Description
French Onion Meatballs and Rice is a comforting and savory meal featuring juicy meatballs made with ground beef and pork, smothered in rich caramelized onion gravy, served alongside fluffy white rice. It’s a perfect hearty dinner that combines classic flavors with a twist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1/2 lb (225g) ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
- 3 cups water or broth
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, milk, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Form mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and browned.
- While meatballs bake, heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring often, until caramelized (about 25-30 minutes).
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Stir in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the baked meatballs to the skillet with the sauce and gently coat them. Keep warm on low heat.
- Meanwhile, rinse rice under cold water. In a medium pot, combine rice, water or broth, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15-18 minutes or until rice is tender and water is absorbed.
- Fluff rice with a fork and serve alongside the meatballs and French onion sauce.
Notes
- Use fresh thyme for best flavor, but dried works well too.
- Caramelizing onions slowly is key for a rich sauce.
- Leftover meatballs and sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: French onion meatballs, baked meatballs, caramelized onion sauce, meatballs with rice