French Onion Meatloaf

Name: French Onion Meatloaf with Gruyère Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef; 1 tbsp seasoning salt; 1 tbsp Italian seasoning; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp onion powder; 1 tsp paprika; black pepper, to taste; 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 medium onion, finely chopped and sautéed; 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped and sautéed; 1/2 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1/2 cup milk; 1 cup beef broth; 3 bay leaves; 1 large onion, sliced; 1 tbsp butter; 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded

French Onion Meatloaf combines seasoned ground beef with sautéed onions and peppers, crowned with melted Gruyère cheese for a rich, restaurant-quality dinner that delivers French bistro flavors in comfort-food form.

🌍American 🏷️Meatloaf 🏷️French onion 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Gruyere cheese Caramelized onions

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

-0:00

TikTok

Total

1h 25m

Servings

6

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$32–$53

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
1 tbsp seasoning salt
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika
black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 medium onion, finely chopped and sautéed
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped and sautéed
1/2 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 cup beef broth
3 bay leaves
1 large onion, sliced
1 tbsp butter
1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded

18 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a large bowl, combine ground beef with seasoning salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper.
2
Add the sautéed onions and bell peppers, Worcestershire sauce, crushed crackers, beaten eggs, and milk to the bowl.
3
Gently mix all ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
4
Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and form it into a loaf shape.
5
Pour beef broth around the meatloaf and add the bay leaves to the broth.
6
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake. (Note: The video does not specify temperature or time. A standard is 375°F / 190°C for 50-60 minutes).
7
While the meatloaf bakes, caramelize the sliced onions in a pan with butter until soft and golden brown.
8
Once baked, remove the meatloaf from the oven and discard the foil. Top with the shredded Gruyère cheese.
9
Spread the caramelized onions evenly over the cheese.
10
Return the meatloaf to the oven, uncovered, for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
11
Let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before slicing. You can use the pan drippings to create a gravy to pour over the top.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Caramelize onions separately before adding to the meatloaf mixture to develop deep, sweet flavor without cooking out moisture from the beef.
Don't overmix the meat once wet ingredients are added; this toughens the loaf—stir just until combined.
Add the Gruyère topping in the last 5–10 minutes of baking so it melts fully without browning too darkly.
Let the finished meatloaf rest 5–10 minutes before slicing to keep juices inside the loaf rather than on the plate.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or ground lamb (note: lamb adds earthiness; reduce cooking time slightly for turkey)
Gruyère → Swiss cheese or aged white cheddar (note: Swiss is milder; cheddar is sharper)
Green bell pepper → red or yellow bell pepper (note: red and yellow are sweeter and slightly less bitter)
Worcestershire sauce → soy sauce or balsamic vinegar (note: soy adds umami; balsamic adds sweetness)