Description
French onion magic meets hearty comfort in this Crockpot French Onion Meatloaf, blending rich beef flavors with caramelized onion goodness. Slow-cooked to perfection, you’ll savor each tender, savory bite of this classic dish reimagined.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds (700 g) ground beef (80% lean)
- 2 large eggs
Cheese and Dairy:
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup (50 g) shredded mozzarella or Gruyere cheese (optional, for mixing into the meatloaf)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella, Gruyere, or Swiss cheese
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings:
- ½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)
- 1 envelope (about 2 tablespoons) French onion soup mix
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup caramelized onions
Instructions
- Gently integrate ground beef with breadcrumbs in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring a light and delicate touch to preserve meat’s tenderness.
- Sprinkle French onion soup mix across the protein mixture, allowing its robust seasoning to distribute evenly throughout the blend.
- Introduce milk and eggs as binding agents, carefully folding them into the meat mixture to create a cohesive and moist texture.
- Incorporate Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and garlic powder, using minimal hand manipulation to maintain the meatloaf’s delicate structure.
- Optional: Weave shredded cheese into the mixture for an enhanced melty dimension and richer flavor profile.
- Transfer the carefully combined meat mixture into a crockpot, molding it into a compact, uniform loaf shape that will ensure consistent cooking.
- Smooth the top of the meatloaf, creating an even surface that promotes uniform heat distribution during the slow cooking process.
- Cover the crockpot and allow the meatloaf to transform, letting low and slow heat gently develop its flavors and maintain its succulent consistency.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and prevent a greasy texture in the final dish.
- Opt for low-sodium French onion soup mix if watching salt intake, which helps control overall seasoning.
- Crumble the meat mixture gently to ensure a light, tender meatloaf that’s not dense or tough.
- Consider adding grated onions or finely chopped sautéed onions for deeper flavor complexity and moisture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 67 hours (low) or 34 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg