French Onion Pot Roast

Featured in: Cozy Comfort Plates

This comforting one-pan dish features tender pot roast cubes slowly braised with deeply caramelized onions, garlic, and a blend of herbs. Finished with melted Gruyère and mozzarella cheeses, it delivers rich, layered flavors. The casserole is simple to prepare, requiring slow oven cooking to develop a melting texture and savory depth. Perfect paired with mashed potatoes or toasted bread for an easy, satisfying dinner.

Updated on Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:42:00 GMT
A bubbly, golden French Onion Pot Roast Casserole, showcasing tender beef and melted cheese. Save to Pinterest
A bubbly, golden French Onion Pot Roast Casserole, showcasing tender beef and melted cheese. | amberkettle.com

A comforting, one-pan casserole inspired by classic French onion flavors, featuring tender pot roast, caramelized onions, and melted cheese for an easy, flavor-packed dinner.

I first served this French Onion Pot Roast Casserole to my family and it quickly became a favorite comfort food for chilly evenings.

Ingredients

  • Meats: 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) chuck roast, cut into 2 inch cubes
  • Vegetables: 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • Liquids: 2 cups (475 ml) beef broth 1/2 cup (120 ml) dry white wine (optional sub more broth if preferred) 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Spices & Seasonings: 2 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp dried thyme 1 bay leaf
  • Cheese & Toppings: 1.5 cups (150 g) shredded Gruyère cheese 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup (60 g) French fried onions (store bought optional for topping)
  • Pantry: 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp unsalted butter 2 tbsp all purpose flour

Instructions

Preheat oven:
Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C)
Caramelize onions:
Heat olive oil and butter in a large Dutch oven or ovenproof casserole over medium heat Add onions and a pinch of salt cook stirring often until deeply caramelized (about 20 25 minutes)
Cook garlic and flour:
Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant Sprinkle flour over onions stir and cook for 2 minutes
Deglaze:
Deglaze with white wine (if using) scraping up browned bits Simmer 2 minutes
Add liquids and seasonings:
Add beef broth Worcestershire sauce thyme bay leaf carrots salt and pepper Bring to a simmer
Add beef:
Nestle beef cubes into the onion mixture Cover with lid or tightly with foil
Bake:
Transfer to oven and bake for 2 hours or until beef is fork tender
Finish casserole:
Remove from oven Discard bay leaf Stir casserole then top evenly with Gruyère and mozzarella
Melt cheese:
Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) Return uncovered casserole to oven for 10 15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling
Serve:
Sprinkle with French fried onions and serve hot
The savory aroma of French Onion Pot Roast Casserole fills the air, promising a hearty meal. Save to Pinterest
The savory aroma of French Onion Pot Roast Casserole fills the air, promising a hearty meal. | amberkettle.com

This recipe brings my family together on cold nights making cozy memories around the dinner table.

Notes

For a shortcut use store bought French onion soup mix instead of caramelizing onions (substitute for onions garlic and some salt) Serve over mashed potatoes buttered noodles or toasted baguette slices Substitute Swiss cheese or provolone if you prefer To make gluten free use cornstarch instead of flour and GF fried onions

Required Tools

Large Dutch oven or ovenproof casserole dish Chefs knife Cutting board Measuring cups and spoons Wooden spoon

Allergen Information

Contains Dairy (cheese butter) Wheat Gluten (flour French fried onions) Soy (Worcestershire sauce may contain soy) Double check all labels for hidden allergens if needed

This French Onion Pot Roast Casserole features fork-tender beef and a cheesy, caramelized onion topping. Save to Pinterest
This French Onion Pot Roast Casserole features fork-tender beef and a cheesy, caramelized onion topping. | amberkettle.com

This dish is sure to impress with its rich layers of flavor and comforting textures.

Recipe FAQs

How do you achieve deeply caramelized onions?

Cook sliced onions over medium heat with a pinch of salt, stirring frequently for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and sweet.

Can I make this dish gluten-free?

Yes, substitute all-purpose flour with cornstarch and use gluten-free fried onions for topping.

What can be used instead of white wine?

You can replace white wine with extra beef broth for deglazing without altering the flavor significantly.

How long should the pot roast cook in the oven?

Bake covered for about 2 hours until the beef is fork-tender and infused with the onion and herb mixture.

What are good serving suggestions?

Serve over mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or with toasted baguette slices to complement the rich flavors.

French Onion Pot Roast

A savory blend of beef, caramelized onions, and melted cheese for a flavorful, comforting dish.

Prep duration
20 min
Time to cook
135 min
Total duration
155 min
Created by Molly Easton


Skill level Easy

Cuisine American-French Fusion

Makes 6 Portions

Dietary details None specified

What You'll Need

Meats

01 2.5 lbs chuck roast, cut into 2-inch cubes

Vegetables

01 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
02 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

Liquids

01 2 cups beef broth
02 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional; substitute additional broth if preferred)
03 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Spices & Seasonings

01 2 tsp kosher salt
02 1 tsp black pepper
03 1 tsp dried thyme
04 1 bay leaf

Cheese & Toppings

01 1.5 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
02 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 1 cup French-fried onions (store-bought, optional for topping)

Pantry

01 2 tbsp olive oil
02 1 tbsp unsalted butter
03 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Directions

Step 01

Preheat oven: Set the oven to 325°F (165°C).

Step 02

Caramelize onions: In a large Dutch oven or ovenproof casserole, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add sliced onions with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring frequently, until deeply caramelized, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 03

Add garlic and flour: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle flour over the onions, stir to combine, and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Step 04

Deglaze pan: Pour in the white wine if using, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.

Step 05

Add liquids and seasonings: Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, bay leaf, sliced carrots, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

Step 06

Incorporate beef: Nestle the cubed chuck roast into the onion and broth mixture. Cover tightly with a lid or foil.

Step 07

Bake until tender: Transfer the covered casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 2 hours or until the beef is fork-tender.

Step 08

Prepare cheese topping: Remove from oven, discard the bay leaf, stir the casserole gently, and evenly top with shredded Gruyère and mozzarella cheese.

Step 09

Melt cheese topping: Increase the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) and return the casserole uncovered to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

Step 10

Add final garnish and serve: Sprinkle French-fried onions over the browned cheese and serve immediately while hot.

Equipment needed

  • Large Dutch oven or ovenproof casserole dish
  • Chef's knife
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Wooden spoon

Allergy details

Be sure to look at every ingredient. If you have concerns, ask your healthcare provider.
  • Contains dairy (cheese, butter), wheat/gluten (flour, French-fried onions), and soy (Worcestershire sauce may contain soy)

Nutrition Info (one portion)

Information shown is for general reference. Please speak to your doctor for nutrition advice.
  • Energy: 540
  • Lipids: 29 g
  • Carbohydrates: 21 g
  • Proteins: 48 g