Delicious French Onion Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Meatballs:

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for browning the meatballs)

For the French Onion Sauce:

• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp sugar (to help caramelize the onions)
• 1/4 cup dry white wine (optional, but adds great flavor)
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese (for melting on top)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Meatballs:

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, egg, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
2. Roll the mixture into 1 to 1 1/2-inch meatballs (about the size of a golf ball).
3. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides, about 6-8 minutes. You don’t need to cook them all the way through, as they will finish cooking in the sauce. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside.

2. Make the French Onion Sauce:

1. In the same skillet, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are deeply caramelized (this will take about 20-25 minutes). Add the sugar halfway through to help with the caramelization process.
2. Once the onions are golden brown, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Deglaze the skillet by pouring in the white wine (if using), scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until the wine reduces.
4. Add the beef broth, thyme, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer.

3. Combine Meatballs and Sauce:

1. Add the browned meatballs back into the skillet with the French onion sauce. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked and the flavors meld together.
2. Preheat the oven broiler.

4. Add Cheese and Broil:

1. Once the meatballs are cooked through, remove the bay leaf. Sprinkle the shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese generously over the meatballs and sauce.
2. Place the skillet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

5. Serve:

• Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley. Serve these French Onion Meatballs with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or over pasta.

Enjoy your French Onion Meatballs! The rich onion gravy and melted cheese make for an irresistible comfort meal.