Cheesy French Onion Meatballs: The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe
Cheesy French Onion Meatballs combine tender, flavorful beef meatballs with a rich caramelized onion sauce topped with melted Gruyère cheese. This ultimate comfort food recipe blends the savory depth of classic French onion soup with hearty meatballs, perfect for a warm, satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Sauce and Finishing:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix everything until evenly combined to ensure the meatballs hold together well.
- Form the Meatballs: Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and set them aside on a plate or tray, ready for cooking.
- Cook the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides, which should take about 6 to 8 minutes. Once browned, remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside to keep warm.
- Make the French Onion Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and sprinkle with sugar to enhance caramelization. Cook the onions, stirring frequently, for about 15 to 20 minutes until they turn a deep golden brown and develop a rich, sweet flavor.
- Thicken the Sauce: Sprinkle the flour over the caramelized onions, stirring well to coat and cook out the raw flour taste.
- Add Broth and Flavor: Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce while scraping the bottom of the skillet to deglaze and lift all the browned bits. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet with the onion sauce. Cover and let everything simmer together for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to cook through.
- Add the Cheese: Preheat the broiler in your oven. Sprinkle shredded Gruyère cheese evenly over the meatballs and sauce. Place the skillet under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned.
- Serve: Garnish the cheesy French onion meatballs with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot alongside crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or pasta for a complete comforting meal.
Notes
- Be sure to caramelize onions slowly to develop rich flavor—don’t rush this step by turning up the heat.
- You can substitute ground beef with a mixture of beef and pork for extra juiciness.
- Gruyère cheese can be replaced with Swiss cheese if preferred.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour alternatives such as cornstarch or rice flour.
- Leftover meatballs and sauce reheat well on the stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: cheesy meatballs, French onion sauce, comfort food, caramelized onions, Gruyère cheese, ground beef recipe
