Description
A comforting and hearty French Onion Beef Casserole combining savory caramelized onions, ground beef, and cheesy egg noodles baked to perfection with a crispy fried onion topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Pasta and Cheese
- 2 cups shredded egg noodles, cooked
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
Topping
- 1/2 cup crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Onions: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onion and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring regularly, until they become softened and lightly caramelized for a deep flavor.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant but not burnt.
- Brown Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spatula, until it is fully browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Season Meat Mixture: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper to evenly season the beef and onion mixture.
- Add Soup and Sour Cream: Pour in the condensed French onion soup and stir in the sour cream until everything is well combined and creamy.
- Combine with Noodles and Cheese: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked egg noodles with the beef mixture and half of the shredded mozzarella and Swiss cheeses, mixing thoroughly.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly for consistent cooking.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Swiss cheeses over the top, then evenly distribute the crispy fried onions to create a crunchy topping.
- Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese on top has melted and slightly browned.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking to set before serving warm.
Notes
- Allow the onions to caramelize slowly and deeply for enhanced flavor and sweetness.
- Substitute Swiss cheese with Gruyere for a more traditional French onion flavor profile.
