Description
Crispy, savory treats featuring thin onion slices nestled on melted cheddar cheese beds, seasoned with zesty ranch flavoring for the perfect appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large sweet onions
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tsp ranch seasoning or seasoning of choice
- Ranch or marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat oven to 375°F. Take two baking sheets and line them with parchment paper, then lightly grease the parchment to prevent sticking. This preparation ensures your cheese crisps will release easily once baked.
- Slice the Onions: Cut the sweet onions into very thin rounds, approximately 1/4-inch thick. You’ll need 16 slices total for this recipe. The thinness is crucial – too thick and they won’t cook properly; too thin and they might burn quickly.
- Create Cheese Bases: Arrange 8 small piles of shredded cheddar cheese on each prepared baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart. Each pile will melt and spread, so adequate spacing prevents them from merging during baking.
- Assemble the Crisps: Place one onion round on top of each pile of cheese. The onion should sit centered on the cheese pile. Sprinkle the assembled crisps evenly with ranch seasoning for flavor enhancement.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes, watching closely during the final minutes to prevent burning. The crisps are ready when they appear crispy around the edges and lightly browned.
- Cool Before Serving: Allow the baked crisps to cool for 5-7 minutes on the baking sheets. This cooling period helps them set and become properly crispy while making them easier to handle.
- Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove crisps from the baking sheets and serve warm with ranch or marinara sauce for dipping. The contrast between the crispy cheese and the dipping sauce creates a delightful flavor experience.
Notes
- For best results, use a mandoline slicer to get uniformly thin onion slices.
- Sweet onions like Vidalia or Walla Walla work best as they caramelize nicely during baking.
- Try different cheese varieties like Parmesan, Gruyère, or pepper jack for flavor variations.
- These crisps are best enjoyed immediately after cooling, as they may lose crispness if stored.
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 crisps
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 25mg