Description
Savory Tennessee Onions bring Southern comfort to your dinner table with layers of caramelized sweetness and rich cheese. Melted butter and golden-brown onions create a mouthwatering side dish that will delight you at first bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large sweet onions (Vidalia or Walla Walla), sliced into 0.25-inch (0.64 cm) rings
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded cheddar cheese
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) shredded Parmesan cheese
Butter and Seasonings:
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
- 0.25 teaspoon (1.25 ml) black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) smoked paprika (optional, for extra depth)
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking vessel by generously coating a 9×13-inch dish with a light layer of cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking.
- Create a uniform base by arranging thinly sliced onions across the entire surface of the prepared dish, spreading them evenly to create a consistent foundation.
- Enhance the onion layer with a delicate sprinkle of aromatic seasonings, carefully distributing garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika to infuse depth and complexity.
- Cascade melted butter across the seasoned onions, allowing the rich liquid to penetrate and soften the layers, creating a luxurious texture and golden undertone.
- Generously crown the onion landscape with a trio of cheeses – mozzarella for stretch, cheddar for sharpness, and Parmesan for a nutty finish – ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Dust the cheese-topped landscape with dried thyme, introducing an herbal whisper that will elevate the overall flavor profile.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil, creating a protective dome that will help steam and soften the onions during initial baking.
- Slide the covered dish into a preheated 350°F oven, allowing the ingredients to meld and transform for approximately 30 minutes.
- Carefully remove the foil, revealing the developing dish, and return to the oven to encourage browning and caramelization for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Extract the bubbling, golden masterpiece and allow a brief resting period of 5 minutes to let flavors settle and temperatures moderate.
- Serve immediately alongside robust main courses like succulent steak, grilled chicken, or smoky BBQ ribs, transforming an ordinary side into a memorable culinary experience.
Notes
- Slice onions uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like Gouda or Gruyère for a more complex flavor profile.
- Reduce butter for a lighter version by using olive oil spray or cutting butter quantity by half.
- Transform this side dish into a vegetarian main course by adding roasted vegetables or tofu underneath the cheesy onion layer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg