Stuffed Sweet Onions with Bacon

By: Erin Chilcoat, Smithtown, New York - found on Taste of Home

This unexpected side dish is perfect to serve alongside grilled steak or pork chops. Even if you're not an onion fan, the low heat and long cooking time of this dish mellows and sweetens the sometimes sharp raw onion flavors that many dislike.

Yields1 Serving
 4 medium sweet onions
 2 small zucchini, shredded
 1 large garlic clove, minced
 1 tbsp olive oil
 1 tsp dried basil
 1 tsp dried thyme
 ¼ tsp salt
 ¼ tsp pepper
 ½ cup dry bread crumbs
 4 thick-sliced bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
 ¼ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1

Peel onions and cut a 1/4-in. slice from the top and bottom. Carefully cut and remove the center of each onion, leaving a 1/2-in. shell; chop removed onion.

2

In a large skillet, saute the zucchini, garlic and chopped onions in oil until tender and juices are reduced. Stir in the basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Remove from the heat. Stir in the bread crumbs, bacon and Parmesan cheese. Fill onion shells with zucchini mixture.

3

Place in a greased 3- or 4-qt. slow cooker. Add broth to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until onions are tender.

Ingredients

 4 medium sweet onions
 2 small zucchini, shredded
 1 large garlic clove, minced
 1 tbsp olive oil
 1 tsp dried basil
 1 tsp dried thyme
 ¼ tsp salt
 ¼ tsp pepper
 ½ cup dry bread crumbs
 4 thick-sliced bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
 ¼ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

Directions

1

Peel onions and cut a 1/4-in. slice from the top and bottom. Carefully cut and remove the center of each onion, leaving a 1/2-in. shell; chop removed onion.

2

In a large skillet, saute the zucchini, garlic and chopped onions in oil until tender and juices are reduced. Stir in the basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Remove from the heat. Stir in the bread crumbs, bacon and Parmesan cheese. Fill onion shells with zucchini mixture.

3

Place in a greased 3- or 4-qt. slow cooker. Add broth to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until onions are tender.

Notes

Stuffed Sweet Onions with Bacon