Being perpetually broke and terminally thrifty aren’t exactly qualities to brag about, but they have been an asset to my culinary creativity. When onions go on sale for $1 per 3 pounds, you’d better believe I’m already brainstorming ways to make them the foundation of my diet for the next few weeks. That is to say, sharpen your knifes and get ready to shed some tears; onions are what’s for dinner.

Onions In The Spotlight

Onions don’t get enough respect as vegetables, every bit as worthy of your attention as social media darlings like Brussels sprouts or kale. They’re the backbone of almost every cuisine and the recipes found therein. From France to China, arbiters of good taste worldwide wouldn’t willingly omit the onions for anything. Just try sauteing up some onions in olive oil to see what I mean; anyone walking through the kitchen will immediately ask what smells so good.

What’s An Onion Casserole?

While I’ve often dispatched such a bounty by simply caramelizing then and freezing them for later, I wanted to stretch my meals in a different way during a particularly lean winter. Southern tradition has something called “Tennessee Onions,” bearing a strong resemblance to this similar casserole, but with a dairy-heavy slant. I’m taking the easy route by employing just plants, thank you very much.

Serving Up Onions With Style

In fact, it’s so easy, you don’t need to dirty a single bowl, or even a spatula. Put your onions in the baking dish, top with seasonings, and pop it in the oven. It pretty much cooks itself. Now, I’m not crazy, I know onions alone are not an entree, but they can make a strong side dish, just like you might serve steamed broccoli or roasted green beans alongside your favorite protein. What’s more, these silky, buttery flavor bombs are prime topping options for crusty bread, slow-simmered soups, layered dips, and so much more. Incorporate them into leftover rice or pasta for an instant flavor upgrade, or simply start your favorite recipes by skipping the first step of sauteing them from scratch.

In honor of the nearby Austin neighborhood, Onion Creek, I’m naming my take with local flare. They may not start the next TikTok craze, but their appeal is timeless and undeniable. Meltingly tender, sweet onions will never go out of style.

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Yield: Makes 6 - 8 Servings

Onion Creek Casserole

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Meltingly tender, sweet onions slowly baked with savory spices make a brilliant standalone side dish, topping, or addition to your favorite meals.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 Pounds Sweet Onions, Halved and Sliced
• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
• 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
   
   
2. In a 2-quart casserole dish, arrange the sliced onions in an even layer. Drizzle evenly with olive oil then sprinkle with nutritional yeast, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
   
   
3. Bake in the center of your oven for 65 - 70 minutes. The onions should be very tender and lightly browned around the edges.
   
   
4. Stir well and serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

• 
  REDMOND Real Sea Salt - Natural Unrefined Organic Gluten Free Fine, 26 ounce pouch (1 Pack)
• 
  La Tourangelle, 100% Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 25.4 fl oz (750 ml)
• 
  KAL, Nutritional, Yeast Flakes, Unsweetened, 12 oz (340 g)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 108Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 148mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 2gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.