions:

Place the onions in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the salt, mustard, garlic powder, and paprika; toss gently to coat. Arrange the onions evenly in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Top the onions with the butter and cheese and bake:

Arrange the butter pieces evenly over the onions and sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the havarti and 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake until the onions are soft and the sides of the baking dish are bubbling, about 40 minutes.
Top with the remaining cheese and continue to bake:

Remove the foil and top with the remaining 1/2 cup havarti and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Bake until the top is golden, about 30 minutes.

If you’d like the top more browned, increase the oven temperature to broil on high during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired, and black pepper and serve.

Tennessee onions are best served fresh, but leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
264	Calories
19g	Fat
12g	Carbs
12g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories	264
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	25%
Saturated Fat 12g	58%
Cholesterol 56mg	19%
Sodium 447mg	19%
Total Carbohydrate 12g	4%
Dietary Fiber 1g	5%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 7mg	33%
Calcium 344mg	26%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 219mg	5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.