Description
Succulent French onion meatballs bring classic bistro flavors into a comforting home-cooked meal. Caramelized onions, rich beef broth, and melted gruyère cheese create an irresistible blend of traditional French cuisine that delights taste buds and warms hearts.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Onion and Sauce:
- 3 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
Cheese and Garnish:
- 1 cup gruyère cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
Instructions
- Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl, gently blending until just incorporated without overmixing.
- Form the meat mixture into uniform meatballs, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, placing them on a clean plate.
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, allowing the mixture to become fragrant and slightly bubbling.
- Carefully add sliced onions to the skillet, stirring occasionally and cooking for 15-20 minutes until they become deeply caramelized and golden brown.
- Sprinkle brown sugar over the onions, continuing to cook for an additional 3-4 minutes to enhance their sweetness and color.
- Gently transfer meatballs into the skillet with caramelized onions, browning them on all sides for about 5-6 minutes.
- Pour beef broth and Worcestershire sauce over the meatballs, adding chopped thyme and simmering for 8-10 minutes until meatballs are fully cooked.
- Preheat the broiler to high temperature while meatballs finish cooking in the sauce.
- Sprinkle gruyère and parmesan cheeses over the meatballs, placing the skillet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts and becomes golden and bubbly.
- Remove from broiler, garnish with fresh chives, and serve hot directly from the skillet.
Notes
- Prevent tough meatballs by handling the meat mixture gently and avoiding excessive mixing, which can make them dense and chewy.
- Achieve perfectly caramelized onions by cooking slowly over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to develop deep, rich flavor without burning.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to maintain the meatballs’ texture and binding.
- Create lighter meatballs by using a combination of ground beef and ground turkey, reducing overall fat content while maintaining juiciness and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg