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All the cozy flavor of French onion soup in meatball form! These gluten-free French onion meatballs bake in a rich, savory onion gravy and are finished with melty Gruyère for the ultimate weeknight comfort dinner. Trust me, the aroma alone will have everyone wandering into the kitchen before it's done baking.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you love the deep sweetness of caramelized onions and the cozy warmth of classic comfort food, these meatballs will hit the spot! The flavor starts with slowly browned onions cooked in butter, then transforms into a silky French onion sauce thickened with gluten-free flour. The result? Savory beef meatballs baked right in their own gravy - hearty, wholesome, and totally family-friendly.
If you enjoy one-pan dinners, you'll also love my Sheet Pan Delicata Squash and Sausage for another easy fall-inspired meal. And for even more comfort food, try my Ultimate Whole30 + Paleo Meatloaf or One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
Ingredients You'll Need
For the Onion Gravy
- Onion: Slowly caramelized to build that signature flavor.
- Butter: Adds richness (use dairy-free butter if needed).
- Salt: Balances sweetness from the onions.
- Gluten-free 1:1 flour: To thicken the gravy. I love the King Arthur Baking brand.
- Beef broth: Creates depth and richness for the easy homemade onion gravy.
- Gluten-free worcestershire sauce: Brings umami and a hint of tang.
- Dried thyme: Classic French onion flavor.
- Gruyère cheese: For that golden, melty finish, you can swap this with dairy-free mozzarella for a dairy-free version or omit the cheese completely.
For the Meatballs
- Ground beef: Juicy and flavorful.
- Gluten-free flour: Helps bind the mixture.
- Egg: Adds structure and tenderness.
- Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme: The perfect seasoning blend.
- Worcestershire sauce: Keeps the meat moist and flavorful.
- Gruyère cheese: Folded in for extra cheesiness.
How to Make French Onion Meatballs
Step 1: In a large oven-safe skillet, melt butter and add sliced onions with a pinch of salt.
Step 2: Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deeply browned and caramelized. About 30-35 minutes.
Step 3: While the onions cook, make the meatballs. Combine ground beef, gluten-free flour, egg, seasonings, Worcestershire, and shredded cheese in a bowl. Mix with your hands and form into 12 balls (about 1½ inches wide).
Step 4: Place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
Step 5: When the onions are ready, sprinkle ¼ cup gluten-free flour over them and stir until coated.
Step 6: Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring to avoid lumps. Add Worcestershire, thyme, and the remaining salt. Simmer 3-5 minutes until the gravy thickens and bubbles.
Step 7: Nestle the cooked meatballs into the skillet, spoon some onion gravy on top, and cover with shredded Gruyère.
Step 8: Bake in the oven at 425°F for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden. Serve over mashed potatoes with your favorite green veggie, and enjoy every bite of this skillet meatballs with caramelized onions dish!
Storage, Make-Ahead, and Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Place cooled meatballs and gravy in a freezer-safe bag up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet or oven with a splash of broth to keep the French onion gravy smooth.
- Next-Day Tip: The flavor actually deepens overnight! Try leftovers over rice, on gluten-free toast, or tucked into a baked potato for a totally new meal.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Swap the butter for vegan butter and use a dairy-free cheese like Violife mozzarella shreds.
Mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted veggies all pair beautifully! I recommend trying them with my Crispy Parmesan Potatoes.
Absolutely. Cook the meatballs and gravy separately, refrigerate overnight, then combine and bake with cheese before serving.
Using gluten-free flour and an egg for binding ensures they hold together perfectly when baked.
These cheesy French onion meatballs are pure comfort - rich, hearty, and satisfying for any night of the week!
More Cozy Dinners You'll Love
Easy Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Gluten Free Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Easy Gluten-Free Swedish Meatballs (with Gravy)
Easy French Onion Meatballs with Gravy
Equipment
Ingredients
Gravy:
- 2 onions, sliced very thin
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tsp salt, divided
- ¼ cup gluten free 1:1 flour, I like King Arthur Baking brand
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1.5 tbsp gluten free worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ¾ cup gruyere cheese, shredded
Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¼ cup gluten free 1:1 flour
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp gluten free worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup gruyere cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400. In a large oven-safe skillet, melt butter and add onions and ½ tsp salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 30-35 minutes until browned and caramelized.
- Meanwhile, make the meatballs. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add ingredients to a bowl and mix well using your hands.
- Form into 12 1.5 inch-wide balls. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and bump up the oven temp to 425.
- When the onions are done, add ¼ cup GF flour on top and stir until the onions are coated.
- Pour in the beef broth while stirring. Add the worcestershire sauce, remaining ½ tsp salt, and thyme. Stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until the gravy is thickened and bubbling.
- Add the meatballs to the pan, then sprinkle the shredded gruyere cheese on top.
- Bake in the oven at 425 for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Serve over mashed potatoes mashed potatoes with a green veggie and enjoy!
Notes
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Place cooled meatballs and gravy in a freezer-safe bag up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet or oven with a splash of broth to keep the French onion gravy smooth.
- Next-Day Tip: The flavor actually deepens overnight! Try leftovers over rice, on gluten-free toast, or tucked into a baked potato for a totally new meal.
Nutrition
All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
I made these meatballs for the second time tonight. They are so, so good! I served them over mashed potatoes with a side of broccoli. Looking forward to the leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
Hubs would eat meatballs every week and I’m just not a meatball girl/cook – but all about french onion soup! I ventured into this recipe knowing he’d be surprised. We both loved it. It’s a bit more time/effort during the week, but with a few extra minutes on the weekend, don’t miss this creative take on meatballs and french onion flavors.
Ten out of ten!!! You always hit the mark but this might be my fav one, yet!! Soooo good!
Thank you!!
Simply delicious.
I’ve made these twice in the last couple weeks; once with beef and tonight with ground white chicken. OH. MY! These are delicious. I feed my police officer nephew when he works and he and my fussy mother approve. I served them over mashed potatoes. I think I will toast some crusty bread next time and serve them over that for a change. Thanks for another amazing recipe, Mary.
Mary, I am so glad I found you! These are so good! Actually, everything I’ve tried has been so good!
This was a hit with everyone and will probably be added to the monthly rotation. Thanks for sharing!