🧅 Baked Tennessee Onions
Ingredients
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3–4 large sweet onions (Vidalia or Walla Walla), sliced into ½-inch rings
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4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
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1 cup shredded mozzarella (or Monterey Jack)
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½ cup grated Parmesan
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1 tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp onion powder
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½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
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½ tsp black pepper
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½ tsp paprika (smoked if you like)
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Optional: fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
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Preheat oven
Set oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish. -
Layer onions
Spread onion rings evenly in the dish, gently separating the rings. -
Season & butter
Drizzle melted butter over onions. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika evenly. -
Add cheese
Combine cheeses in a bowl. Sprinkle generously over onions. -
Bake
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Cover loosely with foil and bake 25 minutes
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Remove foil and bake 15–20 minutes more, until bubbly and golden
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Rest & serve
Let sit 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
🍽️ What to Serve With
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Steak, pork chops, or grilled chicken
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Burgers or BBQ
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Holiday dinners (surprisingly great next to ham)
❓ Q & A
Q: What onions work best?
Sweet onions are key—Vidalia are classic. Yellow onions work, but the dish will be sharper.
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes!
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Assemble up to 24 hours ahead
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Cover and refrigerate
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Bake when ready (add 5–10 minutes)
Q: My onions are still crunchy—why?
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Slices may be too thick
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Oven runs cool
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Cover tightly for the first half of baking
Q: Can I add protein?
Definitely:
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Crumbled bacon
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Sliced sausage
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Pulled chicken
Q: Can I make this spicy?
Yep:
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Red pepper flakes
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Cayenne
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Pepper jack cheese swap
Q: How do I store leftovers?
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Fridge: 3 days in airtight container
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Reheat: Oven or air fryer works best (microwave softens cheese)
Q: Can I make this low-carb / keto?
It already is! Just use full-fat cheese and skip any breadcrumbs.
Q: Why is it called “Tennessee Onions”?
It’s a Southern church-potluck classic—simple pantry ingredients, baked slow, and meant to feed a crowd.