Description
Hearty French Onion Beef and Noodles blend classic comfort with rich caramelized onion flavors from French cuisine. Savory beef combines with tender noodles, creating a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) beef stew meat or chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed french onion soup
- ½ cup red wine (optional)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup shredded Gruyere or Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz wide egg noodles, uncooked
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup crispy french-fried onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Protein Preparation: Season beef with salt and pepper, then sear in a large pot over medium-high heat until golden-brown on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove meat and set aside.
- Onion Transformation: Reduce heat and slowly caramelize sliced onions in the same pot, stirring periodically to develop a deep caramel color over 20-25 minutes. Add minced garlic near the end of caramelization and cook until fragrant.
- Flavor Intensification: Deglaze pot with red wine, scraping accumulated flavor fragments from the bottom, allowing liquid to reduce by half. Reintroduce seared beef to the pot.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour French onion soup, beef broth, and thyme into the pot. Cover and simmer gently, allowing meat to tenderize and flavors to meld for 60-75 minutes.
- Noodle Integration: Add uncooked egg noodles directly into the liquid, ensuring they are mostly submerged. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes until pasta reaches al dente texture.
- Final Embellishment: Remove from heat, fold in sour cream and grated Gruyere cheese to create a velvety sauce that coats the beef and noodles. Garnish with crispy fried onions and freshly chopped parsley for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Meat Selection Matters: Choose a well-marbled cut like chuck roast or top round for maximum tenderness and rich flavor development during slow cooking.
- Caramelization is Key: Patience during onion cooking transforms the dish’s depth; low and slow heat guarantees deep golden-brown color without burning.
- Deglazing Technique: Use a wooden spoon to scrape browned bits from pot bottom, capturing concentrated flavor essence that elevates the entire recipe’s complexity.
- Cheese Modification: Swap Gruyere with budget-friendly alternatives like sharp cheddar or parmesan for dietary preferences without compromising overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 386
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 788 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg