Smoke Chops Sweet Onion Casserole
Some call them Tennessee Onions, others say Sweet Onions. Here we use Vidalia Onions from South Georgia for the best sweet flavor. Cooking them on the smoker adds a great smoky flavor that makes this a perfect side for your barbecue, steaks, or brisket. Break out of your regular routine with this unique crowd-pleaser.
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 3 lb sweet onions (about 4 large onions)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 2 tsp brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaf (stripped)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 oz freshly grated Tillamook mild cheddar cheese
- 2 oz freshly grated Gruyere cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or Parmesan)
- 3 tbsp butter (cut into small piece)
- 1 lb Cooked Breakfast Sausage (optional)
- 1 Handful of Ritz crackers crushed (optional)
Get Recipe IngredientsInstructions
- Preheat smoker to 350°F (175°C).
- Peel and slice the 3 pounds of sweet onions thinly (about 1/8 inch thick) using a mandolin.
- Place the sliced onions into a large bowl and toss them to break up any rings.
- In a small bowl, combine the spice blend: salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, granulated garlic, dry mustard, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and fresh thyme leaves. Mix well.
- Drizzle olive oil over onions and hand mix them to coat. For more protein, mix in your breakfast sausage here.
- Pour half of the spice blend over the onions and toss thoroughly with your hands to coat evenly.
- Add the remaining half of the spice blend and toss again until all onions are coated.
- Lightly grease a 13×9 inch baking dish with butter or oil.
- Layer half of the seasoned onions in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle 2 ounces of the mild cheddar cheese and 2 ounces of Gruyere cheese over the first layer of onions.
- Add the second layer of onions on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle the remaining 2 ounces of mild cheddar cheese and Gruyere cheese over the second layer of onions.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup of Pecorino Romano (or Gruyere/Parmesan) over the cheese layers.
- Dot the top evenly with 3 tablespoons of butter cut into small pieces.
- Tightly cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Cook on your smoker for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers over the casserole (optional if you like a buttery and crunchy topping). Return the casserole to the smoker for another 30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
Recipe Card powered by
