Smoky Tennessee Onions
On June 04, 2025
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With sweet Vidalia onions, a 4-cheese topping, and a Spicy Sweet Rub, these Tennessee Onions smoke up crispy and delicious in just 2 hours.
Smoky Tennessee Onions
Tennessee Onions aren’t fancy or complicated, but once you try them, you’ll wonder how you ever had BBQ without them. We’re talking sweet Vidalia onions layered with four types of cheese, a sprinkle of seasoning, and a kiss of smoke. What comes out of your smoker after just a couple hours is comfort-food magic. Tender, caramelized onions with a golden, crispy cheese crust that’s comforting, rich, and totally addictive.
Whether you’re serving them as a side dish at your next BBQ or spooning them over grilled meats for a unique topping, these Smoky Tennessee Onions are about to become your new backyard favorite.
Ingredients for Tennessee Onions
This recipe couldn’t be easier. It uses just 7 ingredients, and four of them are cheese! Here’s what you’ll want on hand so you can make these onions:
- 4 sweet Vidalia onions (or Maui onions)
- ½ cup butter (cut into pads)
- 1 cup medium cheddar cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup smoked gouda cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 2 tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Spicy Sweet Rub
I love a little kick with my Tennessee Onions, so I use my Spicy Sweet Rub (grab a bottle here, or make your own following this recipe). It adds just the right balance of heat and sweetness to make these onions irresistible. Not into spice? Swap it for my classic Sweet Rub or your favorite blend. This recipe is super flexible.
How to Make Tennessee Onions on the Smoker
Once you’ve got your ingredients ready, you’re just a few simple steps away from cheesy, smoky bliss. Here’s how to make Tennessee Onions like a total pro:
- Fire up your smoker. Preheat your favorite smoker to 275 degrees F. Go with a mild wood like maple, apple, or cherry. Onions soak up smoke like a sponge, so you want something subtle that lets their natural sweetness shine.
- Prep the onions. Slice the onions into ¼-inch thick rings with a sharp knife and keep the rings intact as best you can. This helps each slice hold together during cooking. Arrange the slices evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish (foil pans also work great for easy cleanup).
- Add butter and cheese. Distribute the butter pads evenly over the onions. Then pile on the cheese. The cheddar brings sharpness, the gouda adds smoky depth, the mozzarella gives that gooey melt, and the Parmesan crisps up to golden perfection. Sprinkle the Spicy Sweet Rub evenly across the top for that signature sweet-heat kick.
- Smoke the onions. Place the dish directly on the smoker grates and close the lid. Smoke for 2–3 hours, until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly, with crispy edges, and the onions are tender and translucent.
- Serve hot and enjoy. Scoop and serve directly from the dish as a BBQ side, or even as an upgraded condiment.
How Long to Cook Tennessee Onions
These onions don’t need to hit a specific internal temp, so it’s all about texture and flavor. I like to smoke mine for 2 hours at 275 degrees F so they stay slightly firm with crisped cheese on top. For extra-soft onions, go a full 3 hours. The longer cook time melts them into rich, smoky perfection.
Can I Make These in the Oven?
Absolutely! Follow the same temp and time guidelines (275 degrees F for 2–3 hours) right in your oven. You’ll miss that smoky flavor from the grill, but you’ll still end up with a cheesy, melty, Southern-style side dish that your guests will devour.
Serving Suggestions
Tennessee Onions are incredibly versatile. Traditionally, they’re served casserole-style as a side with BBQ meats like these classics:
Here’s where it gets fun. They also work great as a topping. Think of them like gourmet onion rings, but spicy-sweet and smothered in cheese. Try them on:
Storing Leftovers
These Tennessee Onions are really best enjoyed hot and fresh, when the cheese is perfectly melted and crispy around the edges, and the onions are tender and smoky. That contrast is what makes them so special, and it’s tough to recapture once they’ve cooled down.
If you do find yourself with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for an additional 3–4 days. But let’s be real, grabbing seconds is much yummier than grabbing a container.
More Southern Side Dish Recipes
Once you’ve tasted these Tennessee Onions, you’ll want to explore even more smoky Southern sides. You can find dozens of options in the Hey Grill Hey App, but here are a few of my favorite crowd-pleasers:
Simple Tennessee Onions Recipe
These Smoky Tennessee Onions are about to become a staple at your BBQ table, guaranteed. When you make them, don’t forget to come back and leave a 5-star review. I love hearing how they turn out for you. Snap a photo of that golden, bubbly cheese crust and tag @heygrillhey on Instagram or Facebook so I can cheer you on in your journey to become a Backyard BBQ Hero.
Sweet Rub
$12.99
Everything BBQ Sauce
$8.99
Smoky Tennessee Onions
Ingredients
- 4 sweet vidalia onions sliced ¼-inch thick
- ½ cup butter cut into pats
- 1 cup medium cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup smoked gouda cheese shredded
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Spicy Sweet Rub recipe link in notes section
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker. Set your favorite smoker to 275 degrees F with a mild wood, like cherry or apple.
- Prepare the onions. Slice the onions into ¼-inch thick rings using a sharp knife, then arrange them evenly in a 9×13 baking dish.4 sweet vidalia onions
- Add the toppings. Place the butter pads on the onions, then sprinkle on the shredded cheeses. Next, sprinkle the Spicy Sweet Rub evenly onto the dish.½ cup butter, 1 cup medium cheddar cheese, ½ cup smoked gouda cheese, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Spicy Sweet Rub
- Smoke the onions. Place the prepared baking dish or pan on the smoker grates, close the lid, and allow to cook for 2-3 hours. If you prefer softer onions, go closer to 3 hours. Once the cheese is crispy and the onions are slightly translucent, remove them from the smoker.
- Serve and enjoy. Serve your Tennessee Onions as a casserole, or as a side or topping for BBQ. Enjoy!
Notes
- Purchase in the Hey Grill Hey Store here
- Make your own following the recipe here
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
