Description
Hearty French onion beef casserole merges classic comfort with rich, savory flavors from French culinary traditions. Cheese-topped layers of tender beef and caramelized onions create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb / 1 pound ground beef (93/7)
- 2 cups French fried onions
- 12 oz / 340 g wide egg noodles
- 16 oz / 454 g French onion dip
- 10.5 oz / 298 g cream of mushroom soup
- 1.5 cups / 170 g Gruyere cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter for optimal non-stick surface.
- Noodle Preparation: Cook egg noodles in boiling water until al dente, drain completely, and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process and prevent sticking.
- Beef Cooking: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, breaking into fine crumbles until no pink remains. Drain excess fat to reduce greasiness.
- Sauce Integration: Return beef to skillet, blend French onion dip and cream of mushroom soup thoroughly, creating a rich, creamy base that coats the meat evenly and adds deep flavor.
- Casserole Assembly: Gently fold cooked noodles into beef mixture, ensuring complete coating, then transfer to prepared baking dish and spread uniformly for consistent texture.
- Cheese and Topping Layer: Sprinkle shredded cheese across entire surface, creating a complete coverage that will melt beautifully. Bake for 15 minutes until cheese begins to bubble and edges turn golden.
- Final Crisp: Distribute French fried onions over the top, return to oven for an additional 5-7 minutes until onions transform into a crispy, golden-brown topping that adds crunch and flavor.
- Serving: Remove from oven and let casserole rest for 5 minutes to set, allowing flavors to meld and making serving easier. Serve warm and enjoy immediately for maximum taste and texture.
Notes
- Drain Beef Thoroughly: Remove excess fat completely to prevent a greasy dish and ensure a cleaner, more appetizing texture.
- Noodle Cooking Tip: Cook egg noodles just until al dente to avoid mushy texture; cold water rinse stops cooking process and maintains perfect consistency.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Spread cheese evenly for maximum coverage and golden, bubbly top that creates irresistible crispy edges.
- Crispy Onion Secret: Add French fried onions in the final minutes of baking to achieve maximum crunch and prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 486
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1095 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg