How to Make French Onion Meatballs with Ground Beef
These French onion meatballs are a great high protein food to keep on hand for a quick dinner or anytime you need a filling snack! Using just ground meat, one egg and seasonings, these French onion meatballs made with no breadcrumbs is a no fuss recipe that anyone can make.
Ways to use French Onion Meatballs
Although the most common way you may think to eat meatballs is with spaghetti, that’s not the only way to eat them! My family’s favorite way to enjoy these meatballs in soup. Just a few meatballs add the much needed protein to a simple meal.
You can serve these as an appetizer at a party with some sauce or on a meatball sub sandwich! These meatballs are excellent to make in bulk to keep in the freezer for when you need a quick, high protein snack. They are quick to warm up and will satisfy your hunger more than most other snacks you might have available.
French Onion Meatballs with no breadcrumbs
Most often, you will see meatball recipes call for breadcrumbs. While breadcrumbs can potentially help with binding the meat together, absorbing moisture and bulking up the meatballs, I’ve found it to be an unnecessary ingredient. This is especially true if you include an egg in your meat & seasoning mixture.
Adding a single egg per pound of ground meat will most often hold everything together and allows you to make delicious french onion meatballs with no breadcrumbs. An added bonus of making your meatballs with no breadcrumbs is that they are great for anyone who wants or needs to be gluten free!
The Shelf Life of Homemade Meatballs
The shelf life of homemade meatballs will greatly depend on multiple factors. These factors include what kind of meat you use, how long that meat has sat in your fridge as well as how you store the meatballs once they are cooked.
This meatball recipe calls for ground beef. However, you can use any ground meat you prefer. If you purchase ground meat from a conventional grocery store, that meat has likely traveled quite a distance and will generally have a shorter shelf life in your refrigerator. If you buy bulk meat from a local farmer, that meat is much fresher and can stand up to sitting in your refrigerator a bit longer.
Once your meatballs are prepared and cooked, they are ready to eat! If you are making these ahead of the planned meal, you can store them in the refrigerator or freezer. If you store these meatballs in the freezer, plan to eat them within the week. Storing French onion meatballs in the freezer is best if you plan to use them more than a week after preparing or cooking. In the freezer, I’ve found cooked meatballs can last 6-12 months.
Looking for more recipe inspiration? You might also enjoy Homemade Raw Milk Yogurt in an Instant Pot or Roasted Bone Marrow.
How to store Meatballs
How To Store Meatballs In The Fridge
To store meatballs in the fridge for later, remove each cooked meatball from the pan and cool completely. Add all meatballs to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week..
How To Store Meatballs In The Freezer
To store meatballs in the freezer for later, remove each cooked meatball from the pan and cool completely. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and align all meatballs in a single layer. Place in the freezer overnight or until completely frozen. Once frozen, transfer into a storage bag or glass container and keep in the freezer for up to 6-12 months.
Ingredients and Tools for French Onion Meatballs
1 Large yellow onion (or 2 medium)
2 Strong Cloves of Fresh Garlic
1 tsp Thyme
2 tsp Parsley
1 tsp Worcestershire
1 Lb Ground Beef
½ tsp Black Pepper
1 Tsp Sea Salt – I like to use Redmond Real Salt for the added minerals
1 Egg
1-2 TBSP tallow, lard or Coconut oil, for cooking the meatballs
A Medium Bowl
A cast iron or stainless steel skillet
Airtight Storage Container (Optional)
Directions
Preheat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet on medium heat with your oil of choice.
Finely chop the onions into pieces no bigger than a half inch square.
When the skillet is preheated, add the onions and reduce the heat to medium low to caramelize. Gently sauté the onions until translucent and light brown. Be sure to stir the onions occasionally. See post for a reference picture for the light brown color.
When the onions are caramelized, add in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant. After the garlic has become fragrant, remove from the heat and let them cool to just warmer than room temperature.
After the onions have cooled, add all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix with your hands until well combined.
On a medium/medium-low heat, preheat a cast iron skillet or stainless steel skillet.
Using a spoon or a cookie scoop, portion your meat into your desired size & roll each portion into a ball.
Place each ball into the preheated skillet and cook until fully cooked.
Once fully cooked, you can enjoy right away or store for later.
To store for later, remove each cooked meatball from the pan and cool completely. If using within the week, add to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. To prepare these for the freezer, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and align all meatballs in a single layer. Place in the freezer overnight or until completely frozen and transfer into a storage bag or glass container.
French Onion Meatball Recipe FAQ:
What Ways Can I Use French Onion Meatballs?
Although the most common way you may think to eat meatballs is with spaghetti, that’s not the only way to eat them! My family’s favorite way to enjoy these meatballs in soup. Just a few meatballs add the much needed protein to a simple meal.
You can serve these as an appetizer at a party with some sauce or on a meatball sub sandwich! These meatballs are excellent to make in bulk to keep in the freezer for when you need a quick, high protein snack. They are quick to warm up and will satisfy your hunger more than most other snacks you might have available.
French Onion Meatballs with no Breadcrumbs
Most often, you will see meatball recipes call for breadcrumbs. While breadcrumbs can potentially help with binding the meat together, absorbing moisture and bulking up the meatballs, I’ve found it to be an unnecessary ingredient. This is especially true if you include an egg in your meat & seasoning mixture.
Adding a single egg per pound of ground meat will most often hold everything together and allows you to make delicious French onion meatballs with no breadcrumbs. An added bonus of making your meatballs with no breadcrumbs is that they are great for anyone who wants or needs to be gluten free!
What’s The Shelf Life of Homemade Meatballs?
The shelf life of homemade meatballs will greatly depend on multiple factors. These factors include what kind of meat you use, how long that meat has sat in your fridge as well as how you store the meatballs once they are cooked.
This meatball recipe calls for ground beef. However, you can use any ground meat you prefer. If you purchase ground meat from a conventional grocery store, that meat has likely traveled quite a distance and will generally have a shorter shelf life in your refrigerator. If you buy bulk meat from a local farmer, that meat is much fresher and can stand up to sitting in your refrigerator a bit longer.
Once your meatballs are prepared and cooked, they are ready to eat! If you are making these ahead of the planned meal, you can store them in the refrigerator or freezer. If you store these meatballs in the freezer, plan to eat them within the week. Storing French onion meatballs in the freezer is best if you plan to use them more than a week after preparing or cooking. In the freezer, I’ve found cooked meatballs can last 6-12 months.
Can I make these French Onion Meatballs in Bulk to Use Later?
YES! Any meatball is a great option to make into a freezer meal. You can easily double, triple or quadruple this recipe to fill your freezer with delicious meatballs for later meals.
What’s The Best Way to Store Meatballs in The Fridge?
To store meatballs in the fridge for later, remove each cooked meatball from the pan and cool completely. Add all meatballs to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
What’s The Best Way to Store Meatballs in The Freezer?
To store meatballs in the freezer for later, remove each cooked meatball from the pan and cool completely. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and align all meatballs in a single layer. Place in the freezer overnight or until completely frozen. Once frozen, transfer into a storage bag or glass container and keep in the freezer for up to 6-12 months.
Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.
Easy French Onion Meatballs (Without Breadcrumbs!)
Equipment
- A Medium Bowl
- A cast iron or stainless steel skillet
- Airtight Storage Container (Optional)
Ingredients
- 1 Large yellow onion or 2 medium
- 2 Strong Cloves of Fresh Garlic
- 1 tsp Thyme
- 2 tsp Parsley
- 1 tsp Worcestershire
- 1 Lb Ground Beef
- 1 Tsp Sea Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Egg
- 1-2 TBSP tallow lard or Coconut oil for cooking the meatballs
Instructions
- Preheat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet on medium heat with your oil of choice.
- Finely chop the onions into pieces no bigger than a half inch square.
- When the skillet is preheated, add the onions and reduce the heat to medium low to caramelize. Gently sauté the onions until translucent and light brown. Be sure to stir the onions occasionally. See post for a reference picture for the light brown color.
- When the onions are caramelized, add in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant. After the garlic has become fragrant, remove from the heat and let them cool to just warmer than room temperature.
- After the onions have cooled, add all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix with your hands until well combined.
- On a medium/medium-low heat, preheat a cast iron skillet or stainless steel skillet.
- Using a spoon or a cookie scoop, portion your meat into your desired size & roll each portion into a ball.
- Place each ball into the preheated skillet and cook until fully cooked.
- Once fully cooked, you can enjoy right away or store for later.
