My French Onion Tartlets are a perfect bite-sized appetizer. Crispy tarts filled with creamy caramelized onions and cheese. Baked and served warm make an appetizer everyone will love.
French onion soup is one of my favorite thing to order at a restaurant. These days we are eating at home, but that does not mean that I am planning to for-go all the delicous flavors on french onion soup!
Of course, I could make the soup myself, but it is always so much better at a restaurant! Since I was inspired by the flavors of the soup, I decided to make an appetizer showcasing all things french onion.
These French Onion Tartlets are simple to make, and they are packed with flavor. I use mini fillo shells to hold a filling that is absolutely delicious.
The filling for my tartlets is simple: caramelized onions, beef broth, sherry, cream cheese, and gruyere cheese. When the tartlets are warmed in the oven they are cheesy and rich- just like the soup. I also add a gruyere cheese topping complete with toasted breadcrumbs and a little parsley.
Aside from being delicious, these tartlets are bite-sized making them perfectly poppable for a quick and easy appetizer.
Ingredients
- yellow onion
- butter
- salt
- black pepper
- sugar
- beef broth
- sherry
- cream cheese
- Gruyere cheese
- mini fillo shells
- plain bread crumbs
- dried parsley
- baking sheet
Let's Talk Cheese!
I use a traditional shredded gruyere cheese in my French Onion Tartlets.
Gruyere is type of swiss cheese, and named from the town of origin. Other delicious substitutes for gruyere or swiss include: Emmental, Jarlsberg, or Beaufort cheeses.
If you are in a pinch a muenster or Monterey jack cheese can be used. However, it will not have the strong flavor like the swiss.
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 325°F.
- Heat skillet over medium-low heat. Add butter, onion, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes till onions start to soften.
- Add sugar to onions and cook for 10 minutes. Stir as the onion darken and caramelize. Add the broth, sherry, cream cheese, and ¼ cup for shredded cheese. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, and allow the cheeses to melt.
- Add about a tablespoon of filling to each tartlet. Top each tartlet with remaining shredded cheese, a sprinkle of bread crumbs, and dried parsley.
- Place French Onion Tartlets on a baking sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes. Serve immediately.
Caramelizing Onions
My French Onion Tartlet recipe cooks the onions is about 10 minutes. Typically, cramelized onions take longer to look to get a darker color, and richer flavor.
This recipe is designed to be complete in 30 minutes, and the onions are cooked in a shorter amount of time.
It is an option to cook the onions (slow and low) longer to get a darker and sweeter flavor. Make sure you use low heat, and allow an additional 10 minutes. It is also important to stir frequently if cooking the onions longer than directed in the recipe.
I love to use yellow onion because they are slightly sweet, and have great flavor. Other options include: white onions, Vidalia onions, and red onions.
Looking For More Delicious Bite-Sized Appetizers?
Baked Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Little Smokies
Cranberry Pecan Mini Cheese Balls
Beer Battered Deep Fried Cheese Curds
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French Onion Tartlets
Ingredients
- 2 large yellow onion, sliced thin
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ cup beef broth
- 1 ½ tablespoon sherry
- ⅓ cup cream cheese
- ½ cup shredded Gruyere cheese, divided
- 30 mini fillo shells
- 1 tablespoon plain bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 325°F.
- Heat skillet over medium-low heat. Add butter, onion, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes till onions start to soften.
- Add sugar to onions and cook for 10 minutes. Stir as the onion darken and caramelize. Add the broth, sherry, cream cheese, and ¼ cup for shredded cheese. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, and allow the cheeses to melt.
- Add about a tablespoon of filling to each tartlet. Top each tartlet with remaining shredded cheese, a sprinkle of bread crumbs, and dried parsley.
- Place tartlets on a baking sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes. Serve immediately.
Favorite Finger Foods
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- Curry Cheese Toasts by That Recipe
- French Onion Tartlets by Cheese Curd In Paradise
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Radha R
Yummy finger food! it gives the same effect as having the soup. Simply amazing! I must make these.
Karen @Karen's Kitchen Stories
I'll have to hunt down those phyllo shells!
Ashley Lecker
In the freezer section by the puff pastry!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
I love those tart shells for appetizers! And what great flavors to fill with!
Christie
Phyllo, onions, and cheese are a trifecta of deliciousness!! I would totally devour these.
Gina
Can you make these ahead and freeze them?
Ashley Lecker
I have not frozen them before, but I think that would work well. What I would do is freeze them on a cookie sheet and then store them in a freezer bag. To re-heat I would bake them at a lower temperature for a little longer.