Easy French Onion Chicken Meatballs 

Imagine juicy chicken meatballs bathed in a rich, caramelized onion gravy and topped with melted Gruyère and Havarti cheese—pure comfort food beauty. This cozy, crowd-pleasing dish brings together bold flavors and effortless cooking, perfect for dinners or as a standout appetizer. Baking the meatballs ensures a lighter result, while the cheesy, saucy topping elevates each bite to indulgent heaven.

Ingredients (serves 8)

For the meatballs:

• 1 lb (≈450 g) 93% lean ground chicken
  
  

• 1 egg
  
  

• 5 garlic cloves, minced
  
  

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  
  

• ⅓ cup almond meal (or breadcrumbs)
  
  

• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  
  

• ⅓ cup chopped parsley
  
  

• 1 tsp salt
  
  

• 1 tsp pepper
  
  

For the French onion sauce:

• 2 Tbsp butter
  
  

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
  
  

• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  
  

• 4 garlic cloves, minced
  
  

• 1½ cups beef broth
  
  

• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme
  
  

• 1 tsp onion powder
  
  

• 1 tsp salt
  
  

• 1 tsp pepper
  
  

• 4 oz shredded Gruyère cheese
  
  

• 6 oz shredded Havarti cheese
  
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
   
   

2. Mix meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, garlic, onion, almond meal (or breadcrumbs), Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Form into 1½‑inch meatballs and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until cooked through.
   
   

3. Make sauce: While meatballs bake, heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook until soft and golden (about 25 minutes), stirring. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in beef broth, thyme, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened (about 5 minutes).
   
   

4. Finish: Add baked meatballs to the skillet. Sprinkle Gruyère and Havarti cheese over them, cover, and cook until cheese melts. Serve warm, garnished with fresh thyme if desired.
   
   

Nutritional Estimate (per serving — 3 meatballs each)

• • Calories: 200 kcal
    
    

  • Total Fat: 25 g (Saturated Fat: 3 g, Unsaturated: 15 g)
    
    

  • Cholesterol: 115 mg
    
    

  • Sodium: 1092 mg
    
    

  • Carbohydrates: 7 g (Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 3 g)
    
    

  • Protein: 30 g