French Onion Meatloaf is a rich, savory twist on classic meatloaf, inspired by the deep caramelized flavor of Onion and French onion soup.
It’s juicy, cheesy, and packed with umami flavor.
🧅🍖 French Onion Meatloaf
🥣 Ingredients
For the meatloaf
- 500–700 g ground beef (or mixed beef & lamb)
- 1 large onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- Salt & black pepper
- 1 tsp thyme (optional)
For French onion flavor
- 1–2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup beef broth
Topping
- 1 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella or Swiss works best)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Caramelize the onions
- Heat butter in a pan
- Cook sliced onions slowly (15–20 min) until golden brown
- Add garlic near the end
👉 This step creates the signature “French onion” flavor.
2. Prepare meat mixture
- Mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, salt, pepper, thyme
- Add half of the caramelized onions
3. Shape & bake
- Place mixture into a loaf pan
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 40–45 minutes
4. Add glaze & cheese
- Mix remaining onions with broth + Worcestershire sauce
- Spread on top of meatloaf
- Add cheese layer
- Bake another 10–15 minutes until melted
🍽️ Result
- Juicy, tender meatloaf
- Sweet caramelized onion flavor
- Gooey cheesy topping
- Deep, rich French-style taste
🧠 Tips for best results
- Don’t rush onion caramelization—it’s the key flavor
- Use fatty ground meat for juiciness
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing
- Add a splash of broth if mixture feels dry
🍴 Serving ideas
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted vegetables
- Crusty bread
If you want, I can also give you:
- A slow cooker French onion meatloaf
- A low-carb/keto version
- Or a French onion meatloaf sandwich recipe
