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French Onion Beef Casserole

French onion beef casserole combines browned onions, ground beef, egg noodles, and Gruyere in a creamy sauce, baked until hot and bubbling. A crisp French-fried onion topping finishes this hearty casserole.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 590
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the casserole
  • 1 nonstick cooking spray
  • 4 qt water
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt plus 1 teaspoon, divided
  • 12 oz wide egg noodles
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 yellow onions large, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb ground beef 85% lean
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2.5 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 0.75 cup sour cream
  • 2 cup Gruyere cheese shredded, divided
For the topping
  • 1 cup French-fried onions

Equipment

  • 1 9x13-inch baking dish
  • 1 12-inch skillet

Method
 

Prepare and bake the casserole
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot, add 1 tablespoon of the salt, and cook the noodles 1 minute less than the shortest time on the package directions.
  4. Drain the noodles.
  5. Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat.
  6. Add the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until soft and golden brown.
  7. Add the ground beef, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper; cook, breaking up the beef, until browned and it reaches 160°F.
  8. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
  9. Gradually stir in the broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme.
  10. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens slightly.
  11. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream and 1 1/2 cups of the Gruyere.
  12. Fold in the drained noodles.
  13. Spread the mixture in the prepared dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Gruyere.
  14. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until hot and bubbling.
Add the topping
  1. Scatter the French-fried onions over the casserole.
  2. Bake for 5 minutes, until crisp and golden.
  3. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For the deepest onion flavor, cook the onions slowly until soft and golden brown. Refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days; freezer-friendly for up to 3 months. For a gluten-free variation, use certified gluten-free noodles, flour, and French-fried onions.