Irresistible Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Onions Recipe for Dinner

Cheddar and bacon stuffed onions elevate ordinary vegetables into a mouthwatering culinary experience.

These hearty handheld treats pack incredible depth and complexity within their delicate layers.

Rich, smoky ingredients meld together, creating a harmonious symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Soft, caramelized vegetable vessels become perfect containers for decadent fillings that promise serious satisfaction.

Each carefully prepared bite delivers a perfect balance of textures and robust taste sensations.

Comfort food meets gourmet innovation in this surprisingly simple yet elegant dish.

Why Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Onions Are a Bold Bite

• Savor Flavor-Packed Stuffing: Rich bacon and creamy cheddar cheese blend perfectly inside tender roasted onions, creating a mouthwatering combination that bursts with savory goodness in every bite.
• Master Simple Gourmet Technique: This recipe transforms ordinary onions into an elegant dish using straightforward steps, allowing home cooks to create restaurant-quality appetizers without advanced culinary skills.
• Enjoy Nutritious Comfort Food: Packed with protein, low in sugar, and featuring vegetables like spinach, these stuffed onions deliver a balanced meal that satisfies hunger while providing essential nutrients.
• Quick Weeknight Dinner Solution: Requiring just 90 minutes total cooking time, this recipe offers a delicious and impressive side dish or light main course that can easily fit into busy family schedules.

What Goes Into These Savory, Cheesy Onion Bombs

• Yellow Onions: Sweet, mild flavor perfect for stuffing and holding shape well.
• Olive Oil: Helps roast onions evenly and adds subtle richness.
• Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings for enhancing overall flavor profile.

• Bacon: Provides smoky, salty taste and crispy texture to the stuffing.
• Cheddar Cheese: Melts beautifully and adds creamy, sharp flavor to the filling.
• Spinach: Introduces green color, nutrients, and light vegetable freshness.
• Chopped Onion Flesh: Adds depth and uses the removed onion parts efficiently.

• Salt: Balances and highlights other ingredients flavors.
• Black Pepper: Adds mild heat and aromatic touch to the stuffing.

How to Stuff and Bake Onions for That Melt-in-Your-Mouth Finish

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Onions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Carefully peel the onions while keeping the root end intact. Trim the bottoms slightly so the onions can stand upright on a baking sheet.

Step 2: Season and Wrap Onions

• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Wrap each seasoned onion completely in aluminum foil.

Step 3: Roast the Onions

Place the foil-wrapped onions upright on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool until you can handle them comfortably.

Step 4: Cook the Bacon

Lower the oven temperature to 350°F. Line a small baking pan with foil and arrange bacon strips. Bake until crispy, about 15 minutes. Drain excess fat using paper towels and chop the bacon into small pieces.

Step 5: Raise Oven Temperature

Increase the oven temperature back to 400°F.

Step 6: Create the Filling

• Chopped bacon
• Shredded cheese
• Chopped spinach
• Salt
• Pepper

Step 7: Hollow Out the Onions

Using a paring knife, carefully hollow out the center of each onion. Start from the middle and work outward, removing inner layers as needed.

Step 8: Enhance the Filling

Finely chop of the removed onion flesh and add to the filling mixture.

Step 9: Stuff the Onions

Pack the filling mixture tightly into each hollowed-out onion.

Step 10: Final Baking

Bake the stuffed onions uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese becomes bubbly and turns golden brown.

Tips to Keep the Onions Tender and the Filling Creamy

• Selecting Onions: Choose large, firm onions with thick walls for easier stuffing and better presentation.
• Handling Onion Layers: Work gently when removing inner layers to maintain the onion's structural integrity and prevent tearing.
• Maximizing Flavor: Add a splash of fresh herbs like thyme or chives to the filling for an extra depth of taste.
• Achieving Perfect Texture: Pat bacon dry thoroughly to ensure maximum crispiness and prevent soggy filling.
• Serving Suggestions: Let stuffed onions rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow cheese to set and flavors to meld together.

Reheating Tips to Bring Stuffed Onions Back to Life

• Refrigeration: Store stuffed onions in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Keep the container flat to prevent filling from spilling.
• Reheating Oven Method: Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove onions from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Place stuffed onions on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent cheese from burning. Warm for 12-15 minutes until heated completely through. Check internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety.
• Microwave Option: While not recommended for best texture, you can reheat individual stuffed onions on a microwave-safe plate.

Delicious Sides That Go With These Flavor-Packed Onions

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio cuts through the rich, creamy bacon and cheese filling, offering a refreshing contrast that cleanses the palate.
• Match with Hearty Red Salad: Create a light arugula salad with vinaigrette to balance the heavy, savory onion dish, adding a zesty freshness that complements the stuffed onions.
• Serve with Crusty Sourdough Bread: Thick slices of rustic bread help soak up the melted cheese and provide a delightful textural element to the meal, making each bite more satisfying.
• Complement with Craft Beer: A hoppy IPA or smooth amber ale enhances the smoky bacon flavor and provides a robust drinking experience that stands up to the dish's richness.

Flavor Combos to Try in Your Next Stuffed Onion Bake

• Smoky Blue Cheese Delight: Replace cheddar with blue cheese, add crispy pancetta instead of bacon, and incorporate chopped fresh thyme for an intense, rustic flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Herb Garden: Swap bacon for sun-dried tomatoes, use feta cheese, mix in chopped fresh basil and oregano, creating a Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian version with bright, zesty notes.
• Spicy Southwest Fusion: Substitute bacon with chorizo, use pepper jack cheese, add roasted green chiles and cilantro, delivering a bold and fiery southwestern-style stuffed onion experience.
• Mushroom Alpine Blend: Replace bacon with sautéed wild mushrooms, incorporate gruyère cheese, sprinkle fresh chives, and add a splash of white wine for an elegant, earthy variation that celebrates woodland flavors.

Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Onions Recipe

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4.7 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 3 1x

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Description

Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Onions deliver a savory symphony of hearty flavors from classic American comfort cuisine. Melted cheese and crispy bacon nestled inside caramelized onion shells create an irresistible side dish that promises to delight your dinner table.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 medium Vidalia onions (white or yellow, about 9–10 ounces/255–285 grams each)
• 3 slices bacon
• 1 ¼ cups (300 milliliters) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Vegetable Ingredients:

• 1 packed cup (240 milliliters) fresh baby spinach (stacked and thinly cut)
• 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 milliliters) chopped roasted onion

Seasoning and Cooking Ingredients:

• olive oil
• salt
• pepper

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Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F (204°C). Select medium-sized whole onions with sturdy outer layers, ensuring roots remain attached for structural integrity.
2. Gently massage each onion with extra virgin olive oil, then season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Completely encase each onion in aluminum foil.
3. Position onions vertically on a rimmed baking sheet, then roast for approximately 40 minutes until softened. Allow onions to cool until comfortable to handle.
4. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Arrange bacon strips on a foil-lined baking sheet, cooking until crisp and golden, roughly 15 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to absorb excess grease, then finely dice.
5. Increase oven temperature back to 400°F (204°C).
6. In a mixing bowl, combine crispy bacon pieces, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh spinach leaves, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
7. Using a sharp paring knife, carefully excavate the onion’s interior, maintaining outer shell structure. Gently remove inner layers to create a hollowed vessel.
8. Finely chop of the extracted onion flesh and fold into the cheese and bacon mixture.
9. Densely pack the filling into each onion cavity, ensuring a compact and even distribution.
10. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbling surface.

Notes

• Carefully select sweet onions with firm, symmetrical shapes for easier hollowing and stuffing.
• Crisp bacon beforehand to enhance its texture and concentrate flavor before mixing into the filling.
• Drain excess bacon fat completely to prevent greasy filling and maintain clean, sharp taste profiles.
• Chop removed onion flesh finely to integrate seamlessly into cheese and bacon mixture, reducing waste.
• Consider using sharp cheddar for more intense flavor that complements the smoky bacon notes.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 3
• Calories: 375 kcal
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 550mg
• Fat: 27g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 24g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 14g
• Cholesterol: 30mg