French Onion Soup Casserole with ground beef, orzo and caramelized onions in a creamy beef broth topped with golden toasted baguette slices and melty gruyere cheese. Easy, comfort meal in just 30 minutes!
Love a good bowl of French Onion Soup as much as I do but looking for a quick, easy weeknight meal the whole family will get behind? I have your back.
This simple recipe has all the comforting flavors of classic French Onion Soup but in casserole form and it’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Seasoned ground beef and tender orzo pasta in a creamy beef sauce with caramelized onions, topped with toasted bread slices and plenty of gooey, melted cheese.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS RECIPE
- An easy casserole recipe perfect for a busy weeknight on a cold day.
- The best part – it’s like a bowl of French Onion Soup in a delicious casserole!
- Simple ingredients available at any grocery store for this comfort food meal.
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN FRENCH ONION SOUP CASSEROLE?
- 8 ounce baguette cut into 1/4″ baguette slices
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus about 1 tablespoon more for baguette slices)
- 3 medium onions sliced thinly
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme removed from stem and finely minced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 cup orzo uncooked
- 1/2 cup french onion chip dip
- 8 ounces gruyere cheese freshly grated
HOW TO MAKE FRENCH ONION SOUP CASSEROLE:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Brush bread slices evenly with olive oil then place on a baking sheet. Bake 4-5 minutes or until golden brown then remove from the oven and set aside.
Thinly slice onions (I recommend a mandoline if you have one – if not, a sharp knife works well too).
Melt butter and add olive oil to a large skillet. Add add onions, season lightly with salt and pepper. Toss to coat with the butter mixture and saute 15 minutes over medium heat or until softened and golden brown.
Add worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, thyme and garlic. Stir well and simmer 2-3 minutes then transfer onions to the prepared casserole dish.
Add ground beef to the same skillet (don’t wash), season with salt and pepper. Saute 3-5 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
Pour in beef stock and orzo. Stir well to combine then add to the top of the onions. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 10 minutes in the 400 degree oven.
Remove from the oven, stir in the french onion chip dip then cover again with foil and continue baking 6-8 minutes or until the orzo is al dente.
Top with toasted baguette slices. Sprinkle gruyere cheese on top of the bread and bake another 3 minutes uncovered until the cheese is melted and a little brown and bubbly. Optional: broil 1 minute or until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and eat right away.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS TO THIS RECIPE:
- Use a different shredded cheese, like swiss cheese or mozzarella cheese.
- Sour cream can be used instead of chip dip (less onion flavor).
- Beef broth in place of beef stock.
- No worcestershire? Add a light splash of soy sauce.
- Sprinkle on a can of French fried onions over the top.
- 2 large sweet onions instead of medium size.
- Egg noodles instead of orzo (more stock will be needed for the noodles to cook to al dente).
WHAT SIDE DISH GOES WITH FRENCH ONION SOUP CASSEROLE?
Roasted Green Beans and Butternut Squash
LOOKING FOR MORE EASY WEEKNIGHT MEALS?
Hamburger Helper Ground Beef Stroganoff
Enjoy!
Tried this French Onion Casserole recipe? Leave a comment, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and TAG ME with a photo of yours on social media! @agoudalife or #agoudalife
French Onion Soup Casserole
Equipment
- large skillet
- baking sheet for toasted baguette slices
Ingredients
- 8 ounce baguette cut in 1/4" slices
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for baguette slices
- 2 medium onios very thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme remove from stem and minced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 cup orzo uncooked
- 1/2 cup french onion chip dip
- 8 ounces gruyere cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Brush baguette slices with olive oil then place on a baking sheet. Bake 4-5 minutes or until golden brown then remove from the oven and set aside.
- Thinly slice onions (use a mandoline if you have one – if not, a sharp knife).
- Melt butter and add olive oil to a large skillet. Add add onions, season lightly with salt and pepper. Toss to coat with the butter mixture and saute 15 minutes over medium heat or until softened and golden brown.
- Stir in worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, thyme and garlic. Simmer 2-3 minutes then transfer onions to the prepared casserole dish.
- Add ground beef to the same skillet (don’t wash), season with salt and pepper. Saute 3-5 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in beef stock and uncooked orzo then add to the casserole dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 10 minutes in the 400 degree oven.
- Remove from the oven, stir in the french onion chip dip then cover again with foil and continue baking 6-8 minutes or until the orzo is al dente.
- Top with toasted baguette slices then gruyere cheese and bake UNCOVERED 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Eat right away!
It’s crazy how easy this is – it tastes like it’s been simmering for hours – so good!