Tennessee Onions – Better Than Onion Rings

Tennessee Onions – Better Than Onion Rings

Table of Contents

Intro

If you’re an onion ring lover but don’t want to deal with deep frying, these Tennessee Onions are going to change your life!
Sweet onions are sliced, layered with butter, cheese, and a blend of seasonings, then baked until they’re soft, caramelized, and irresistibly cheesy.
This dish is pure Southern comfort food — no breading, no oil splatters, just melt-in-your-mouth onions with a golden, bubbly top.
Perfect as a side dish for BBQ, burgers, steak, or even served with crusty bread to soak up all that cheesy goodness.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Bake time: 40 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

3 large Vidalia or sweet onions (peeled and sliced into ¼-inch rings)

4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp Italian seasoning

Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions with Timing

Prep the onions (3 min)

Peel the onions and cut them into ¼-inch thick rings.

Separate the rings slightly for better layering.

Preheat oven (2 min prep during)

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Layer onions (5 min)

Spread onion slices evenly in the baking dish, overlapping slightly like shingles.

Add butter & seasonings (2 min)

Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the onions.

Sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

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Add cheeses (2 min)

Layer the cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan over the top.

Bake (40 min)

Place in the oven and bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, until onions are tender and cheese is golden and bubbly.

Rest & serve (1–2 min)

Let it sit for a minute or two before serving so the cheese sets slightly.

Tips for Best Results

Use sweet onions (like Vidalia) for the best flavor balance.

For extra kick, add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper before baking.

Can be made ahead — assemble, refrigerate, then bake when ready.

Works in an air fryer too — 350°F for about 18–20 min in a shallow dish.