Description
Delectable Southern caramelized onions elevate any dish with rich, sweet complexity. Slow-cooked until golden brown, these onions add depth you’ll crave in sandwiches, salads, and classic Southern sides.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large sweet onions
- ½ cup (113 g / 4 oz) sliced butter
- 2 cups (473 ml / 16 fl oz) milk
- ½ cup (50 g / 2 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup (30 g / 1 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Set the oven to 375°F (190°C) to create an optimal caramelization environment for the onion dish.
- Onion Preparation: Peel and slice onions into delicate, uniform 1/4-inch rounds, ensuring consistent cooking and texture.
- Dish Assembly: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and layer onion slices in an overlapping, even pattern across the bottom.
- Butter Infusion: Distribute butter pieces evenly across the dish, allowing them to melt and create a rich, flavorful base in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk flour and milk together until smooth, then blend in garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to develop a harmonious seasoning profile.
- Layering: Pour the seasoned mixture over the onions, ensuring complete and uniform coverage, then crown with a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Final Baking: Return the dish to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt and develop a golden, slightly crisp surface.
- Resting: Remove from the oven and allow the dish to rest for 5-7 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and temperature to stabilize before serving.
Notes
- Slice Uniformly: Cut onions consistently at 1/4 inch thick to ensure even cooking and attractive presentation.
- Butter Distribution: Evenly spread butter pieces to create a smooth, flavorful base that prevents sticking and enhances overall taste.
- Seasoning Balance: Adjust spices to personal preference, but maintain proportions to achieve a well-rounded flavor profile without overwhelming the onions.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Watch closely during final baking to achieve the perfect golden-brown cheese crust without burning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 175 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg