French Onion Beef and Noodle Casserole is made with seasoned ground beef, buttery sautéed onions and tender egg noodles baked in a creamy mushroom sauce with melted Gruyère cheese and crispy French fried onions.
From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito
If you love cozy, creamy casseroles and the rich flavor of French onion soup, you are going to absolutely love this one. Seasoned ground beef, buttery sautéed onions and egg noodles are tossed in a creamy sauce, then topped with nutty Gruyère cheese and crispy French fried onions.
Everything gets baked together until hot, bubbly and perfectly cheesy. This is such an easy comfort-food dinner and a great one to make when you want something hearty that the whole family will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make. This uses simple ingredients and comes together without a lot of complicated prep.
- Ultimate comfort food. Creamy noodles, seasoned beef and melted cheese make this incredibly cozy and satisfying.
- Loaded with French onion flavor. Between the buttery sautéed onions, onion soup mix and Gruyère, you get that classic French onion flavor throughout.
- Great family dinner. A 9x13 casserole makes plenty and leftovers reheat beautifully.
Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this delicious casserole. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions on the recipe card below.
- Ground beef – Gives the casserole a hearty, savory base.
- Large onion – Slice it into strips and sauté until soft for that classic French onion flavor.
- Butter – Used to soften and flavor the onions.
- Garlic – Adds another layer of savory flavor to the beef.
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds richness and a little extra depth.
- Dry onion soup mix – The shortcut that packs a ton of French onion flavor into the casserole.
- Cream of mushroom soup – Creates the rich and creamy sauce.
- Egg noodles – Cook them before gently folding them into the beef mixture.
- Gruyère cheese – Melts beautifully and gives the casserole that unmistakable French onion soup feel.
- French fried onions – Add a crispy, salty crunch to the top.
- Salt and pepper – Used to lightly season the onions and beef as needed.
- Cooking spray – For greasing the baking dish.
How to Make It
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and season it lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté the onions, stirring occasionally, until they’re soft and tender. Remove them from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, brown the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Add the garlic and Worcestershire sauce to the beef and stir everything together. Add the softened onions and packet of dry French onion soup mix. Stir until everything is well combined. Add both cans of cream of mushroom soup and stir until the beef and onions are evenly coated in the creamy sauce.
- Gently fold in the cooked egg noodles until they’re completely coated. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13” baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the shredded Gruyère evenly over the top, followed by the French fried onions. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350°F for about 20–25 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and the cheese has melted. Serve warm and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Don’t overcook the noodles. Cook them just until al dente because they’ll continue to soften while the casserole bakes.
- Give the onions time to soften. You don’t necessarily need to fully caramelize them, but you want them nice and tender before adding them to the casserole.
- Go easy on additional salt. The onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, Worcestershire and French fried onions all contain salt, so season lightly as you go.
- Shred your own Gruyère if you can. It tends to melt more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
- Fold the noodles in gently. Egg noodles can break easily, especially when they’re warm.
- Watch those crispy onions. Keeping the casserole covered helps prevent the French fried onions from getting too dark before the center is heated through.
Variations
- Change the cheese: Gruyère is perfect for the French onion flavor, but Swiss, provolone or Fontina would all work well.
- Add mushrooms: Sauté sliced mushrooms with the onions if you want even more mushroom flavor.
- Use ground turkey: Ground turkey can be substituted for the beef for a slightly lighter version.
- Make it extra cheesy: Add some Gruyère directly into the beef and noodle mixture in addition to the cheese on top.
- Add a little beef broth: If the beef mixture seems thicker than you’d like before adding the noodles, a splash of beef broth can loosen the sauce.
What to Serve With It
This casserole is pretty hearty on its own, so I like keeping the sides simple. Serve it with a green salad, roasted broccoli, green beans or asparagus.
Some warm garlic bread on the side would be delicious for scooping up any of that creamy French onion sauce.
Can This Be Made Ahead Of Time?
Yes. Assemble the beef and noodle portion of the casserole and refrigerate it covered. I would wait to add the Gruyère and especially the French fried onions until you’re ready to bake so the topping stays as fresh and crispy as possible.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. You can also cover the casserole with foil and reheat it in the oven at 350°F.
The French fried onions will naturally soften in the refrigerator, so sprinkle a few fresh ones over the top after reheating if you want to bring that crunch back.
Other Easy Noodle Recipes
I can't get enough of these easy, noodle casseroles. I've rounded up all my Best Noodle Recipes so you can find them easily in on place. If you haven't already tried my Viral Cafeteria Noodles, I highly recommend them!
French Onion Beef and Noodle Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 9" x 13" baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 1 Large Onion, sliced into thin strips
- 2 Tbs Butter
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- 1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
- 21 Oz (2 cans) Cream Of Mushroom Soup
- 1 Packet Dry Onion Soup Mix
- 12 Oz Egg Noodles, cooked
- 1.5 Cups Gruyere Cheese
- 1.5 Cups French Fried Onions
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and season it lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté the onions, stirring occasionally, until they’re soft and tender. Remove them from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, brown the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Add the garlic and Worcestershire sauce to the beef and stir everything together. Add the softened onions and packet of dry French onion soup mix. Stir until everything is well combined.
- Add both cans of cream of mushroom soup and stir until the beef and onions are evenly coated in the creamy sauce.
- Gently fold in the cooked egg noodles until they’re completely coated. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13” baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the shredded Gruyère evenly over the top, followed by the French fried onions. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350°F for about 20–25 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and the cheese has melted. Serve warm and enjoy!
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