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French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf

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French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food mash-up. Take the best part of French Onion Soup – the rich caramelized onions and ooey, gooey cheese – stuff it inside one of the most classic recipes and top it with a soupy gravy in this French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf - caramelized onions and cheese turn this traditional recipe into the ultimate comfort food | cupcakesandkalechips.com | gluten free

I’m so proud of The Bug, you guys! So as you know, Halloween was a little over a week ago, and of course I had to take my little monkeys out trick-or-treating. But before we even hit the sidewalk, I had a little chat with The Bug about the “Switch Witch”. I said that he could keep a few of his favorite candies, but we would put the rest in a box for the “Switch Witch” to take to kids that couldn’t go trick-or-treating. In return, she would leave him a coupon for a frozen yogurt. I figured one small treat that went along with a family outing was better than a couple weeks’ worth of chocolates, and the potential tantrums that would ensue when I attempted to limit his consumption.

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He balked a bit at first, but his love of frozen yogurt won out. However, a slight look of concern came over his face, and, with a slight waver in his voice, he asked, “Mommy, at Christmas is the Switch Witch going to come take some of my toys from Santa to bring to other children?” I assured him that she wouldn’t take any of his new, special toys, but when we are unpacking all of his old toys when we move to our new house, we should make a pile of things that he and his little brother don’t play with anymore. Then we will make arrangements for the Switch Witch to come take those toys to little children who may not have any toys.

He seemed very happy with that plan – both because he would get to keep all of his new toys (I mean, he is only four), but also because he could make some other children happy, too. I think we will pick up some new things to donate as well, plus make a few extra purchases at the grocery store to help the local food banks and shelters. As we are embarking on a new journey in our lives, I’m realizing how blessed and lucky we are, and this is the least we can do as a family to help pass on some of our good fortune to help those in need. Even at this young age, this is such an important thing for me to teach my children.

Of course, as we move to a completely new area where we don’t know anyone, I’m expecting to feel a little lonely, and I can only imagine how it must be for those who are elderly or sick or have lost loved ones or have a spouse stationed overseas. Especially this time of year, I think we should all think about opening our homes to someone who could use a little company and conversation, and perhaps a warm, comforting meal like this…

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf - caramelized onions and cheese turn this traditional recipe into the ultimate comfort food | cupcakesandkalechips.com | gluten free

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf definitely combines the best of two comfort foods. Back in June I told you why French Onion Soup is such a comfort food to me, and those stuffed meatballs were huge hit with both my own family and families of readers who I heard from all over the country. But let’s be honest – stuffing cheese and onions into meatballs can get a bit tedious. Enter the other classic American comfort food – MEATLOAF! Stuffing those caramelized onions, enhanced with some reduced Gallo Family red wine – in this case the Cabernet Sauvignon, though Merlot or Pinot Noir work equally well – and gooey mozzarella cheese inside a meatloaf was a stroke of brilliance, if I do say so myself. Then covering it in that soup-inspired gravy and more cheese – you really can’t go wrong!

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf - caramelized onions and cheese turn this traditional recipe into the ultimate comfort food | cupcakesandkalechips.com | gluten free

OK, well you can’t go wrong with three out of four of us. The Bug was in a mood where he refused to eat anything that touched an onion. Maybe he was just being generous and wanting to share his portion with someone else who would love it. Maybe not, but I can pretend.

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf - caramelized onions and cheese turn this traditional recipe into the ultimate comfort food | cupcakesandkalechips.com | gluten free

 

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf - caramelized onions and cheese turn this traditional recipe into the ultimate comfort food | cupcakesandkalechips.com | gluten free

What are you doing this holiday season to help bring comfort to those in need?

Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

French Onion Soup au Gratin Stuffed Meatloaf

With its caramelized onions and ooey, gooey cheese and soup-y gravy, it's the ultimate comfort food mash-up.
Course: Beef, Dinner
Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Ingredients

For the onions:

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 onions halved and thinly sliced
  • ½ Tablespoon fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ cup beef broth
  • ¼ cup red wine I used Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon, but Pinot Noir or Merlot would also work nicely

For the meatloaf:

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs or instant or slightly ground oats gluten free, if needed
  • 2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
  • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish optional

For the sauce:

  • 2 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup red wine I used Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon, but Pinot Noir or Merlot would also be good
  • 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

For the onions:

  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium, add onions, salt & pepper, cook 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently or until caramelized.
  • Add thyme, sauté for minute or two, then add the wine and beef broth.
  • Reduce until very little liquid remains.
  • Set aside.

For the meatloaf:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs or oats, parsley, pepper, salt, and eggs. Gently combine with your hands until blended, but try not to overwork the meat.
  • On a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper, press the meat mixture into a 10x12-inch rectangle.
  • Set aside 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup og the caramelized onions. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese and the caramelized onions evenly over ground beef. Roll up like a jelly roll, starting from the short end, lifting the wax paper or plastic wrap as you roll. Seal the end completely, and place seam-side down into a 9x13-inch baking pan.
  • Sauce - whisk together, bring to boil, simmer till thickened.
  • Place pan in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. While the meatloaf is baking, prepare the sauce (see below).
  • Remove pan from oven, pour the sauce over the meatloaf, and sprinkle with the reserved onions nd cheese.
  • Return meatloaf to oven 15-20 minutes, or until no pink remains. Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Remove from oven and allow to stand 10 minutes. Slice and serve.

For the sauce:

  • Whisk ingredients together in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat.
  • Reduce to a simmer until reduced and thickened.

Enjoy!

Here are some more of my favorite comfort food mash-ups…

Gluten Free Chicken Taco Corn Chowder Recipe-4 titleKentucky-Hot-Brown-Grilled-Cheese-Sandwich-5-title.jpgBuffalo-Chicken-Shepherds-Pie-3-title.jpg

And the #SundaySupper family has plenty of other delicious comforting dishes to make or pair with Gallo Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Grigio…

Comforting Appetizers and Beverages:

Comforting Entrees, Soups, and Stews:

Comforting Side Dishes:

Comforting Brunch, Desserts, and Sweets:

 

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Comments

    • Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says

      April 7, 2019 at 7:17 pm

      Hi Cindy,
      There isn’t actual French onion soup in the meatballs. I mention in the post that the recipe is inspired by the flavors of the soup, with caramelized onions and cheese. 🙂

      Reply

  2. Andrea Llewellyn says

    April 1, 2019 at 3:52 pm

    I’m on an aip-paleo diet. I can substitute yellow onions for the onions and paleo oats or bread crumbs for the bread. What has me stumped is the corn starch. I can use tapioca starch; what consistency am I aiming for so I know how much starch to use?

    Reply

    • Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says

      April 2, 2019 at 1:09 pm

      I typically find that tapioca starch gets thicker than cornstarch, so I’d recommend starting with about half the amount. You aren’t looking for a super thick sauce. Just thickened enough to coat and moisten the meatloaf and not be super watery.

      Reply

  3. misty says

    March 7, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    Great recipe!!! Did you create this?
    I agree with the other commenters on the name of the wine and being better later (froze and re-heated-was even better than before).
    I made changes (do you cringe when people say that)? but I was not a fan of the wine sauce with the venison substitute, so I used my fav homemade BBQ sauce and it was incredible.
    Thanks so much for sharing. You’re an awesome cook!

    Reply

  4. Ruth Justice says

    February 23, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    I want to thank you for adding the name of the wine you use in your recipes. I don’t drink wine and when some one says use your favorite wine I’m at a lost! With your recipes I will now know what to look for when I go to the store. THANK YOU!!!!!!

    Reply

  5. Laronda says

    October 31, 2017 at 9:59 pm

    Made this tonight – absolutely amazing!!!! There WILL be a battle over who gets the last couple pieces tomorrow…Might have to make 3 or 4 next time!!

    Reply

    • Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says

      November 5, 2017 at 5:21 pm

      I’m so happy that you enjoyed the meatloaf recipe, Laronda. Incidentally, we usually battle over the last piece at our house, too! 😉

      Reply

  6. Lynn Hayes says

    September 30, 2016 at 10:38 pm

    I was on Pinterest earlier today. I found one of your pins for French onion Au Gratin Stuff Meatballs. I’m unable to find the recipe for it, or for the French Onion Stuffed Meatloaf. I’ve done a search on your website, and still nothing. The pictures on Pinterest look amazing. I really want to make one or both of these. Can you help me?

    Reply

  7. Bobi Pixiley says

    September 18, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    Thank you for telling us what TYPE of red wine you are using!! I’m not a wine expert. It drives me nuts when a recipe simply says Red Wine or White Wine. Then, I go to the store and see Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Rhine, Chardonnay, Pinot grigio and I think, Great, I could ruin this whole recipe because I don’t know what I’m doing!

    This looks delicious and company worthy.

    Reply

  8. Laurie says

    May 23, 2016 at 6:24 pm

    This was a bit of work, but oh.so.yummy! Got rave reviews from the family. Served it with mashed potatoes (the sauce from the meatloaf was fabulous drizzled over the potatoes). Really enjoyed this twist on an old family fav.

    Reply

  9. Linnea says

    May 19, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    This is THE best meatloaf I’ve ever made!! I made mine with Mondavi merlot and ground venison (thanks to the hubs awesome hunting skillz, lol) Mashed potatoes made better with the pan drippings/gravy and the rest of the bottle of wine with dinner…delish!! Looking forward to meatloaf sandwiches tomorrow! 🙂 Thank you for such a great recipe!

    Reply

  10. Helen Blank says

    April 10, 2016 at 11:28 am

    This was amazing! I suggest making extra onions to snack on while you finish the recipe. I had never cooked with this type of wine before. I’m hooked. Now I’m looking up other recipes with it in. I just had some leftovers warmed up from last night. Even better! Thanks for a super great recipe.

    Reply

  12. Debora Robinson says

    February 3, 2016 at 7:37 pm


    Great recipe but I found that the sauce was bland, so I added about 2 tbsp. Worchester sauce and a half tsp. Liquid bouquet and let it simmer down 25 minutes prior to adding the onion and cheese on top. Made some sour cream mashed potatoes and needles to say dinner was gone, gone, gone!!!!!! Definitely a keeper for my files….. thanks for giving me an alternative for meatloaf!

    Reply

  14. Amy says

    April 30, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    We finally made this for dinner tonight! And ooohhhhh, so good! Roberto said that this just might be his favorite of all your recipes!

    Reply

  18. Lou Lou Girls says

    November 15, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    Hello cute lady! This looks incredible. Pinned. We really appreciate you taking the time to stop by our party. It wouldn’t be a party without you. Please join us on Monday at 7 pm. Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls

    Reply

  20. Marlene says

    November 14, 2014 at 10:28 pm


    My husband (aka Mr Fussy) requested meatloaf tonight, and I immediately thought of this recipe which I’d pinned. It was fabulous, and he rated it A+. I halved the recipe as it was just for us and am freezing the rest for another dinner. Definitely a keeper! Thanks, Brianne, for another winner.

    Reply

  23. Alice says

    November 13, 2014 at 8:02 pm


    I can believe how popular this dish has been since its come out on Sunday, it looks beyond amazing!! I’m certainly going to try this one! 🙂

    This screams comfort, especially with all the ooey, gooey cheese! 🙂

    Reply

  32. Jenni says

    November 9, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    What an absolutely brilliant idea, Brianne! I’m so with Renee–genius! I know you guys will do great in your new place, but getting acclimated always takes awhile. We actually hosted an open house a couple of weeks after we moved in. We had snacks and asked neighbors (via the neighborhood facebook page) to swing by and say howdy. It was a nice way to break the ice. Serve this too. It wouldn’t hurt! lol =)

    Reply

  40. Katie says

    November 9, 2014 at 9:30 am

    How awesome that The Bug is so willing to donate to those in need! So so sweet that he is getting into the spirit of things at an early age. We moved about every 2 years when I was a kid, so donating/giving away items became second nature, and it was a really good feeling (and a bit freeing too). It’s kind of funny – when we moved from Michigan to Wisconsin, I gave my bike to a friend who didn’t have one…and I somehow have never bought another one for 15+ years. Oops!

    Reply

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