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cooked french onion meatballs in a cast iron skillet
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Easy French Onion Meatballs (Without Breadcrumbs!)

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!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Beef
Servings: 4
Calories: 1kcal
Cost: $5-10

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.

Notes

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.