French Onion Chicken Meatballs (Gluten Free)

One of my favorite things to do when it comes to creating recipes is to combine two of my favorite classics: in this case, traditional meatballs and classic french onion soup. These french onion chicken meatballs are packed with the flavors of classic French onion soup. And if you’re gluten free like me, and its super frustrating to not be able to order french onion soup out at a restaurant, these are the perfect go to weeknight dinner recipe!

My french onion chicken meatballs are made with juicy ground chicken meatballs packed with cheese and caramelized onions, then topped with more ooey-gooey cheese, caramelized onions and that classic savory beef flavor broth. Think easy, tender, juicy meatballs with a french onion twist! Talk about comfort food!

These french onion meatballs are an easy weeknight dinner recipe made with chicken, just like my baked chicken caprese recipe and my cast iron skillet fajitas!

why you’ll love this gluten free recipe

• French onion chicken meatballs are so easy and quick to make.
• Incredibly comforting. Nothing screams comfort food to me more than caramelized onions and french onion soup…except well maybe meatballs, but you have the best of both worlds here!
• This french onion meatball dish is fancy enough for a holiday meal but easy enough for a quick weeknight dinner.
• This recipe is allergy friendly. You can use gluten free breadcrumbs like I did for gluten free meatballs. You can use dairy free cheese for an easy dairy free recipe!
• The french onion meatballs are an easy freezer friendly meal, which means it is a great option for a meal prep lunches or dinners! I love to have it ready to go when I need to just pull a dinner out of the freezer and heat it up quick.

ingredients & substitutions

Onions: Caramelized onions adds a savory aspect. They add the signature french onion soup classic flavoring to the french onion chicken meatballs.

Beef bone broth: I like using bone broth because it is richer than broth or stock. It is also packed with nutrients. If I don’t have bone broth, beef broth, chicken broth or chicken stock works just the same!

Ground chicken: This is the perfect lean protein for the base of these meatballs. I prefer chicken instead of beef for a lighter weeknight meal. You can use ground turkey too since it has a similar taste! I’ve made these before with turkey and they are just as good!

Egg: This acts as a binder to hold the homemade meatballs together.

Gluten free breadcrumbs: These help bind the gluten free meatballs together. I use gluten free breadcrumbs to make these homemade meatballs gluten free. I prefer the seasoned gluten free ones instead of the plain. But if you buy plain gluten free breadcrumbs make sure to add a little garlic and herb seasoning to elevate them.

Mozzarella cheese: This is the melty center in the french onion meatballs. Provolone or Gruyère are similar and can be used too! You can use shredded, sliced, or torn pieces of fresh mozzarella! Any cheese works for the cheesy topping on the french onion chicken meatballs.

directions

Step 1

Add sliced onions and oil to an oven safe pan. Cook on medium heat for 20-30 minutes until onions have browned and caramelized.

Step 2

Add 1/4 cup beef broth to onions and continue cooking until all broth is absorbed.

Step 3

Mix ground chicken, eggs, breadcrumbs, and 1/2 the amount of onions together in a bowl.

Step 4

Form mixture into balls. I like to use a 1/4 cup to make them all the same size. Stuff each with a mozzarella cube.

Step 5

Add back to the oven safe pan and bake meatballs until cooked through, approx 30 minutes at 350.

Step 6

Top the french onion chicken meatballs with remaining onions and more mozzarella. Serve and enjoy!

expert tips & tricks

• These french onion chicken meatballs make the perfect appetizer for holidays too! I just make them smaller than normal and pop little tooth picks in them before adding to a serving tray.
• Be patient, it’s worth the wait. Caramelizing onions is easy but can take time. The constant stirring of the onions can get frustrating. But remember, you don’t want them to burn or sit in the same spot for too long, so cooking low and low with a lot of stirring is the way to go.

serving, storing and meal prepping

These french onion chicken meatballs can be enjoyed as is, over pasta or rice, with a side of bread, or even on a roll as a sandwich!

To store, I let the french onion chicken meatballs cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to four days.

For longer storage, I love the french onion meatballs to portion into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2 months.

To meal prep into individual portions, divide the french onion meatballs into separate containers. These individual portions are my favorite for great grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners during the week.

Looking for more allergy friendly easy recipe?

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