Description
Savor comfort with this French onion meatloaf recipe that blends hearty Midwestern charm and French culinary elegance. Caramelized onions and rich beef create a delectable main dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 lbs (907 grams) ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
- 1/2 cup (120 grams) Swiss Gruyere cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Transform onions into a golden, caramelized delicacy by heating olive oil and butter in a skillet. Gently stir thinly sliced onions over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, coaxing them to a deep, sweet amber color. Add a pinch of sugar to accelerate caramelization if needed. Introduce minced garlic in the final moments to prevent burning.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, blend ground beef with eggs, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Gently incorporate half of the caramelized onions, ensuring even distribution without overworking the mixture, which could result in a dense texture.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Craft the meat mixture into a cohesive loaf and nestle it into a baking dish. Slide into the oven and roast for 45-50 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches a safe 160°F.
- While the meatloaf bakes, revive the remaining caramelized onions in the skillet. Pour beef broth over them, allowing the liquid to simmer and reduce for 5-7 minutes until it thickens into a luxurious sauce.
- Upon reaching the target temperature, crown the meatloaf with Gruyere cheese. Activate the broiler and watch carefully as the cheese melts and turns golden, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Grant the meatloaf a restful period of 5-10 minutes before slicing. This crucial pause allows juices to redistribute and flavors to harmonize. Generously ladle the rich onion sauce over each slice before serving.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly to develop deep, rich flavor without burning, using low-medium heat and occasional stirring.
- Add a pinch of baking soda to speed up caramelization process and achieve golden-brown color faster.
- Use high-quality ground beef with 80/20 fat content for maximum juiciness and flavor in the meatloaf.
- Avoid overmixing meat mixture to prevent tough, dense texture; mix gently until ingredients are just combined.
- Customize recipe by substituting Gruyere with other melting cheeses like provolone or Swiss for different flavor profiles.
- Create a gluten-free version by using almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs instead of traditional breadcrumbs.
- Let meatloaf rest after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring each slice remains moist and tender.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg