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French Onion Meatballs with Gruyere Cheese

French Onion Meatballs with Gruyere Cheese
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French Onion Meatballs with Gruyere Cheese offer a rich and comforting blend of caramelized onions, tender beef meatballs, and creamy melted Gruyere. This versatile dish is perfect as a cozy dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, featuring juicy meatballs infused with savory herbs and topped with nutty, gooey cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs for gluten-free option)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup beef broth or stock
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Caramelize the Onions: Thinly slice the yellow onions. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat, add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn golden brown and sweet, about 25-30 minutes. This creates the rich, sweet onion flavor essential to the dish.
  2. Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, most of the caramelized onions (reserve a small amount for topping), breadcrumbs, minced garlic, fresh thyme, egg, salt, and pepper. Gently mix until ingredients are evenly incorporated, being careful not to overwork the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
  3. Shape the Meatballs: Using your hands or a small scoop, form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs about 1.5 inches in diameter, ensuring consistent cooking and presentation.
  4. Cook the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add meatballs in batches to avoid overcrowding. Brown on all sides, about 8-10 minutes total. Pour in beef broth, cover the pan, and let the meatballs simmer gently until fully cooked through.
  5. Add Gruyere Cheese: Sprinkle shredded Gruyere on top of the meatballs while still in the pan. Cover briefly off heat so the cheese melts and becomes luxuriously gooey.

Notes

  • Patience is key when caramelizing onions; cook them low and slow to unlock maximum sweetness.
  • Mix meatball ingredients gently to keep them tender and juicy—avoid overmixing.
  • Make meatballs uniform in size using a scoop for even cooking.
  • Fresh herbs like thyme elevate the flavor more than dried versions.
  • Let meatballs rest a few minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute.
  • For a bubbly, browned cheese topping, finish under the broiler for 1-2 minutes if desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: French Onion Meatballs, Gruyere Cheese Meatballs, Caramelized Onion Meatballs, Savory Meatballs, Cozy Dinner, Appetizer, Comfort Food

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/french-onion-meatballs-with-gruyere-cheese/