French onion beef casserole with garlic-butter potatoes

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories while maintaining flavor.

Swiss cheese

🥗Healthier: provolone cheese

💰Cheaper: mozzarella cheese

Provolone cheese is similar in flavor and texture.

Heat olive oil in a large casserole pan over high heat.

Add ground beef in batches and cook until browned all over, then transfer to a heatproof bowl.

Continue cooking the beef in batches.

Heat more oil in the pan, add mushrooms, and cook until golden, then transfer to the bowl with beef.

Add remaining oil to the pan with onions, carrots, and celery; cook until onions soften.

Return beef and mushrooms to the pan, sprinkle with flour, and cook until well combined.

Add soup mix, beef stock, and thyme sprigs; bring to a simmer.

Cover the dish and bake in a preheated oven at 150°C (about 300°F) for 2 hours or until beef is tender.

Make caramelized onions by melting butter in a frying pan over low heat, adding onions and garlic, and cooking until they soften and begin to brown.

Add sugar, vinegar, and stock to the onions; cook until caramelized, then stir in thyme and season with pepper.

Increase oven temperature to 180°C (about 350°F).

Heat garlic butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat, add potatoes, and cook until golden on each side.

Arrange potatoes and caramelized onions over the beef mixture and return to the oven uncovered for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for a further 10 minutes until cheese melts and is golden.

Serve with extra thyme sprigs and a twist of pepper.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens