Description
French Onion Meatballs with Rich Sauce offer a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender meatballs infused with sweet caramelized onions and enveloped in a luscious, savory sauce. This recipe combines simple ingredients to create a satisfying meal perfect for cozy dinners or special gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh, lean ground beef
- 1 cup caramelized yellow onions (reserve some for sauce)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free if needed)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup reserved caramelized onions
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour/cornstarch)
- 2 cups beef broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Slice yellow onions thinly and cook slowly in butter over low heat for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally until they turn golden brown and sweet.
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, 1 cup caramelized onions (reserving some for sauce), breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, fresh thyme, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid dense meatballs.
- Form and Brown the Meatballs: Shape the mixture into evenly sized meatballs about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Heat butter in a skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides, forming a crust while keeping the centers juicy.
- Make the Rich Sauce: Remove meatballs from the pan. Add reserved caramelized onions to the skillet. Stir in flour to absorb the butter and create a roux, then gradually whisk in beef broth. Simmer the sauce until it thickens and becomes shiny and flavorful.
- Combine and Simmer: Return browned meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes to let the meatballs absorb the sauce and finish cooking evenly.
Notes
- Caramelize onions on low heat to maximize sweetness without burning.
- Mix meat ingredients gently to keep meatballs tender and avoid toughness.
- Ensure meatballs are uniform in size for even cooking.
- Deglaze the pan thoroughly to incorporate flavorful browned bits into the sauce.
- Let meatballs rest a few minutes after cooking to redistribute juices for optimal juiciness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Skillet cooking and simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 4 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: French onion, meatballs, caramelized onions, rich sauce, comfort food, easy dinner, make-ahead