Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe (2024)

By: Author Julia Jordan

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In this post you’ll learn to make an Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe.


Have you ever had onion pie?It is so delicious y’all! This old school recipe has been around a while…we’re talking centuries. There are a few variations but this is the simple classic recipe.

An onion pie is basically an onion quiche. It’s creamy in texture and savory. If it is your first time having a bite…you may be surprised at how amazing something consisting of a lot of onion is so darn good.

It doesn’t hurt if you use the famous sweet onion of the South, Vidalia onions, which hail from Georgia. Vidalia onions work perfectly in this recipe and that is why I wait til Vidalia season each year to bake up this cheese and onion pie.

Some of the colonial versions of an onion pie also had apples and potatoes in the pie mix. Today folks may choose to use different types of cheese or what have you.

Lastly, you have the option of using a pie crust or making a crust from saltine cracker crumbs. Both are delicious so you can’t go wrong either way.

Old School Cheese and Onion Pie

Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe (1)

This recipe has been handed down to me from generations ago. It is so old that one of the ingredients is scalded milk. They used to scald milk for recipes before the days of pasteurization and such to kill any possible bacteria. We don’t have to bother with that step these days.

I do choose to use raw milk for my family but the way the dairy operation works in a sanitary milking facility make that quite safe today. Still, there is no need to scald the milk that I use.

Caramelized Onion Pie

The recipe for an onion pie is really easy but there is one step that takes a little bit of time….sauteing the onions. You don’t have to stand over them or anything the entire time but they do require stirring every few minutes.

The onions will cook for about 40 minutes until they turn golden, or you can choose to cook them longer until they are richer in a caramel color.

What do you need to make an onion pie?Vidalia onions, a pie shell, butter, Swiss cheese, flour, eggs, milk and a few seasonings.

It’s completely optional but since I have fresh chives in my herb garden, they’re a perfect garnish for this recipe. I also like a few dashes of hot sauce on my slice of onion pie. MMM mmm mmm.

I’ll share everything in the printable recipe card further down along with all of the steps, including the optional cracker crumb crust.

Vidalia and Swiss Cheese Pie

Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe (3)

More recipes that you might enjoy: Breakfast BLT , Ham Egg and Cheese Cups, or Broccoli and Cheese Quiche.

If you happen to have leftovers of this onion pie, they can be covered and stored in the refrigerator up to three days. A cut slice warms nicely in the microwave. The taste and quality aren’t compromised in the least.

Let’s make this Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe!

Yield: 1 Pie

Delicious old fashioned onion and cheese pie, made with sweet Vidalia onions is perfect for brunch or supper.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time1 hour 20 minutes

Total Time1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 Store Bought Pie Crust (optional cracker crumb crust in note section)

Filling

  • 3 c Vidalia Onion, diced (1.5 to 2 onions)
  • 1/4 c Butter
  • 8 oz Swiss Cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 tbs Flour
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 3 Eggs, beaten well
  • 1 c Whole Milk

Instructions

  1. Saute the onions in butter over medium low heat, stirring constantly until golden brown. This will take 40 to 45 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F
  3. Use a slotted spoon to drain and remove the cooked onions and transfer them into the pie shell.
  4. Line a baking sheet and place the pie pan on the baking sheet to help with transferring in and out of the oven.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine the cheese, flour and seasonings together.
  6. In a measuring cup, whisk the eggs together with the milk then pour it into the cheese mixture and stir to combine.
  7. Pour the egg and cheese mixture into the pie shell. Gently move the onions around so the custard filling mixture is well combined.
  8. Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown and set.

Notes

Optional Cracker Crumb Crust

Mix 1 cup of Saltine cracker crumbs (or cracker crumbs of choice) with 1/4 c butter and press into a 9" pie pan.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 Slice

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 304Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 501mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 11g

Classic Onion Pie

Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe (5)

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You can also see this recipe shared at Food Friday, Weekend Potluck and Meal Plan Monday.

Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe

Author of Julia's Simply Southern

Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe (6)

About Julia

Hey Y'all! I'm Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia's Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Old Fashioned Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep Vidalia onions from rotting? ›

The best way to preserve Vidalia onions and other sweet onions: Store them in a place that's cool and dry and keep the onions separated. You can store your Vidalias in the refrigerator, wrapping each in a paper towel. Treated that way, they can last up to a year.

What onion is closest to Vidalia? ›

Vidalia Onion Substitute

If you can't get your hands on Vidalia onions, you can use any type of sweet onion instead. For instance, Walla Walla and Maui are both perfectly acceptable alternatives.

How long will Vidalia onions keep? ›

The key to preserving Vidalias is to keep them cool, dry, and separated. When stored properly, our Vidalias can last as long as 1-2 months on the counter, or 3-6 months when placed into refrigerator veggie bin (mentioned below).

Which onion is sweeter Vidalia or sweet onion? ›

The Vidalia may be milder or sweeter, but to Dean, flavor makes the winner. Ultimately, it may be availability that dictates which onion you buy. And if the onions are used in cooking, it won't make much difference, because the "bite" is cooked out of them.

Do onions last longer in the fridge or on the counter? ›

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

For this reason, he says it's best to store onions in a cool, dry place like a cellar, pantry, or even a garage. While they can be stored whole in the fridge, Yee notes that this causes the onion to convert starch to sugar, and can result in soft or soggy onions.

Why do my onions rot so fast? ›

Usually, onions grown slowly in cool temperate climates will store for longer periods than onions grown under irrigation in hot climates. Extended periods of wet conditions in the 4 to 6 weeks before harvest will promote the storage rots caused by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp., especially in hot areas.

Can you eat Vidalia onions raw? ›

The Vidalia Onion is certainly unique in all the world. The sugar content of this onion is comparable to that of an apple, or a bottle of cola. It's a mild, succulent onion that is delicious raw on hamburgers, sliced alongside your steak, in a garden salad, or just eaten raw.

Which state produces the most Vidalia onions? ›

Arguably Georgia's most famous agricultural product, the sweet Vidalia Onion has its roots deep in Tattnall County's soil with more than half the annual crop coming from our county and the nation's largest grower, packer and shipper of sweet onions headquartered in Glennville.

What is the difference between a sweet onion and a Vidalia Onion? ›

The most significant difference between Vidalia and Texas sweet onions is their place of origin. Vidalia onions are grown exclusively in a specific region of Georgia, known as the Vidalia Onion Belt. Texas sweet onions, on the other hand, are grown in several regions throughout Texas.

Can you freeze whole Vidalia onions? ›

To freeze whole sweet onions, peel, wash and core them, then place them in a freezer bag. Since freezing changes the onion's texture, frozen Vidalias should only be used for cooking.

Can you freeze chopped Vidalia onions? ›

Ways to preserve Vidalias for cooking:

Store at room temperature in airtight containers. Chopped and frozen. Chop onions evenly, spread on a cookie sheet, then place in freezer.

Is it too late to plant Vidalia onions? ›

Vidalia onions are grown over a long season. Growers begin growing transplants in the fall and aren't finished with the crop until late spring the following year. If you didn't start your seed last fall, don't worry.

Are Walla Walla onions the same as Vidalia onions? ›

With both onions a lot of the flavor can be attributed to the sulphur found in the soil they are grown in. As for the differences, Walla Walla onions are white and round, where the Vidalia is a yellow flat-ish onion.

What is the sweetest onion in the world? ›

Vidalia Onions have developed an international reputation as the “world's sweetest onion.” Their mild flavor is due to the unique combination of soils and climate found in the 20 county production area. Through Federal regulation, the Vidalia Onion growers developed Federal Marketing Order No.

Why are Walla Walla onions so sweet? ›

Walla Wallas are sweet with less bite. The mildness of the Walla Walla sweet onion is not due to sugar, but to low sulfur content, which is half that of an ordinary onion. Less sulfur means less “bite” and no tears.

What is the best way to store onions so they last longer? ›

Ideally, onions should be stored in a cool, dark place between 45 and 55 degrees F. Whole, raw onions will last two to three months when stored in a cool, dry place. Places that provide these conditions may include your cellar, pantry, unheated basem*nt, or garage.

Where is the best place to store sweet onions? ›

Sweet Onion Storage & Prep Tips
  • The best way to preserve sweet onions and to prevent bruising is to store them in a cool, dry place and separated from each other.
  • Always handle sweet onions carefully. ...
  • Wrap sweet onions separately in paper towels or newspaper and store in the refrigerator.

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