15 Sweet Vidalia Onion Recipes To Savor This Season

Recipes for savoring the flavor all season long.

Cucumber and Vidalia Onion Salad
Credit:

Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

When April comes around, we know to start searching the grocery store for fresh Vidalia onions. But the season's end in September always rolls around too soon. If you're hunting for ways to enjoy these mild, sweet Georgia gems while they're fresh, look no further:

From crispy onion rings to our Vidalia Onion Soup, these recipes savor the flavor of freshly harvested Vidalias from right here in the South. Once you've sourced the real thing (not all sweet onions are Vidalias), get to chopping—these Vidalia onion recipes add just the right amount of sweetness and onion flavor to sauces and savory dinner entrées.

01 of 15

Classic Cole Slaw

coleslaw in a bowl with a wooden spoon
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

There's nothing fancy about this creamy, slightly sweet coleslaw—just Vidalia onions, specifically—and that's what makes it so good.

02 of 15

Vidalia Onion Dressing

Southern Living Vidalia Onion Dressing
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Move over, blue cheese dressing: This salad creamy Vidalia Onion Dressing is light, creamy, and almost airy in texture. It is so well emulsified and smooth that it beautifully coats greens and vegetables in a salad.

03 of 15

Potato Kugel

potato kugel in a rectangle serving dish - Southern Living
Credit:

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

With schmaltz and caramelized Vidalia onions providing a savory depth, the ultimate combination of russet and Yukon Gold potatoes, and fresh bay leaves for an earthy flavor and eye-catching presentation, this kugel will outshine any recipe you've tried before. 

04 of 15

Vidalia Onion Soup

Vidalia Onion Soup
Credit: Southern Living

The natural sugars in Vidalia onions make them perfect for French onion soup. Don’t skimp on caramelizing the onions. It’s an important step to create a rich and nutty flavor for the star in this soup.

05 of 15

Tennessee Onions

Southern Living Tennessee Onions in the dish ready to serve
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This creamy, cheese casserole is so much more than the sum of its parts. Try it once, and we know you'll agree—and make sure you use Vidalia onions.

06 of 15

Garlic Bread Pizzas

Southern Living Garlic Bread Pizzas baked and ready to serve
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Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Using frozen garlic bread—straight from freezer to tray, no need to thaw or prebake—not only helps keep things quick and simple, but also provides the perfect blank canvas for toppings, like sweet Vidalia onions and plenty of garlic butter in every bite.

07 of 15

Vidalia Onion Soufflé

Vidalia Onion Soufflé
Credit: Abigail Wilt

Don’t be intimidated by this soufflé. This recipe won't fall—it's designed for success. With a texture similar to strata, you can top this soufflé with a little ham or bacon for your next Sunday brunch.

08 of 15

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Southern Living Easy Chicken Pot Pie scooping the pie out of the dish to serve
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Sweet Vidalia onion is extra gentle and not quite as strong as some onions, imparting a naturally sweet onion flavor to the pie.

09 of 15

Liver And Onions

Southern Living Liver and Onions on a plate to serve with hot sauce
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Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

The sweet onions really make this dish sing with flavor, and the butter with the browned bits of flour add depth of flavor through and through.

10 of 15

French Onion Soup Casserole

French Onion Soup Casserole
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This recipe takes what you love about French onion soup and puts it into a cozy casserole. Naturally sweet Vidalia onions are ideal for caramelizing in this dish. Cook the onions the day before and store them in the refrigerator to save time on a busy weeknight.

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Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup

Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup
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Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This simple soup leans on only a few ingredients to deliver maximum flavor, making Vidalia onions essential. No tending onions on the stove for this recipe. The slow cooker does all the work of slowly caramelizing the onions throughout the day.

12 of 15

Strawberry-Spinach Salad

Southern Living Strawberry Spinach Salad on a platter to serve
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Let the season's flavors shine in this bright salad that pairs fresh strawberries, spinach, and Vidalia onions with a tasty homemade dressing. Blue cheese and candied pecans round out a medley of flavors.

13 of 15

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Southern Living Million Dollar Spaghetti in the dish to serve
Credit:

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Most pasta dishes are rich and comforting, but only one is so good it can be called Million Dollar Spaghetti. This casserole looks like your standard pasta bake, but onions and garlic enrich the sauce, and it eats more like lasagna—and it’s one hour (or more) quicker to make.

14 of 15

Cucumber-and-Vidalia Onion Salad

Cucumber-and-Vidalia Onion Salad
Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

There’s nothing complicated about this fresh seasonal salad. Raw Vidalia onions get time to show off their mild, sweet flavor without overpowering. A simple vinaigrette dresses just a few ingredients.

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Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

Spinach and Vidalia Dip
Credit: Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Your favorite creamy spinach dip gets a tasty upgrade with Vidalia onions. This spinach-onion dip mashup is a no-brainer for your veggie tray. Or serve with sturdy chips. This keeps up to two days in the refrigerator, but it likely won’t last that long.

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