Slow Cooker Caramelized French Onion Meatloaf Recipe Is What to Make This Week by Donna John

When you're feeling down or have had a bad day, nothing helps more than a plate of delicious comfort food. This slow-cooker caramelized french onion meatloaf recipe is like a long hug from a friend. With easy prep and a short list of ingredients, this is one meatloaf recipe you will want to add to your dinner rotation.

This was the first time I've cooked a meatloaf in my slow cooker. Was I a bit skeptical? Yes, but the meatloaf turned out amazing. Here is your shopping list for this high-protein dinner: butter, an onion, ground beef, a packet of dry beefy onion soup mix, panko breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, a can of condensed french onion soup and Swiss cheese.

The onions are cooked in a skillet until browned and caramelized before being added to the slow cooker. If you are in a hurry, you could skip this step and put the onions into the slow cooker raw, but it does add a depth of flavor to the gravy the meatloaf creates as it cooks.)

Slice and serve this moist, juicy meatloaf, rich gravy and caramelized onions for dinner over mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes or even egg noodles.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours (high) or 5 to 6 hours (low)
Total Time: 3 hours and 10 minutes to 6 hours and 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 ounce (1 packet) beefy onion soup mix  
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk (I used evaporated milk)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 10.5 ounces (1 can) condensed french onion soup
• 8 slices Swiss cheese (divided)

Here's how to make it: 

1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions.
   
2. Cook, stirring often, until the onions soften and begin to brown and caramelize, about 10 minutes.
   
3. Pour the onions into a slow cooker. (If you want a longer meatloaf, use an oval slow cooker. My slow cooker is round, so I got a shorter, fatter meatloaf.)
   
4. While the onions brown, put the ground beef, soup mix, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce and 5 slices of Swiss cheese that you've grated or cut into small pieces into a mixing bowl. (If you can't find beefy onion soup mix, you can use regular dry onion soup mix.)
   
5. Stir or use clean hands to mix the ingredients together. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. (I added very little extra salt but did add a good amount of black pepper.) Shape the mixture into a loaf and place on top of the onions.
   
6. Pour the can of french onion soup over the top of the meatloaf.
   
7. Cover the slow cooker.
   
8. Cook for 3 hours on low or 5 to 6 hours on high, or until the meatloaf is cooked through. (The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F.)
   
9. Top the meatloaf with the remaining 3 slices of Swiss cheese.
   
10. Cover and let the cheese melt, about 5 minutes.
    
11. Remove the meatloaf to a serving plate. Top with the caramelized onions and drippings. (I sprinkled mine with some parsley flakes for color.)
    
12. Slice and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave.
    

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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