French Onion Meatballs: A Flavorful Twist on Classic Comfort Food

If you love the rich, savory flavors of French onion soup, you’re going to adore these French Onion Meatballs. This recipe combines tender, juicy meatballs with the deep, caramelized flavors of French onion soup, all topped with melted Gruyere cheese. Serve with toasted baguette slices for a complete and satisfying meal. Let’s dive into this mouthwatering recipe!

Ingredients

For the Onions:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
• 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the Meatballs:

• 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Sauce and Serving:

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 6 ounces freshly grated Gruyere cheese (about 1 cup)
• Toasted baguette slices, for serving

Directions

Cook the Onions:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are deeply golden (but not quite caramelized) and reduced significantly in volume, about 45 minutes. Add a splash or two of water if the pan becomes dry (this tends to happen around the 30-minute mark).
3. Add the thyme and black pepper and cook until the herbs are fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Add the butter, scraping up the bottom of the pan to loosen any dark bits.
5. Remove and discard the bay leaves and transfer the onions to a plate to cool slightly. Rinse and wipe out the skillet and set aside.

Make the Meatball Mixture:

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, panko, salt, and pepper.
2. Once the onions are cool enough to handle, roughly chop half the onions and add them to the meatball mixture.
3. Use your clean hands to mix everything together until combined.

Form the Meatballs:

1. Divide the mixture into 16 roughly 1 1/2-inch balls. To do this evenly, form the meat mixture into an even mound, divide the mound into quarters, and divide each quarter into quarters again.

Cook the Meatballs:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the reserved skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the meatballs, spacing them evenly, and cook until browned on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Sprinkle flour over the meatballs and toss gently until the flour is cooked, about 1 minute.
4. Add the chicken broth, remaining reserved onions, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and let simmer until the sauce has thickened and grown slightly darker in color, about 10 minutes.

Add the Cheese and Broil:

1. Preheat the broiler on low.
2. Sprinkle the Gruyere over the meatballs and sauce and broil until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.

Serve:

Serve the French Onion Meatballs with toasted baguette slices. Leftover meatballs and sauce will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 1 hour 15 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Calories: 430 kcal (approx.) | Servings: 4

Enjoy this delightful and hearty dish that brings the classic flavors of French onion soup into a comforting and delicious meatball form. Perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests, these French Onion Meatballs are sure to impress!

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