Description
Cheesy French Onion Meatballs combine juicy, seasoned beef meatballs with a rich, caramelized onion sauce topped with melted Gruyère cheese, delivering ultimate comfort food perfect for cozy dinners.
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
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 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, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined, then roll into 1-inch meatballs and set aside.
- Cook the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides for about 6–8 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside to rest.
- Make the French Onion Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter and add the thinly sliced onions. Sprinkle with sugar and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the onions are deeply caramelized, about 15–20 minutes. Then sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir to coat evenly.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Pour in beef broth, dry white wine (if using), and Worcestershire sauce. Scrape the skillet’s bottom to deglaze and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Combine and Simmer Meatballs: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, cover, and let them simmer in the sauce for 10–15 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Add the Cheese: Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle shredded Gruyère cheese evenly over the meatballs and sauce. Broil for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot. These meatballs pair wonderfully with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or pasta for a complete, comforting meal.
Notes
- You can omit the white wine for a non-alcoholic version and replace it with additional beef broth.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten free.
- For extra richness, add a splash of heavy cream to the sauce before adding meatballs.
- Caramelizing the onions slowly is key for deep flavor; be patient and stir frequently.
- Gruyère cheese can be substituted with Swiss cheese if preferred.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering, Broiling
- Cuisine: French-American Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 4 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: French onion meatballs, cheesy meatballs, comfort food, caramelized onion sauce, Gruyère cheese, easy dinner recipe
