Elevate your dinner with Easy Stuffed Onions, packed with layered flavours and textures. Each onion is filled with spiced ground beef, then baked in a rich tomato sauce until tender. Fragrant spices like cumin, cinnamon, and coriander bring warmth and depth to every bite. Perfect for a cosy family meal or to impress guests. Scroll down or tap ‘Jump to Recipe’ to start!
Classic Ingredients, Elevated Flavours
This recipe blends traditional ingredients with a twist. The filling combines ground beef, fresh coriander, and aromatic spices. A homemade, tangy tomato sauce perfectly complements each stuffed onion. Simple techniques create big flavour without fuss.
Effortless to Prepare: Easy Stuffed Onions
Ideal for beginners, this recipe makes an impressive meal easily. Trim and peel onions, then soften them in boiling water. Cool in ice water, separate into layers, and create perfect shells for filling.
Carefully separate the boiled onions into layers to create perfect pockets for your spiced beef filling.
Next, mix ground beef, fresh coriander, diced tomato, garlic, and spices like cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and nutmeg. Add salt, pepper, and a splash of olive oil for richness.
Mix ground beef with fresh coriander, tomatoes, garlic, and aromatic spices to create the perfect stuffing for your onions.
Fill each onion layer,
Gently fill each onion layer with the spiced beef mixture, creating a compact and flavourful stuffing.
then arrange in a baking dish with a homemade tomato sauce of chopped tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and a touch of sugar for balance. Cover and bake until onions are tender and filling is cooked through.
Arrange the stuffed onions in the baking dish, layering them on top of a bed of tomato sauce before baking.
To finish, uncover near the end of baking for a golden top. Serve warm, garnished with fresh coriander for a burst of colour and flavour. These stuffed onions deliver a satisfying, flavourful meal that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.
These baked stuffed onions are tender and golden on top, ready to be served with a sprinkle of fresh coriander.
Customisable and Crowd-Pleasing
Adapt this dish to suit dietary needs—try plant-based meat or vary the spices. With flexible portions, it’s perfect for family meals or gatherings. However you prepare it, these stuffed onions will delight.
These Easy Stuffed Onions are a comforting and flavour-packed dish, perfect for any occasion. The tender onion layers are filled with a fragrant stuffing made from ground beef, fresh coriander, and a blend of warm spices like cumin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Paired with a rich, homemade tomato sauce, this dish is baked to perfection, allowing the onions to soften and caramelise while absorbing all the delicious flavours. Topped with a sprinkle of fresh coriander for a burst of colour and freshness, these stuffed onions make a satisfying main or a unique side dish. Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal or a stunning dinner party dish, this recipe delivers both taste and elegance.
Ingredients
For the Stuffed Onions:
3 large onions
For the stuffing
1Bunch of coriander (finely chopped)
1 tomato (finely chopped)
2cloves of garlic (minced)
250g ground beef
1tsp ground cumin
1/4tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp freshly ground coriander
1/3tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper (to taste)
1tbsp olive oil
For the tomato sauce:
400g chopped tomatoes
2cloves of garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2tsp sugar
1tbsp olive oil
For Garnish:
coriander
Instructions
Trim the top and bottom of the onion, then make an incision in each from top to bottom and peel.
Bring a pot of water to a boil, add 1 tsp of salt and onions. Cook for about 7 minutes or until onions soften. Remove the onions, place them in ice-cold water, then drain and separate them into layers. Finely chop the inner layers to add to the stuffing.
Preheat the oven to 190°C (fan).
In a bowl, mix all stuffing ingredients together with the finely chopped inner layers of onions, and set aside.
For the tomato sauce, blitz all tomato sauce ingredients, then spread the sauce onto the bottom of the baking dish (reserve some to cover the onions later).
Stuff the onion layers with about 1 tbsp of stuffing and place them in the baking dish.
Spread the remaining sauce on top of the onions, cover with aluminium foil, and bake covered for about 40 minutes. Then, remove the aluminium foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until onions are really soft and golden.
When ready, sprinkle with more coriander on top and enjoy!
Choosing the Onions: Large, sweet onions work best for this recipe, as they have a mild flavour and become tender when baked. Yellow or white onions are also great options.
Preparing the Onions: After boiling, placing the onions in ice-cold water stops the cooking process and makes it easier to separate the layers without tearing.
Make-Ahead Option: You can prepare the stuffing and tomato sauce up to a day in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge, then assemble and bake when ready.
Customisation: Swap ground beef for ground lamb, turkey, or a plant-based alternative for a different flavour. You can also add chopped vegetables, such as bell peppers or mushrooms, to the stuffing for extra texture.
Serving Suggestions: These stuffed onions pair well with a side of rice, couscous, or a fresh green salad.
Storing Leftovers: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 180°C until warmed through, or microwave on medium heat.
Freezing: To freeze, place the stuffed onions in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag after baking. Freeze for up to 2 months and reheat directly from frozen at 180°C until hot.
Garnishing: Fresh coriander adds a nice burst of colour and flavour before serving. Alternatively, you can use fresh parsley or chives.
