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This Grilled Blooming Onion is a lighter spin on a beloved Steakhouse starter. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or just want to spice up your weekday grilling routine, this grilled blooming onion is a great alternative – or a surprising side dish – to the usual suspects of burgers and hot dogs!
It’s time to rethink the classic steakhouse blooming onion with a healthier, grilled version that doesn’t skimp on flavor. This delicious starter makes a great addition to any barbecue menu, especially when looking for something more unique than the standard fare.
Grilled Blooming Onion Recipe
There’s something special about taking a well-loved classic and giving it a new, healthier twist. That’s precisely what we’re doing with the iconic steakhouse blooming onion. Instead of the traditional deep-fried approach, this recipe calls for grilling the onion, which not only cuts down on the calories but also brings out a sweet and caramelized flavor in the onion. And don’t worry, we’re not compromising on the indulgence. Olive oil, a light sprinkling of salt and pepper, and a dose of shredded cheese ensure every bite is packed with savory goodness.
Ingredients
- Onion
- Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese & Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Steak Sauce
How To Grill Blooming Onion
So how do we feel about this blooming onion so far? I happen to LOVE it! And preparing it is a breeze.
- Take a large white onion, carve it into petals while keeping it intact, douse it with olive oil, seasonings, and cheese, then wrap it in aluminum foil before letting it roast on the grill.
- The key to achieving a perfect grilled blooming onion is patience. Grill it for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the onion becomes tender. Once done, remove it from the grill, carefully unwrap the foil, and serve it hot.
Sounds simple, right? It is, and the result is a deliciously soft and cheesy onion. Best of all, you can customize this grilled appetizer with your choice of steak sauce, hot sauce, soy sauce, or any other flavoring you fancy.
Tips & Swaps
- Choose the Right Onion: Not all onions are created equal when it comes to grilling. Vidalia onions, known for their sweet, mild flavor and larger size, are ideal for this recipe. They hold their shape well during grilling and their sweetness is enhanced when caramelized.
- Spice It Up: The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. Whether you prefer the classic tanginess of steak sauce, the heat from a good hot sauce, or the savory umami from soy sauce, you can adapt this recipe to suit your taste buds. Even a combination of these sauces can work wonders.
- Secure the Onion: When cutting the onion into wedges, be careful not to cut all the way through. Keeping the bottom intact will help hold your blooming onion together while it grills.
- Cheese Choice: The recipe calls for mozzarella and mild cheddar, which offer a lovely melting characteristic and mild flavor. However, feel free to experiment with other types of cheese as per your preference.
- Grill Time: Remember, patience is key. Ensure the onion is tender and fully cooked before removing it from the grill. Undercooking will result in a crunchy onion, while overcooking may cause it to become overly soft and lose its shape.
- Serving: Serve the Grilled Blooming Onion immediately for the best taste. It’s excellent as a standalone appetizer, or it can complement your main grill dishes.
- Safety: Be careful when opening the aluminum foil after grilling as the steam inside can be hot.
You’ve got a crowd-pleasing grilled appetizer that brings steakhouse flavors to your backyard. This revamped blooming onion is a must-try for the grill season, perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself to a restaurant-worthy appetizer at home.
What To Serve With Grilled Blooming Onion
- A drink! Like this Bambus Cocktail Drink or my Wine Slushies. Or how about a Mojito?
- My Honey Garlic Baked Pork Chops are perfect for this onion. I also suggest this grilled Pork Tenderloin.
More BBQ Friendly Appetizers
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Grilled Blooming Onion
Ingredients
- 1 large vidalia onion
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- salt and fresh ground black pepper,, to taste
- 2 to 3 tablespoons shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
- 2 to 3 tablespoons shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons steak sauce,, or hot sauce, soy sauce, etc…
Instructions
- Heat the grill.
- Cut onion into 6 to 8 wedges, stopping 1/2-inch short of the bottom. Do not cut through to the bottom – leave the bottom intact.
- Cut out a piece of aluminum foil.
- Place onion on foil and slowly open up the onion a little bit, pulling the wedges apart.
- Drizzle onion with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Add the cheeses to the open center of the onion. Drizzle the entire onion with your choice of steak sauce or hot sauce, soy sauce, etc…
- Wrap the foil around the onion tightly and grill for 30 to 35 minutes or until the onion is tender.
- Remove from grill and slowly open up the foil.
- Serve immediately.
Equipment
Notes
- Choose the Right Onion: Vidalia onions, known for their sweet, mild flavor and larger size, are ideal for this recipe.
- Spice It Up: Whether you prefer steak sauce, a good hot sauce, or soy sauce, you can adapt this recipe to suit your taste.
- Secure the Onion: When cutting the onion into wedges, be careful not to cut all the way through. Keeping the bottom intact will help hold your blooming onion together while it grills.
- Cheese Choice: The recipe calls for mozzarella and mild cheddar, however, feel free to use other types of cheese as you prefer.
- Grill Time: Ensure the onion is tender and fully cooked before removing it from the grill.
- Serving: Serve the Grilled Blooming Onion hot for the best taste. It’s excellent as a standalone appetizer, or it can complement your main grill dishes.
- Safety: Be careful when opening the aluminum foil after grilling as the steam inside can be hot.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I tried this for the very first time, and my husband and I were totally blown away with the taste! They were very flavorful and very yummy.I am glad that I made 1 for my husband (steak sauce and bacon flavored hot sauce) mine was soy sauce and hot sauce. These were so good 1 would not been enough! We took the sauce that was left at the bottom of the foil and put it on our hamburgers! Took the hamburgers over the top of the yummy meter. Will be making again very soon. FYI I used more olive oil than the reciepe called for so that is why I had extra sauce at the bottom of the foil.
I live in an apartment, so no grill for me. What would the temp and baking time be if I did this in the oven?
I absolutely NEVER take the time to comment on food blogs but I HAD to comment on these. My family absolutely gobbled these up. Since we love onions, love the bloomin’ onion AND have heart issues in the family, I was SUPER excited to find this and tried it that night. I used one onion per person thinking that was enough but clearly I was wrong… they actually fought over them they were so good. The rest of the meal was ignored! I used sweet onions and drizzled homemade steak sauce and homemade comeback sauce before grilling along with a little olive oil, s/p and cheeses including some parmigiana. I have a feeling I will have to drastically increase my onion purchases! Also can’t wait to try these out while camping. Thank you so much for this recipe.
somehow my browser didn’t show all the stars… it is a 5 in my book
Would love the recipe for your steak sauce and come back sauce 🙂
Loved the flavor but had a hard time keeping the onion in one piece, separated in sections. It fell apart and all the cheese was stuck to the bottom on the tin foil. I used Worcestershire sauce and will try again.
So would this work the same do you think if I put the foil wrapped onion ball in hot coals while camping?
Hi Claire! Yes, that would work for sure! Cooking time might differ a bit, but nevertheless, it will work.
What sauce did you use on the onion when you made it? Thanks!
Hi Michelle!! Usually, I reach over for the Steak Sauce. But, I have made it with hot sauce, too. It’s delicious!
I adore this blooming onion! So smart that you grilled it! I want to be just like you when I grow up!!
I stick a garlic clove in a bit of the core I dug out at the top, butter, olive oil, salt, pepper and Remoulade sauce to top it all off. Grilled for 30 minutes on gas grill at medium high temp.
Wrapped in foil tends to steam it if you don’t go high enough heat and long enough to brown it a little.
I use an apple slicer to begin the cuts and complete the cuts to near-bottom. I use it to begin the cuts and then pull it up, turn it a few degrees and do another partial cut to make it more like a ‘bloomin onion’.
This is what summer is all about! I love grilling blooming onions and can make a meal out of them. I need to try your recipe. It looks MUCH better than the one I’m using which is just butter and a bouillon cube. Love the addition of the cheeses to yours. Great recipe!
What a fantastic idea… all the flavor and not all the calories of the deep fried kind. 🙂