No Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Move over, boring meatloaf—this flavor-packed French Onion Meatloaf deserves a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.
This latest creation is a must try! You can’t go wrong with golden onions and cheese on anything! Meatloaf cooks up very tender in the crockpot as well.
We also love to make French Onion Chicken, Slow Cooker French Onion Soup, a tender French Onion Pot Roast and even Hot French Onion Dip!
Key Ingredients
Here’s what brings all the flavor together in this comforting slow cooker meal:
Sweet onions and butter – caramelized for a rich, savory base.
Ground beef – the heart of the meatloaf, seasoned and tender.
Onion soup mix – adds a beefy onion flavor
Red wine and Worcestershire deepen the flavor of the onion sauce.
Swiss cheese – pairs amazingly with the onions!
Cook’s Notes and Variations
Lean Beef: Be sure to use a lean ground beef – if you use too fatty meat, the onions will be too greasy. We like to use 7% fat ground beef.
Skip the wine: If you don’t have red wine, substitute with beef broth or a mixture of balsamic vinegar and water.
Want to skip the stovetop? You can caramelize the onions directly in the slow cooker—just cook them on LOW for 10–12 hours with butter, salt, pepper, and sugar, stirring occasionally until golden. Then add your meatloaf.
Cheese Swap: Replace Swiss cheese with Gruyere, Provolone, or even Mozzarella.
Make Ahead: You can shape the meatloaf ahead of time and refrigerate it—just place it on the onions when you’re ready to cook.
How to Serve:
The French onion meatloaf pairs well with mashed potatoes, slow cooker baked potatoes, crockpot mac and cheese, or steamed white rice. We even love Lipton Onion Potatoes with this!.
Spoon over the cooked onions onto each serving.
Leftovers reheat well! We love to make meatloaf sandwiches with the sliced meatloaf.
French Onion Meatloaf Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Onions
- 4 large sweet onions, sliced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
For the Meatloaf
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 oz. packet Lipton onion soup mix
- ½ cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 6-8 slices Swiss cheese
- Fresh thyme, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the sliced sweet onions, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Cook for 25–30 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are soft and golden. Transfer the caramelized onions to the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the red wine and Worcestershire sauce over onions to create a flavorful base.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, milk, an egg, and French onion soup mix. Mix thoroughly with your hands or a spoon until fully combined.
- Shape the meat mixture into an oval loaf that will fit inside the slow cooker. Make sure the loaf is compact but not too tightly packed, as this may make the meatloaf dense.
- Gently place the formed meatloaf on top of the onion mixture.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to high. Cook the meatloaf for approximately 5 hours.
- After 5 hours, carefully open the slow cooker lid and lay 6-8 slices of Swiss cheese across the top of the meatloaf, overlapping slightly if needed. Cover the slow cooker again and continue cooking for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Garnish the finished meatloaf with a few sprigs of fresh thyme. Allow the meatloaf to rest for 5 minutes before slicing to ensure it holds together when cut.
- Slice the meatloaf and serve with the caramelized onions and sauce. The meatloaf can be served straight out of the slow cooker or transfered to a platter.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Meatloaf Recipes
Lipton Onion Meatloaf is packed with savory flavor and easy to prepare. Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Slow Cooker Turkey Meatloaf are great hands-off options for busy days. For a hearty meal, try Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes or go all in with a Complete Meatloaf Dinner.
