Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a loaf pan.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, French onion soup mix, crushed crackers, milk, eggs, 1 cup of shredded cheese, and caramelized onions if using.
Mix with your hands until just combined. Don’t overwork it—meatloaf likes to be handled gently.
Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan and shape it into an even loaf.
Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and return to oven for another 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 160°F.
Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.