Here’s a very detailed, step-by-step French Onion Beef and Noodles recipe—rich, savory, and ultra-cozy, with deep onion flavor and tender beef. 🧅🥩🍜

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🧅 French Onion Beef and Noodles

Serves: 4–6

Total Time: ~50–60 minutes

Skill Level: Easy–Intermediate

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🛒 Ingredients

Beef & Onions

• 1½–2 lb beef chuck roast or stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

Sauce

• 3 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
• 1 packet French onion soup mix
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme (optional but recommended)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)

Noodles & Creamy Finish

• 12 oz egg noodles
• 1 cup sour cream (room temperature)
• 1–1½ cups shredded Gruyère, Swiss, or mozzarella cheese
• 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (optional, for thickening)

Garnish (Optional)

• Fresh parsley
• Extra cheese

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🔥 Instructions

1. Season & sear the beef

1. Pat beef dry with paper towels.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Heat oil/butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
4. Sear beef in batches (don’t overcrowd) until browned on all sides.
5. Remove beef and set aside.

Why this matters: Browning builds deep flavor for the sauce.

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2. Caramelize the onions (key step!)

1. Reduce heat to medium.
2. Add sliced onions to the same pan.
3. Cook 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Onions should be soft, golden brown, and sweet—not rushed.
5. If the pan gets dry, add a splash of broth to deglaze.

This step creates the signature French onion flavor.

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3. Build the sauce

1. Add beef back to the pan with onions.
2. Stir in:
   • beef broth
   • French onion soup mix
   • Worcestershire sauce
   • thyme & garlic powder
3. Bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Cover and cook 20–25 minutes, until beef is fork-tender.

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4. Cook the noodles

• While beef simmers, cook egg noodles in salted water.
• Cook to al dente.
• Drain and set aside.

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5. Make it creamy

1. Lower heat to low.
2. Stir in sour cream slowly so it doesn’t curdle.
3. Add cooked noodles and gently fold to coat.
4. Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy.

Optional thickening:

• Stir in cornstarch slurry and simmer 2–3 minutes if needed.

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🍽️ Serve

• Garnish with parsley and extra cheese.
• Serve hot with:
  • crusty bread
  • green salad
  • roasted green beans or broccoli

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⭐ Pro Tips for Best Results

✔ Chuck roast = most tender
✔ Don’t rush onions—they make the dish
✔ Keep heat low after adding sour cream
✔ Gruyère gives the most authentic French onion taste

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🔄 Variations

• Slow cooker:
  • Beef, onions, broth, soup mix → 8 hrs LOW / 4 hrs HIGH
  • Stir in sour cream, noodles, and cheese at the end
• Ground beef version:
  • Skip long simmer; ready in 30 minutes
• Extra cheesy:
  • Broil with cheese on top for 3–5 minutes