Description
Hearty French onion beef casserole blends classic French flavors with comforting American casserole traditions. Melted cheese, caramelized onions, and tender beef create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 (10 ounces) container french onion dip
Pasta and Aromatics:
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 2 yellow onions
- 2 cloves garlic
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 (10.5 ounces) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Topping:
- 1/2 cup french fried onions
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F and prepare egg noodles following package instructions until al dente.
- Melt butter in large skillet and caramelize onions until translucent and golden, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Add ground beef to skillet, breaking meat into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Incorporate minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release aromatic flavors.
- Pour cream of mushroom soup and beef broth into skillet, stirring to create a cohesive sauce with meat mixture.
- Gently fold cooked noodles and French onion dip into the skillet, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer entire mixture to greased baking dish and evenly sprinkle mozzarella cheese across the top.
- Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until cheese melts and casserole edges become bubbly.
- Remove from oven, generously top with French fried onions, and return to oven for final 5 minutes until onions turn crispy and golden brown.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help set and enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly to enhance their natural sweetness and develop deeper flavor complexity.
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent excess grease and ensure a rich, concentrated taste.
- Use low-sodium beef broth to control salt levels and allow more nuanced seasoning adjustments.
- Consider gluten-free alternatives like rice noodles or zucchini noodles for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg