French Onion Beef Casserole is a rich and comforting dinner that the entire family loves. Ground beef and egg noodles are combined with a creamy sauce with the flavors of French onion soup then topped with French fried onions.
Easy French Onion Casserole
If you are searching for a new yet simple meal to make when you’re too busy to cook, you found it! This French onion casserole is incredibly flavorful and is made mostly of inexpensive pantry ingredients. It takes 15 minutes or less to put it together and less than 30 minutes in the oven! It’s not a recipe that has to bake for hours or requires a lot of hands-on time. I love to make this dinner on school nights because it’s just that easy!
Why You’ll Love This French Onion Beef Casserole
- Great leftovers. The leftovers reheat well so it’s perfect to enjoy the next day for dinner or as a tasty lunch.
- Perfect to prepare ahead. Set up this casserole and store it in the refrigerator before you’re ready to bake it.
- Budget-friendly. All the ingredients in this recipe are perfect for any budget.
What You’ll Need
All of these ingredients will stay fresh for quite a while so I like to keep them in stock in the pantry and the beef in the freezer. For exact measurements, scroll down to the recipe card below.
- Egg noodles: I like the flavor and texture of egg noodles in this dish. However, you can use any pasta you prefer! Rotini and elbows are others that I’ve used and they’re fantastic.
- Ground beef: Any lean ground beef will work. I like to use 80% lean for this recipe.
- Salt and pepper: The seasoning in this recipe is simple since the other ingredients provide a lot of flavor.
- Cream of mushroom soup: For creaminess and flavor. It goes perfectly with the fried onions and ground beef.
- French onion dip: I used Lay’s French onion dip but you may use your favorite for this. It ties it all together.
- French fried onions: This is arguably the most important ingredient. It’s the perfect crunchy and salty garnish.
- Parsley: This is an optional fresh garnish to add once it’s ready. It adds a pop of color!
How to Make French Onion Beef Casserole
All of the steps needed to make a successful and easy beef casserole are listed below. This includes preparation, too.
- Prep the oven and baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cook the noodles. Boil water in a large pot and cook the egg noodles according to the package directions. Drain them and set them aside.
- Brown and season the beef. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Cook it until no longer pink and season with salt and pepper. Drain the extra grease.
- Add the soup and dip. Pour in the cream of mushroom soup and French onion dip. Stir it with the beef until fully combined.
- Stir in the egg noodles. Gently stir in the egg noodles until they are completely covered in the sauce.
- Transfer and add fried onions. Carefully pour the beef and noodle mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the crispy fried onions evenly over the top.
- Bake. Put the pan in the oven and bake it for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve. Garnish the casserole with chopped parsley and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Drain excess grease from the beef. This is a crucial step. The extra fat from the ground beef will make the creamy soup and dip start to separate and give the casserole a greasy texture.
- Don’t overcook the noodles. Cook the noodles until just al dente. If overcooked, they will become mushy after they are baked in the oven.
- Bake uncovered. Don’t cover the casserole. This will ensure that you get some color on the top and keep the onions from steaming and becoming soggy.
Proper Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through.
Freeze the casserole for up to 2 months without the fried onions. Bake thawed or frozen and add the onions right before it goes into the oven.
More Beef Casserole Recipes
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Preheat the oven to 350°. Cook the noodles according to the package, make sure to drain when done.
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In a large pan or dutch oven cook the ground beef over a medium high heat making sure to crumble the meat. Season with salt and pepper. Drain any grease leftover. Add in both the cream of mushrooms and the onion dip, stir together until well mixed.
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Add in the egg noodles and mix those together as well. Sprinkle the fried onions all over top. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Once done, top with parsley and serve!
Last Step:
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- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days
- You can use any French onion dip.
- You can use whatever shape of pasta you’d like.
- To make it have extra onion flavor you can add frozen onions to the beef while cooking.
- You don’t have to top with parsley; you can skip that step
Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 438mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.002g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 2mg
