French Onion Meatballs
French Onion Meatballs
Servings: 4–6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
1.5 lbs (680g) ground beef (80/20)
½ cup breadcrumbs
1 large egg
¼ cup whole milk
1 packet (1 oz) French onion soup mix
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil, for searing
For the French Onion Gravy:
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups beef broth
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Topping:
6–8 slices Gruyère or Swiss cheese
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)
Instructions
Make the meatballs. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Roll into 16–18 meatballs.
Sear. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides, 2–3 minutes per side. They don't need to be cooked through yet. Remove and set aside.
Caramelize the onions. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden and sweet. Add garlic and thyme, cook 1 minute.
Make the gravy. Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir 1 minute. Slowly whisk in beef broth, then add balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
Finish the meatballs. Return meatballs to the skillet. Spoon gravy over them, cover, and simmer 10–12 minutes until cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
Add cheese. Preheat broiler. Lay Gruyère slices over the meatballs. Broil 2–3 minutes until melted, bubbly, and golden in spots.
Serve. Garnish with fresh parsley and thyme. Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or crusty bread to soak up the gravy.
Tips
Don't rush the onions — 15–20 minutes of slow caramelization is where the whole flavor lives.
Mix the meat gently — overworking makes dense, tough meatballs.
Use an oven-safe skillet so you can go straight from stovetop to broiler.
Variations
Swap ground beef for a beef-pork blend for extra richness.
Add sliced mushrooms with the onions for deeper savory flavor.
Use provolone or smoked gouda instead of Gruyère.