This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Two slices of French onion meatloaf on top of green beans on a white and blue plate.

Our French Onion Meatloaf is an incredible combination of caramelized onions, lean ground beef, and a hint of thyme, all topped with melty Gruyère cheese and onions. The result is a hearty and comforting dish that’s sure to become a family favorite and would pair perfectly with our Green Bean Casserole as a side.

French onion meatloaf topped with melted gruyere cheese and caramelized onions.

Why You’ll Love this French Onion Meatloaf Recipe
Why I use Grass Fed Beef in Meatloaf Recipes
Variations of this Meatloaf
Ingredients:
How to make French Onion Meatloaf
Rachel’s Tips for Best Results
Serving Suggestions:
Leftover Storage and Reheat
Recipe FAQ’s
More Meatloaf Recipes You’ll Love!
French Onion Meatloaf Recipe

Why You’ll Love this French Onion Meatloaf Recipe

Caramelized onion meatloaf is the perfect savory and ultra satisfying meal when youre craving the flavors of French onion soup but want something a bit more hearty. Here is what this recipe can offer you:

Balanced Flavors: With its perfect balance of savory and sweet, this meatloaf is a testament to the power of slow-cooked onions and the richness of Gruyère cheese. Each bite is a flavor explosion that will leave you wanting more. So why settle for a boring meatloaf when you can elevate your dinner game with this French Onion Meatloaf?

Elevated Perfection: Perfect for a special occasion with friends or a cozy night in with family. This French onion recipe takes regular meatloaf to a whole new level of flavor.

Affordable: Ground beef is something I stock up on when I find a good sale, making this meal budget-friendly.

Meal Prep Friendly: This recipe make plenty, but you could also make extra and freeze it for another easy dinner next week or month.

Whole-Foods: This onion meatloaf recipe uses only whole ingredients. We create that delicious onion flavor by caramelizing actual onions instead of dumping a packet of processed onion soup mix in.

Gluten Free: There are no breadcrumbs in this recipe, so it is both low carb and gluten free.

Here are two more of our French onion recipes you may enjoy, French Onion-Chicken Skillet and Easy Crockpot French Onion Chicken.

Why I use Grass Fed Beef in Meatloaf Recipes

Whether you are making Crockpot Meatloaf Stuffed Peppers or Firecracker Beef Bowls, I always recommend opting for grass fed beef and here are some of the reasons why:

✅Grass-fed beef offers up to 5x the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as conventionally raised beef.

✅It’s also higher in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of fat that appears to be linked with a lower incidence of some chronic diseases.

✅Plus, it’s higher in vitamins A, E, and antioxidants compared to beef from cows that were fed grain.

✅You can buy grass-fed beef in most supermarkets … but a nearby farmer’s market/local butcher can help you to find a great local source.

✅Because grass-fed is a little leaner than grain-fed beef, cook it at a lower temperature for a shorter time to avoid damaging the omega-3s.

REFERENCES: WebMD , HealthLine, HealthLine

Variations of this Meatloaf

Beef: If you don’t have grass fed beef, by all means, use regular lean ground beef.

Cheese: Gruyere is a wonderful cheese, but if you don’t have it on hand or it is outside your budget, you could always opt for Fontina, Swiss, or mozzarella. The flavors will be a bit different, but anything with gooey melty cheese is delicious!

Seasonings: You can add different seasonings to meatloaf to get an entirely different profile. I make this Italian-Inspired Meatloaf when I want something different.

Two slices of French onion meatloaf on top of green means and mashed potatoes on a white and black fluted plate.

Ingredients:

These are the whole food ingredients that come together to make this French Onion Meatloaf both delicious and nutritious.

12 servings

2 Tbsps grass-fed butter or ghee, beef tallow, or avocado oil
2 lbs sweet onions, peeled and thinly sliced
3 lbs lean ground beef
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup almond flour
2 Tbsps Dijon mustard
2 tsps dried thyme
4 fresh cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsps Worcestershire sauce or coconut aminos
sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup freshly shredded Gruyère cheese

How to make French Onion Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.

Step 1. Heat your oil or tallow and sauté the sliced onions for 25-30 minutes, stirring often.

Step 2. Remove the onions from the heat and allow them to cool before the next step.

Step 3. In a large bowl, add the beef, 2/3 of the caramelized onions, beaten eggs, almond flour, mustard, thyme, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, sea salt, and pepper and mix well.

Step 4. Transfer the mixture to your prepared loaf pan and press gently to fill in all of the corners and make it nicely shaped as a loaf.

Step 5. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the center temperature reaches 150°F.

Step 6. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with your freshly shredded cheese while it’s hot, then top with the remaining caramelized onions.

Slice and serve hot.

Enjoy!

❤️Rachel

Rachel’s Tips for Best Results

Use Grass Fed Beef when possible. You can normally find it on sale once in a while, so stock up then!

Make your own homemade Worcestershire sauce for even more flavor from clean ingredients.

Up close image of two slices of French onion meatloaf on a grey and white plate with green beans.

Serving Suggestions:

When I eat meatloaf, I love to pair it with a side dish that is just as warm and comforting. Here are a few that we love here at Clean Food Crush:

For something just as filling and full of savory flavor we love Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Crockpot Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or Smashed Herb Roasted Potatoes.
If you want something on the sweeter side to balance out the flavors, then you may like Scalloped Sweet Potatoes, Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Chips, or Rosemary Parmesan Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
And for something a bit lighter, we recommend Garlicy Roasted Cauliflower + Mushrooms, Green Bean and Bacon Bundles, or Charred Sugar Snap Peas.

Leftover Storage and Reheat

Whether you make extra to freeze or just have leftovers after dinner, this meatloaf with caramelized onions keeps beautifully. Refrigerate it for up to 4 days and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you are ready to reheat, pop it in the microwave until it is hot to the touch.

Recipe FAQ’s

Why is my meatloaf dry?

If your meatloaf is dry, it is because you have cooked it a bit too long. Using a meat thermometer can really help you keep the internal temperature of the meatloaf at 150°F. If it gets any higher, the meatloaf can become too dry.

Why is my meatloaf falling apart?

Meatloaf that is falling apart often means you don’t have enough binding agents in it. You can try adding another egg to the mixture or a few more tablespoons of almond flour to help hold it together.

Can I make this in the crockpot?

I have not tried this particular French onion meatloaf recipe in the crockpot, but I have another great recipe, Crockpot Meatloaf Stuffed Peppers, and it turns out great every time!