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French Onion Meatball Sliders

French onion meatball sliders - featured image
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These French onion meatball sliders combine juicy beef meatballs, caramelized onions, and gooey cheese on soft slider buns for the ultimate party appetizer. Inspired by classic French onion soup, they’re easy, cheesy, and guaranteed to disappear fast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-style)
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (plus 2 tbsp melted for buns)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
  • 1/2 cup beef broth (plus extra for simmering meatballs, optional)
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 12 slider buns or mini dinner rolls
  • 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • Fresh parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add sliced onions and stir to coat. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until softened (about 8 minutes). Sprinkle in sugar and a pinch of salt.
  3. Continue cooking, stirring often, for 15-20 minutes until onions are deep golden brown and sweet. Add a splash of beef broth if onions start sticking.
  4. Stir in thyme. Add 1/2 cup beef broth and Worcestershire sauce (if using). Simmer until liquid thickens, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
  5. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  6. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
  7. Roll mixture into 12 even meatballs.
  8. Optional: Simmer meatballs in 1 cup beef broth for 5 minutes for extra flavor.
  9. Arrange meatballs on baking sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes, until cooked through (internal temp 160°F).
  10. Slice slider buns in half and arrange bottoms in a baking dish.
  11. Top each bun with a meatball, a spoonful of caramelized onions, and a generous sprinkle of Gruyère and mozzarella cheese.
  12. Place bun tops on and brush with 2 tbsp melted butter. Sprinkle with parsley or chives if desired.
  13. Bake assembled sliders at 400°F for 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and buns are golden.
  14. Let cool 2-3 minutes before serving. Optional: Broil for 2 minutes at the end for extra cheesy tops.

Notes

For best flavor, caramelize onions slowly over low heat. Simmering meatballs in broth before baking keeps them juicy. Use gluten-free buns and breadcrumbs for a GF version, or plant-based meatballs and cheese for vegetarian. Sliders can be assembled ahead and baked just before serving. Leftovers reheat well and can be frozen.

Nutrition

Keywords: French onion sliders, meatball sliders, party appetizer, cheesy sliders, caramelized onions, Gruyère, game day food, comfort food

Find it online: https://bitematrix.com/french-onion-meatball-sliders-recipe-easy-cheesy-party-appetizer/