Description
This Crockpot French Onion Meatloaf takes a classic comfort food and gives it an irresistible gourmet twist. Slow-cooked to tender perfection, this meatloaf is infused with the deep, savory flavor of caramelized onions and rich French onion soup. Topped with gooey melted Swiss cheese and a luscious onion gravy, it’s hearty, cozy, and full of melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Perfect for weeknight dinners or a family Sunday meal that tastes like you worked all day when really, the slow cooker did all the magic!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 (10.5 oz) can French onion soup
- 1 packet (1 oz) onion soup mix (like Lipton)
- 6–8 slices Swiss cheese
Instructions
1. Caramelize the Onions:
In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring often, until golden brown and soft about 15 to 20 minutes. This step builds that signature French onion flavor. Set aside.
2. Make the Meatloaf Mixture:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon until everything just comes together. Avoid overmixing, which can make the meatloaf dense.
3. Shape and Assemble:
Form the mixture into a loaf shape and place it directly in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the French onion soup evenly over the top, then sprinkle on the onion soup mix. Spoon half of the caramelized onions over the loaf.
4. Slow Cook:
Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the meatloaf is fully cooked through and tender.
5. Add the Cheese:
About 10 minutes before serving, top the meatloaf with the remaining caramelized onions and Swiss cheese slices. Cover again and let the heat melt the cheese until it’s bubbly and irresistible.
6. Serve:
Carefully lift the meatloaf out of the crockpot (it will be soft and juicy). Spoon the rich onion sauce over the top, slice, and serve warm.
Notes
- Slow and steady wins the flavor.
The magic of this recipe lies in the long, gentle cooking process. Cooking low and slow allows the onions to release their natural sweetness and the beef to soak up all that savory French onion broth goodness. - Prevent greasy buildup.
If your meatloaf releases a lot of fat while cooking, simply spoon off excess grease or tilt the slow cooker slightly to drain before adding the cheese topping. This keeps the final dish rich but not heavy. - Caramelizing onions properly is key.
Take your time when browning the onions don’t rush this step. The deeper the caramelization, the more complex your finished dish will taste. If the onions start to brown too quickly, reduce the heat slightly and let them develop their golden color slowly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6–7 hours on LOW (or 3–4 hours on HIGH)
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: crockpot meatloaf, french onion meatloaf, slow cooker dinner, swiss cheese meatloaf, comfort food