This French Onion Meatballs and Rice recipe makes a super easy weeknight dinner with minimal prep and all of the ingredients are baked together in a single casserole dish. The rice is combined with condensed French onion soup, sliced mushrooms, and beef broth to infuse it with all the classic flavors of French onion soup. Then the meatballs are topped with gooey, melty Gruyere cheese. So good!
I just love the rich, savory flavors of classic French onion soup. It’s delicious incorporated into recipes like French onion mac and cheese and now this French onion meatballs and rice casserole. This recipe is my go-to when I’m craving those flavors but also need something effortless. It takes a few shortcuts, like frozen meatballs and condensed soup, but the flavor is still rich, cheesy, and delicious!
Tips & Variations
- Use any meatballs. Any small meatballs work for this recipe. I always have my homemade Italian beef meatballs in the freezer for sliders, soups, and casseroles like this one, but store bought is totally fine too. Turkey meatballs and chicken meatballs can also be used. Just make sure they’re pre-cooked and frozen. (If they’re not frozen, adjust the cook time as they won’t need as long to cook but the rice still needs to cook completely.)
- Long grain rice. It’s important to use long grain white rice, not short or medium grain rice, as they will all have different cooking times. Brown rice will also take longer to cook.
- Low sodium broth. I always recommend using low sodium beef broth, to have full control over the flavor of the recipe. The French onion soup used here can be quite salty so I stick to that recommendation here.
- Try different cheese. If you can’t find the shredded Swiss Gruyere cheese, then all Swiss cheese will work. Provolone is another option as well. Shredded cheese melts easier than sliced cheese so if using sliced cheese, you may want to pop it back in the oven for a minute or two.
French Onion Meatballs and Rice
Ingredients
- 8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can low sodium beef broth
- 1 (10-ounce) can condensed French onion soup
- 1 cup dry long grain white rice
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup butter , thinly sliced into 6 pats
- 24 frozen Italian beef meatballs (see note)
- 4 ounces shredded Gruyere Swiss cheese
- Freshly chopped parsley , for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F. Coat a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- Add 8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms, a 14 ounce can beef broth, a 10 ounce can condensed French onion soup, 1 cup dry long grain white rice, and 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme to the casserole dish; stir to combine.
- Top with the 6 pats of butter (3 rows of 2.)
- Cover tightly with foil. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and sprinkle with the 24 small frozen Italian beef meatballs.
- Place back in the oven, uncovered, and cook for another 30 minutes until the rice is tender and the meatballs are cooked through and golden.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 4 ounces shredded Gruyere Swiss cheese.
- Let stand, loosely tented with foil, for about 5 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Top with a bit of fresh chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Other Notes
Serving Suggestions
With the cheesy French onion meatballs and rice in one dish, I like to serve this casserole with a veggie side. A simple side salad is a quick and easy option. I also love roasted green beans, roasted broccoli, and roasted asparagus.
How To Store Leftovers
- Fridge. Store leftover French onion meatballs and rice in the fridge for 3-4 days. Keep them tightly covered in the baking dish or transfer to an airtight container.
- Freezer. The leftovers can also be frozen in a freezer-safe airtight container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Reheating. The baking dish of leftovers can be reheated in the oven, covered, at 350F until warmed through. Individual servings can easily be reheated in the microwave.
More Meatball Recipes
- Crockpot Asian Pork Meatballs
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Porcupine Meatballs
- Chicken Meatballs
- Turkey Meatballs
- Grape Jelly Meatballs
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
