This easy Tennessee Onions recipe is the ultimate Southern onion casserole! Layers of sweet Vidalia onions, melty cheese, and butter baked to perfection.
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It’s no secret here on the blog that onions are my favorite vegetable. I know that’s probably weird, but I love them—especially Vidalia onions, the ultimate Southern treat! This Tennessee Onions recipe couldn’t be simpler; I like this one so much because it really celebrates my favorite veggie and lets the texture and sweet flavor of Vidalia onions shine. Baked with two types of cheese, butter, and simple seasonings, these Tennessee onions are a cheesy, rich, and incredibly easy side dish for weeknight dinners, the holidays, or potlucks!
Cheesy Tennessee Onions Recipe
Vidalia onions are the real star of this onion casserole. They’re famously sweet because they’re grown in the sandy soil of southeast Georgia around Vidalia, Georgia. That unique, low-sulfur soil keeps their flavor mild and mellow, rather than sharp or spicy. And fun fact…only onions grown in 20 specific counties in Georgia can legally be called “Vidalia.”
Vidalia onions can be a little pricier than yellow onions, but my local grocery store sells them in 3lb. bags for a great deal. You can make this recipe for Tennessee onions using whatever onions you have on hand, though! It might be a little spicy if you use a white or red onion, but Vidalia or yellow onions always turn out subtly sweet, just the way we like our hot and cheesy Tennessee onions to taste!
Recipe Success Tips
- Cut the onions evenly. I aim for 1/2-inch-thick slices whenever I make these simple Tennessee onions. This helps everything cook and soften in the time specified in the recipe card below.
- Shred your own cheese! If possible, shred the cheese yourself rather than using bagged pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in an anti-caking agent to keep them from sticking together, but that coating also keeps the cheese from melting as smoothly. Freshly shredded cheeses melt more evenly and can work out more cost-effective!
- Switch up the seasonings. Try using a garlic herb seasoning, seasoned salt, or mixed dried herbs for extra flavor. Want more heat? Add even more cayenne pepper or some Nashville hot seasoning to turn things up a notch!
- Budget-saving tip. Use up any cheese you already have in the fridge instead of buying something new. I use Gouda and cheddar, but any melty cheese will do! Some delicious options include Monterey Jack, mozzarella, any type of cheddar (smoked, sharp, mild), or provolone.









