french onion tartlets on a plate

Stop the presses. These French Onion Tartlets are theee appetizer for any of your party needs. Whether it’s for holiday gatherings or dinner parties or extravagant soirees or even weddings, these poppable savory bites are perfect for all occasions.

You guys — are we cool to talk about Thanksgiving yet? I mean, it is literally the biggest social eating occasion of the year, and I know we all love to hang out and eat. It’s our thing. Ergo, Thanksgiving is totally our thing, so it’s totally OK to talk about it already (it’s November and there are Christmas trees in all the stores already, for Pete’s sake! Give me two weeks and Mariah Carey Christmas will be playing on my Pandora radio).

That’s my line of reasoning anyway to talk to you about these bomb French Onion Tartlets that I need you to add immediately to that Thanksgiving menu I know you’ve already totally planned (ahem). Bonus points if you decide to make them ahead of time, you know, for the research.


box of mini fillo shells

french onion tartlets on baking sheet

The Story Behind These French Onion Tartlets

The inspiration for these little bites o’ bliss came from a wedding we attended last weekend in Milwaukee for one of my dearest childhood friends. She and her husband had their reception at the original Pabst brewery that’s now turned into a gorgeous venue and for hors d’oeuvres, they had bacon-wrapped shrimp (YUS), brat shots (a shot of beer with a slice of bratwurst and a spoonful of sauerkraut on a stick, so clever) and what I can only presume were French onion tartlets. They were served in flaky phyllo cups and filled with a creamy caramelized onion mixture and I about grabbed the entire tray from the waiter to eat them in the corner all by myself. But then I thought better of that idea and decided to recreate them at home ASAP. And here we are.

french onion tartlets close up

How to Make French Onion Tartlets

These savory mini tarts couldn’t be simpler, thanks to Athens Foods’ flaky, buttery mini fillo shells that are already made and baked and ready to fill. The hardest part is having the patience to let the onions for the filling caramelize to the nth degree, and trust me, they need to — it’s what makes these tarts sing (metaphorically). Plus, your kitchen will smell amazing. Your clothes maybe not so much, and people may question your hygiene, but you can just give them one of these tartlets and they’ll forgive all ills.

The best part, as I mentioned earlier, is that they would be perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer, and while my particular family is always hellbent on featuring deviled eggs, the spinach dip in a Hawaiian bread bowl and the block of cream cheese with a slather of jam on top as our appetizers of choice, I think I can sneak these onto the table and win them over with something new. They’ll play nicely with the cream cheese block, for sure.

overhead close up of french onion tartlet

Mariah Carey Christmas radio, I’m coming for you.

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French Onion Tartlets

  • Author: Girl Versus Dough
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 30 shells 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Deliciously savory French onion tartlets made with flaky, crispy mini fillo shells. These are the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving or a holiday party!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon dry white wine
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 packages (15 count, each) Athens Mini Fillo Shells®

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. In medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add chopped onions and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook onions, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes until softened. Add salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook onions 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add fresh thyme leaves. Cook yet another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are deep golden brown and very caramelized. Add white wine and continue to cook 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in cream cheese, egg and parsley until well combined.
  2. Place fillo shells on rimmed baking sheet. Fill each shell with a scant tablespoon onion mixture. Bake 10 to 15 minutes until shells are lightly golden and filling is lightly browned on top. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Find the mini fillo shells in the freezer section at your grocery store.

Keywords: mini fillo shell appetizer, finger food, baked party appetizer

Disclosure: I received compensation from Athens Foods for recipe development purposes. All opinions are my own.