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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 totally have to try this Kate! I love that it’s a healthy version of one of our favorite appetizers. And the foil…I think you did pretty darn good cause foil is a SERIOUS pain in the butt to photograph 🙂 Pinned!
I love a blooming onion, this grilled version is just brilliant!
I don’t know WHAT you’re talking about; the foil makes it look delicious!
Foil frustrates me too, I can never pull it out of the box right lol.
Have fun today, I just went through my kiddos birthday party last weekend! I invited my friends too 🙂
There is nothing wrong with your photos. I’m sure there is nothing wrong with the others so please share. You are your own worst critic. I am so doing these with vadalias but in the oven. yum.
Shiny, shiny aluminum. 🙂
I recently saw someone making the giant Outback version and the cutting technique to get it to ‘bloom’ is so simple that it was embarrassing. However, I think I’d go for the full Monty treatment with battering and deep frying and only have it once a year or two rather than baking since I enjoy the crispy, crunchy bits.
Fun and delicious! I am so tempted to give this a try too.
I think the photos with aluminum foil gives the feeling that it’s right from the oven, which makes me more tempted. So don’t worry about the photos, they are doing their job just perfectly. This is definitely an amazing side!
That was the idea – leave the foil on so it looks more homey. 🙂 But it was really, really hard to take photos because of that foil… I just couldn’t get it to work. I may need to upgrade to a better, more professional camera. 🙂 THANK YOU!! xo
You may not like these pics, but they are more than enough to get me to want to make this. I mean, a healthy blooming onion – it does not get better than that.
Thanks, Laura! 🙂 Normally, I would not have shared it. I have tons of recipes that I haven’t shared because the photos are just horrible. But, I had to share this. This stuff is way too good, even if the pictures are a bit blahhhh. 🙂
Wow what a great idea! Never thought of grilling an onion like that, but it sounds delicious. 🙂