Description
These French Onion Meatballs combine deeply caramelized onions with tender beef meatballs in a savory tomato-onion sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup dry sherry (or substitute with beef broth)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ lbs ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 bay leaf
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add sliced onion and cook, stirring often, until golden and caramelized, about 30–40 minutes.
- Pour in the sherry (or beef broth), scrape up any browned bits, and stir in sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Remove onions from the pot and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder until just combined.
- Shape into 1-inch meatballs (about 24–30 pieces).
- Lightly coat each meatball in flour.
- Heat olive oil in the same pot and brown meatballs in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Return caramelized onions to the pot, then add crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and bay leaf.
- Bring to a simmer, then lower heat, cover, and cook for at least 1 hour.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Remove bay leaf and garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
- Try rosemary or oregano instead of thyme for a different flavor.
- For gluten-free, use almond flour and gluten-free flour substitutes.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days or freeze with sauce for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs with sauce
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
