Who doesn't love a quick weeknight recipe that you can throw together in less than 5 minutes? This simple, family dinner is your new go-to for the busiest of days.
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Classic French onion soup flavor in hearty meatball form.
- One of my favorite recipes for busy nights when I'm already exhausted.
- Easy recipe to make in batches—you can prepare four (or more!) freezer meals in the same amount of time.
There are a lot of meatball recipes out there, but French onion meatballs are perfect when you're craving effortless comfort food.
With tons of flavor from the savory French onion sauce and gooey, melty cheese, no one will be able to tell these juicy meatballs came out of a freezer bag!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- Feel free to use any cooked meatballs you like. Beef meatballs are the most common, but those made with ground turkey or chicken will work!
- Repurpose leftover homemade meatballs by using them in this recipe. That's a great way to get two (or more) meals out of one prep session.
- Switch things up and grab some Gruyere cheese to use instead of Swiss. It's usually in the "fancy" cheese section of the grocery store.
- If you don't want to use frozen, roughly dice up a sweet or yellow onion. (Avoid red onions.) It'll only add a minute to prep—I pinky promise!
- Slow Cooker Prep: instead of using the oven, cook on low for six hours in a crockpot. Leave the cheese off until just before you serve it.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Dump the meatballs and onions into a large skillet.
- Pour the French onion soup over top.
- Cover with foil and bake.
- Top with cheese and place back in the oven until melted.
🎥 Video
🥫 How to store leftovers
French onion meatballs are a fabulous make-ahead meal, but leftovers are equally delicious!
Refrigerator
Spoon the leftovers into an airtight container, or store them in a ziploc bag. Enjoy within three or four days.
Reheat meatballs on the stove (covered) over medium heat until heated through. You can also use the microwave to warm individual portions.
Freezer
Leftover French onion meatballs keep in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. However, some say that refreezing previously frozen and thawed meatballs can affect their quality.
I haven't noticed that but I wanted to make sure you have all the information.
Make ahead
These are perfect as a quick "dump dinner". I like to buy 4 bags of meatballs, 4 cans of French Onion soup, and 4 packages of frozen onions to make 4 easy dinners. You'll also want a box of gallon-sized zip-top freezer bags.
- Pour 1 bag of meatballs, one can of soup, and one bag of frozen onions into a gallon-sized freezer bag and seal.
- Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Freeze flat on a cookie sheet.
- Once frozen, remove from cookie sheet and stack in the freezer.
To cook, you'll just let them thaw overnight in the fridge, dump them in a casserole dish or oven-proof skillet, and proceed with the recipe.
I prefer oven-proof skillet.
Forgot to thaw? No problem!
Dump the frozen mixture into a skillet or casserole dish (don't use glass for this one) and bake as directed in the recipe card. You'll want to add about 15 to 20 minutes to the recipe to allow for the meatballs to heat all the way through from frozen.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: If you don't feel that the sauce is thick enough you can mix 1 ½ teaspoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of water or beef stock and add it to the pan. Cook on the stovetop for a minute or two until as thick as you want it. If you used a glass casserole dish you'll want to dip some of the sauce out, thicken it on the stove and stir it back into the casserole.
- Most French onion recipes include a bit of sherry or cooking wine. If you're feeling fancy, add a splash to the pan. It's not necessary, though.
- Don't add any water to the French onion soup. The frozen meatballs will release some moisture as they cook, leaving you with a perfectly savory, rich sauce.
- Covering the pan with foil locks in moisture. Don't leave any spots open where steam can escape, or your meatballs can taste dry.
- The French onion sauce is delicious, so be sure to serve these meatballs over something yummy, like egg noodles, pasta, or rice. See below for more serving ideas!
👩🍳 FAQs
Yes, you can! I'd stick with plainly seasoned meatballs, though. I think Italian seasoning would compete with the rich French onion flavors.
Nope! As shown in the photo steps above, the meatballs will cook straight from frozen.
However, I do recommend letting a make-ahead portion thaw overnight in the fridge so the soup thaws out. If you don't remember, that's okay—it'll just take a bit longer to cook when all the ingredients are frozen together.
I haven't tested this recipe with a dry onion soup mix. We prefer the creaminess and ease of using canned soup, so I recommend that.
📚 Related recipes
- Classic and delicious French Onion Soup is made in the crockpot, so your comforting, hearty meal is hot and ready when you arrive home!
- Another fun spin for dinner, French Onion Chicken Bake has the savory onion taste you crave but in a crisp and juicy chicken breast form.
- French Onion Chicken Casserole combines your favorite gooey cheese and caramelized onions into an easy, chicken-filled pasta dinner!
🍽️ Serve with...
I like to serve this with a crunchy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad and this Crusty Dutch Oven Bread or my 30-minute baguette to soak up the sauce.
French Vanilla Ice Cream is perfect for dessert—your family will get a kick out of the play on words (or roll their eyes... lovingly, of course.)
📓 Meal plans in minutes
📞 The last word
I like to make French Onion Meatball Sandwiches with this recipe by spooning the meatballs into warm hoagie rolls before topping them with the cheese.
Add sautéed onions, peppers, or whatever toppings you like best. Use the broth as a dip – it’s delicious.
You can also make it in a slow cooker on low for 6 hours. Just leave the cheese out until you serve the meatballs. This dish freezes well after it’s cooked, too.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
French Onion Meatballs
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 18 ounces frozen meatballs
- 1 8 ounces frozen diced onions
- 10.75 ounces condensed French onion soup, don't dilute
- 8 ounces Swiss cheese slices
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Instructions
To Freeze for Later
- Add all of the ingredients except the cheese to a labeled freezer bag.
- Freeze flat.
To Cook
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if you’ve made it ahead of time. This saves time but is not totally necessary. It may take your dish a bit longer to cook, though.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Grease a 2 quart casserole dish.
- Pour the soup over the meatballs and onions, or dump the contents of the freezer bag into the casserole dish.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and lay the Swiss cheese over the meatballs.
- Return to the oven until the cheese is melted.
- Serve as desired.
Notes
- If you don't feel that the sauce is thick enough you can mix 1 ½ teaspoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of water or beef stock and add it to the pan. Cook on the stovetop for a minute or two until as thick as you want it.
- Don't add water to the condensed French onion soup.
- Most French onion recipes include a bit of sherry or cooking wine. If you're feeling fancy, add a splash to the pan. It's not necessary, though.
- Covering the pan with foil locks in moisture. Don't leave any spots open where steam can escape, or your meatballs can taste dry.
- The French onion sauce is delicious, so be sure to serve these meatballs over something yummy, like egg noodles, pasta, or rice.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Linda
Never said when to add the onions.
Do you thaw the meatballs first?
Marye
You add the onion, the meatballs, and the soup at the same time. No need to thaw.