Southern Sweet Onion Casserole Recipe
A comforting Southern Sweet Onion Casserole featuring tender boiled sweet onions mixed with cheddar cheese, Ritz crackers, and a creamy egg custard, topped with a crunchy cracker crumb topping and baked to golden perfection.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 53 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 8 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 sweet onions, sliced
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 5 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Cracker and Butter Components
- 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed (for the casserole mixture)
- 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed into crumbs (for the topping)
- 2 tbsp butter (to stir into hot onions)
- 3 tbsp melted butter (to mix with cracker crumbs for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Boil Onions: Place sliced sweet onions in a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the onions are softened, about 8 minutes.
- Drain and Butter Onions: Drain the onions well and immediately stir in 2 tablespoons of butter while they are still hot to add richness.
- Beat Eggs: In a large mixing bowl, beat the 3 large eggs thoroughly to prepare the custard base.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the buttered onions, evaporated milk, shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the eggs. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish well, then spread the onion and egg mixture evenly into it.
- Make Topping: In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup Ritz cracker crumbs with 3 tablespoons melted butter. Stir until the crumbs are evenly coated.
- Top Casserole: Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumb topping evenly over the casserole mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the casserole is set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving to let the casserole set further and make serving easier.
Notes
- Use fresh sweet onions for the best balance of sweetness and texture.
- Ritz crackers add a buttery, crunchy element both inside and on top of the casserole.
- Allowing the casserole to rest after baking helps it firm up for neat slicing.
- For a sharper flavor, use a sharp cheddar cheese instead of mild.
- This casserole pairs well with Southern-style mains like fried chicken or ham.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: Southern casserole, sweet onion casserole, onion side dish, cheesy casserole, comfort food
