Savory Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs for Dinner (Print Version)
Tender Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs in a rich, savory broth. Easy slow cooker recipe for a comforting weeknight meal.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4-8 Hours minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: American (French-Inspired)
Dietary: Contains Meat, Dairy, Gluten
# Ingredients:
→ Meatball Base
01 -
1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 -
1 large egg
03 -
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
04 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
05 -
1 tsp dried thyme
06 -
1/2 tsp salt
07 -
1/4 tsp black pepper
→ French Onion Foundation
08 -
3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
09 -
2 tbsp unsalted butter
10 -
1 tbsp olive oil
11 -
4 cups low sodium beef broth
12 -
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
→ Finishing Touches
13 -
1.5 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
14 -
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
# Instructions:
01 -
First up, those onions! Slice your yellow onions thinly. This is where the magic starts. In a large skillet, melt the butter with a drizzle of olive oil over medium-low heat. Add those onions and a pinch of salt. Now, this is crucial: patience, my friend. Stir them occasionally, letting them slowly soften and turn golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Don't rush it! This is where the deep, sweet flavor for your Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs comes from. I always get distracted and almost burn them, so set a timer or stay close!
02 -
While your onions are doing their thing, get to the meatballs. In a big bowl, gently combine the ground beef, egg, panko breadcrumbs, minced garlic, a teaspoon of dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Don't overmix, seriously! Overmixing makes for tough meatballs, and we want tender, juicy ones. I learned that the hard way once, and the meatballs were like little rubber balls, oops. Roll them into about 1.5-inch balls. You should get around 20-24. You don't need to sear them, they'll cook perfectly in the slow cooker!
03 -
Once your onions are beautifully caramelized, add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet. Give it a good scrape with a wooden spoon to get all those delicious browned bits off the bottom of the pan – that's flavor gold! Let it simmer for a few minutes, just to warm through and let the flavors meld. Oh, the smell at this point is just incredible! It's like a warm hug for your nose, honestly.
04 -
Carefully pour about half of the onion broth mixture into the bottom of your slow cooker. Arrange your raw meatballs evenly over the sauce. Now, pour the remaining onion broth mixture over the meatballs. Make sure they're mostly submerged in that lovely liquid. I always try to spread them out so they cook evenly, but sometimes they just want to huddle together, and that's okay! Just try not to overcrowd the pot too much.
05 -
Cover your slow cooker and set it to low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. You want those meatballs to be cooked through and incredibly tender, soaking up all that amazing French onion goodness. The longer they cook on low, the more the flavors deepen, I've found. Sometimes I peek, and the smell just makes my stomach rumble. It's truly hard to resist!
06 -
About 30 minutes before serving, sprinkle the shredded Gruyere cheese evenly over the top of the Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs. Re-cover the slow cooker and let the cheese melt into a gooey, bubbly, golden layer. This is the best part, honestly! The cheese gets all melty and forms this beautiful crust. Garnish with some fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness. Serve hot and watch everyone dig in!
# Notes:
01 -
Patience with caramelizing the onions truly makes all the difference for a rich, sweet sauce.
02 -
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge; reheat gently on the stovetop.
03 -
If you're out of Gruyere, Swiss cheese is a solid substitute that I've used with good results.
04 -
Serve these over creamy mashed potatoes or with crusty bread to soak up every last bit of that amazing sauce.
# Equipment Needed:
01 -
Large skillet
02 -
6-quart slow cooker
03 -
large mixing bowl
# Nutrition (Per Serving):
Calories: 450 kcal
Total Fat: 28g
Total Carbohydrate: 25g
Protein: 30g