Name: Tennessee Onions
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: North America, Southern
Ingredients: 5 tablespoons butter, divided; 3 pounds Vidalia onions, sliced into 1/4-in. rings; 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1-1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1-1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; Handful fresh parsley, chopped

Tennessee onions are hands down the best topping for burgers ever—although these sweet and tender onions can be a tasty side dish, too.

Ingredients

5 tablespoons butter, divided

3 pounds Vidalia onions, sliced into 1/4-in. rings

2 teaspoons packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1-1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1-1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Handful fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1 Coat the onions

2 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13x9-inch baking dish. In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave 1 tablespoon of butter for 30 seconds or until it's melted. Add the sliced onions to the bowl and toss to coat them in the butter. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, thyme, garlic powder, salt, smoked paprika, oregano, mustard, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Pour the spice blend over the onions, then toss the onions and spices together. Editor's Tip: Separate the sliced onions into individual rings so that they all cook evenly and become tender.

3 Layer the onions and cheese

4 Mix the mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan together in a medium bowl. Measure out 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture and set it aside for later. Lay half of the seasoned onions in the bottom of the baking dish. Layer half of the remaining cheese mixture over the onions. Repeat these steps with the rest of the onions and the other half of the remaining cheese mixture. Then, slice the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter into five or six pieces and dot them over the top of the cheese.

5 Bake the Tennessee onions

6 Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and put it in the oven. Bake the covered dish for 45 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake the onions, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. Sprinkle the reserved 3/4 cup of shredded cheese over the top. Bake the onions for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7 Add parsley and serve

8 Move the pan to a wire rack to cool slightly. Sprinkle fresh, chopped parsley over the top and serve the Tennessee onions while they're warm.