Tender meatballs nestled in FRENCH ONION gravy. Oh, sweet buns. I know, I’m forever going to be known as the meatball queen for sharing what is now the ten-millionth meatball recipe. But, get this: French onion chicken meatballs are tender, baked chicken meatballs rolling around in a french onion gravy that’s sweet from the caramelized onions, savory from the sauce, and cheesy from the delectable layer of melty cheese on top. These chicken meatballs are truly melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Could you even imagine how delicious that onion gravy would be over orzo pasta with a few roasted or steamed veggies on the side? It’s seriously the epitome of good comfort food. Warm, hearty, and so filling.
These french onion chicken meatballs were a long time coming. It all started with the chicken piccata meatballs I shared a couple of years back. So many of you guys made and loved them that it got me thinking, what other classics could I turn into meatballs? And I remembered that you guys happen to the french onion pot roast just as much as we did. So that’s how it happened. Believe it or not, these are the kind of thoughts I have in my mind before I drift off into a peaceful slumber. It doesn’t help that minutes before that I was watching MasterChef. The chicken meatballs from one dish and the slow-roasted onion gravy from the other dish and of course, a handful of bubbly melty cheese for good measure. That’s the evolution of the french onion chicken meatballs. So let’s hop right into the recipe.
What goes in the meatball mixture for French onion chicken meatballs?
an egg panko breadcrumbs grated parmesan cheese garlic powder +onion powder salt + pepper fresh parsley ground chicken (or turkey)
How to make French onion chicken meatballs:
My number one tip that I share every time I share a meatball recipe (which is happening way too frequently now) is to start by combining everything but the meat in a bowl first. That way, you can ensure that seasonings are evenly dispersed without overworking the ground chicken. Once you add the ground chicken, mix until it is just mixed. This way, you always end up with tender meatballs! The texture is so much better when you take the time to combine everything first. Another tip I’ve picked up along the way: use a fork to fluff the ingredients (like you would rice) instead of using a wooden spoon or spatula. It keeps the meatballs extremely light and doesn’t make them dense!
How to portion the chicken meatballs:
Once you’ve made the meatball mixture, divide them into 32-35 portions. I use a cookie scoop so that all the meatballs are the same size. Using a scoop ensure that all the meatballs bake in the same amount of time so that you aren’t left with undercooked/overcooked meatballs.
What if the meatball mixture starts sticking to my hands, any tips?
Chicken meatballs are notorious for being hard to work with! Wash your hands really well, pat them dry, and coat hands with a generous spray of cooking spray (or drizzle ½ teaspoon of oil on your hands and rub well.) This keeps the meatballs from sticking to your palms and fingers when you roll them. One more trick, place the portion of ground chicken in the palm of your hand and roll it gently like you would a dice. The centrifugal force from waving your hand in a circular motion makes the meatball nice and smooth! Didn’t think you’d ever hear the words ‘centrifugal force’ in the same sentence as ‘meatballs,’ did you?
What do you need to make the sauce for french onion meatballs?
butter thinly sliced onions sugar Worcestershire sauce seasonings grated garlic flour beef stock grated cheese (such as gruyere, provolone, or mozzarella)
How to make the French onion chicken meatball gravy:
How do you suggest serving these cheesy caramelized onion chicken meatballs?
over egg noodles on a bed of quinoa over rice over zoodles on a bed of cauliflower rice over orzo pasta over mashed potatoes with a salad on a crispy buttered baguette
Modern comfort food at it’s finest. It also happens to mark all the right boxes: So if this also happens to align with your philosophy of comfort food, you have got to give these french onion chicken meatballs a try.
