Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (2024)

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Cheesy Onion Casserole is a delicious side dish recipe idea that quickly becomes the star of the show on any table! Onion lovers will enjoy the sweet onion flavor and lots of cheese!

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (1)

Cheesy Onion Casserole is a super easy side dish recipe you can make for the holiday season or any night of the week!

You’ll love this creamy recipe that is filled with Vidalia onions (or sweet onions when Vidalia’s are out of the season!), a ton of cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and a few other pantry staples.

This simple recipe takes the complicated Thanksgiving dishes, and makes them the perfect side dish for any special occasion you’re celebrating!

It’s a low-carb and keto diet-friendly recipe!

How to Make Cheesy Onion Casserole

First, let’s gather the ingredients.

You’ll need a ton of sweet onions. If it’s the precious summertime, and you have access to Vidalia onions, get those!

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (2)

You’ll need about 3 pounds of onions total before you skin the onions and slice them.

If you don’t have access to a Vidalia sweet onion, choose a sweet onion or yellow onion. I’ve never tried this with red onions, but I bet it would be good! Not as sweet, but still delicious!

Otherwise, those large sweet onions you see in the produce section, that are the size of a softball will work perfectly!

Next, you’ll need a bunch of shredded cheese. 4 cups worth! This is where I use up any and all the cheese in my fridge. If I have the bags of pre-shredded cheddar cheese, I’ll dump them in. Same with swiss cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, etc.

Then you’ll need a cup of mayonnaise, a can of cream of mushroom soup, and half a can of milk. If you want to add a little sour cream, feel free to! It gives the recipe a little tang that quickly makes this a family favorite!

Now, let’s gather the dried spices you’ll use in the recipe:

  • Parsley
  • Chives
  • Thyme
  • Onion Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper

If you’re feeling frisky, add a little cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes!

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (3)

Cooking the Onions

Peel and slice your onions about 1/4-1/2 inch thick, in half moons.

Melt butter in a large saute pan and add in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. This helps the butter not to burn and adds in some extra moisture to the onions.

Then in a large skillet soften the onion slices over medium heat with butter and olive oil.

You don’t want the onions to caramelize, just turn them a little brown and soften them.

While the onions are cooking in a saute pan, let’s mix up the cheese and soup mixture.

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (4)

To a large mixing bowl, add your shredded cheese, mayonnaise, mushroom soup, and half a can of milk. And if you’re feeling really decadent, use heavy cream!

Mix all of that up so everything is evenly distributed.

Add your seasoning on top, and give another good mix using a spatula.

Once the onions are softened, pour the onions over the soup mixture.

Baking the Onion Casserole

After the onions have been combined with the cheese mixture, pour them into a buttered casserole pan.

If you want some crunch, add a sleeve of crushed Ritz Crackers to the top of the casserole before baking!

Bake at 350˚ for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (5)

This Vidalia onion casserole pairs well with Grandma’s Roasted Turkey on Thanksgiving, or a big Beef Tenderloin for Christmas Dinner!

Save this to your favorite Side Dish Board on Pinterest!

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (6)

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Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (7)

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe

  • Author: Sweetpea
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: side dish
  • Method: oven-baked
  • Cuisine: southern
Print Recipe

Description

Cheesy Onion Casserole is a side dish recipe idea that becomes the star of the show on any table! Onion lovers will enjoy the sweet onion flavor!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 lbs. Sweet Onions, sliced into 1/4‘1/2 inch half moons
  • 2 TBS Butter
  • 2 TBS Olive Oil
  • 4 cups Shredded Cheese
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1/2 can Milk
  • 1 tsp Parsley
  • 1 tsp Chives
  • 1/2 tsp Thyme
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

  1. Peel and slice your onions.
  2. In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
  3. When the butter is foamy, add in your sliced onions, and stir.
  4. Cover and let soften for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, add in your 4 cups of shredded cheese, 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, and 1/2 can of milk. Mix all of this together.
  6. Add in your one teaspoon of parsley, one teaspoons of chives, half a teaspoon of thyme, one teaspoon garlic powder, one teaspoon onion powder, half a teaspoon of kosher salt, and half a teaspoon of black pepper. Mix well.
  7. Once the onions are soft, pour them over the cheese and soup mixture — mixing to combine well.
  8. Pour into a buttered casserole dish (9×13 works great!), and bake at 350˚ for 30-35 minutes, on until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

Notes

You can use any shredded cheese you like, this recipe uses cheddar and mozzarella. But, it’s a great time to use up any leftover cheese in your fridge!

If you want to make this a few days before serving, cover with plastic wrap before baking, and store in the fridge. Allow the baking dish to come to room temperature before baking according to the directions.

Recipe Card powered byCheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (8)

Cheesy Onion Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does the binder of a casserole do? ›

The binder, a liquid that holds the other ingredients together. – Fat-free milk, broth, fruit juice, soup, eggs, or a thickened Béchamel/White sauce.

What binds a casserole together? ›

The key to a good casserole is the sauce or broth that binds those ingredients together as they bubble in the oven, allowing the flavors to meld together into a harmonious, comforting meal. This can be something as simple as the McCormick Brown Gravy Mix used in this tasty Hamburger Casserole dish.

What is the difference between sweet and yellow onions? ›

Sweet onions are larger than yellow onions, with a light skin. As the name suggests, sweet onions have sweet flavor due to a high sugar content, making them great for sauteing and caramelizing. Sweet onion varieties include Walla Walla, Texas Sweets, Maui, and Vidalia.

What kind of onion do you use for stew? ›

Yellow onions are perfect for stews, soups, barbecues, roasts and sauces. Avoid eating them raw as they have a strong flavour.

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

What liquid to use in casserole? ›

Liquid for casseroles

Bone stock is good for beef casseroles, but failing that plain hot water enriched with a few drops of Worcestershire sauce and mushroom ketchup makes a handy instant stock. Red or white wine will add extra flavour of its own, and its acidity will actually help to tenderise the meat as it cooks.

What does mayo do in a casserole? ›

Mayo Is The Glue That Holds A Casserole Together

It's basically food glue that also provides other added benefits. Think of it as a culinary adhesive that offers more than just stickiness. Additionally, mayonnaise enhances the juiciness of dishes without making them overly moist.

What are the thickening agents for casseroles? ›

Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.

Which onion is sweeter Vidalia or sweet onion? ›

A Vidalia onion is a type of sweet onion. It has a mild flavor, a uniquely flat shape, and a relatively high sugar content. The soil in Vidalia, Georgia has an unusually low amount of sulfur — that's why this variety is more sweet than sharp. It doesn't have the pungent, intensely acidic flavor of other onions.

Why use shallots instead of onions? ›

Shallots have a sweet and mild (although pronounced) flavor, with a hint of garlic, and lack the bite you get with yellow or white onions. Shallots work especially well in dishes where they're eaten raw, like dressings and salads, and can seamlessly blend into delicate quiches and custards.

Which onions are best for casseroles? ›

...or as a flavor base for sauces, soups, and stews. Yellow onions are the most common variety you should cook with. They have thin layers of white flesh and a tough, brownish-yellow skin. They're very astringent — astringency is that sharp, almost spicy flavor that onions are known for — but also have a lot of sugar.

What type of onion do Italians use? ›

Italian onions, or cipollini onions, are flat and are red, white, or yellow in colour and often have a mild, sweet flavour. They are used raw for salads and sandwiches, and their outer rings make an attractive garnish.

What are the 3 main parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

What are food binders used for? ›

Primarily, a blender is used to puree or crush ice. Use a blender if your final product is something you can drink, such as a mocktail or protein shake, drizzle or dip. In addition to pureeing, a food processor can slice, grate, shred, dice and more.

What does binder mean in cook? ›

Bind/Binder

To add a thickening ingredient such as an egg, flour or cornstarch, to hold ingredients together in soups, sauces or gravy.

What does bind mean in baking? ›

Binding may be related to its ability to coagulate and form gels, but in essence, it holds other ingredients together. This binding action mainly benefits product structure, texture and mouthfeel.

References

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