Tender roasted onions filled with juicy seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese, finished with a tangy burger-style sauce. They’re a fun low-carb twist on a classic bacon cheeseburger!
Recipe Details
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 40–45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Oven: 400°F (200°C)
Ingredients
For the Stuffed Onions
4 large yellow or sweet onions
1 lb (450 g) ground beef, preferably 80–90% lean
6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ small onion, finely diced
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional Burger Sauce
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon finely chopped dill pickles
½ teaspoon pickle juice
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Optional Toppings
Chopped dill pickles
Sliced green onions
Fresh parsley
Extra crispy bacon
Sesame seeds
Jalapeño slices
Pickled onions
Instructions
- Prepare the onions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Cut about ½ inch from the top of each onion. Carefully peel away the outer skin.
Using a small knife, cut around the center of the onion, leaving about 2–3 outer layers intact. Gently remove the inner layers with your fingers or a spoon.
Reserve about ½ cup of the removed onion and finely chop it for the filling.
Be careful not to cut through the bottom of the onion so the filling stays inside.
- Pre-roast the onion shells
Place the hollow onion shells in a lightly greased baking dish or on a rimmed sheet pan.
Brush the outside lightly with olive oil.
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes. This softens the onions so they become tender while the filling cooks.
Remove the foil.
- Make the cheeseburger filling
Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Add the finely chopped reserved onion and cook for 2–3 minutes.
Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns.
Drain excess grease if necessary.
Add:
Garlic
Ketchup
Mustard
Worcestershire sauce
Smoked paprika
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper
Cook for another 1–2 minutes until everything is well combined.
Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped bacon.
- Stuff the onions
Carefully spoon the beef mixture into each partially roasted onion shell.
Pack the filling gently but don’t compress it too tightly.
Top each stuffed onion with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake
Return the stuffed onions to the oven and bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the onions are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
For a more golden top, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end. Watch carefully.
The ground beef filling should reach 160°F (71°C) internally.
- Make the burger sauce
While the onions bake, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, and smoked paprika.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve
Let the stuffed onions rest for about 5 minutes.
Drizzle with burger sauce and garnish with chopped pickles, parsley, green onions, or extra bacon.
Serve hot.
What to Serve With Them
For a complete meal, serve with:
Crispy roasted potatoes
Sweet potato fries
Cauliflower mash
Air-fryer zucchini
Green salad
Coleslaw
Roasted broccoli
Pickle salad
Cauliflower rice
For a low-carb meal, pair them with roasted vegetables or a fresh green salad.
Helpful Tips
Choose large onions
Large yellow, white, or sweet onions are easiest to hollow and stuff.
Don’t make the onion walls too thin
Leave 2–3 layers around the outside so they hold their shape.
Pre-cook the bacon
Cooking the bacon separately keeps the filling from becoming overly greasy.
Don’t overfill
Leave a little room at the top for the cheese.
Add extra cheeseburger flavor
A few chopped dill pickles mixed into the beef filling give these a classic burger taste.
Easy Variations
Bacon BBQ Cheeseburger
Replace the ketchup with 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce.
Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger
Add diced jalapeños or ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
Mushroom Cheeseburger
Sauté 1 cup sliced mushrooms with the chopped onion before adding the beef.
Turkey Version
Use ground turkey instead of beef. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the filling if needed for moisture.
Extra Cheesy
Use a combination of cheddar and mozzarella or Monterey Jack.
All Nut & Allergen Information
Peanuts
None in the recipe as written.
Tree Nuts
None in the recipe as written.
Dairy
Cheddar cheese contains milk.
For a dairy-free version, use a dairy-free shredded cheese alternative and verify its allergen label.
Eggs
The stuffed onions themselves contain no eggs. However, the optional burger sauce contains mayonnaise, which commonly contains eggs.
Wheat/Gluten
The basic recipe does not require wheat-containing ingredients. However, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard, bacon, and mayonnaise can vary by brand, so check labels if strict gluten avoidance is necessary.
Soy
Some processed bacon, condiments, and dairy-free cheeses may contain soy.
Sesame
No sesame is required. If using sesame seeds as a garnish, the recipe will contain sesame.
Mustard
Mustard is used in the filling and optional sauce.
Other
Always check packaged ingredients for allergen statements and cross-contact warnings, especially if cooking for someone with a severe allergy.
Nut-free as written: Yes, provided all packaged ingredients are verified and there is no cross-contact with peanuts or tree nuts.
Approximate Nutrition
Per stuffed onion, assuming 4 servings and including the cheese and bacon but not the optional burger sauce:
Calories: ~520 kcal
Protein: ~32 g
Carbohydrates: ~18 g
Fat: ~36 g
Fiber: ~3 g
Sugar: ~9 g
Sodium: ~900–1,050 mg
Nutrition is approximate and varies with the ground beef, bacon, cheese, and condiments used.
Recipe Q&A
Can I use sweet onions?
Yes. Sweet onions work particularly well because their natural sweetness becomes more pronounced during roasting.
Can I use red onions?
Yes, although they have a stronger flavor. Yellow or sweet onions are generally easier to stuff.
How do I hollow out the onions without breaking them?
Cut around the center with a small knife and gently loosen the inner layers with your fingers or a spoon. Leave 2–3 outer layers intact.
Can I skip the pre-roasting?
It’s possible, but pre-roasting makes the onion shells much more tender and easier to eat.
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes. Ground turkey works well, though it is leaner. A little olive oil can help keep the filling moist.
Can I use ground chicken?
Yes. Cook ground chicken to 165°F (74°C).
Can I use different cheese?
Absolutely. Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Colby, pepper Jack, or a cheddar blend all work well.
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