Description
How to make slow-cooked Crockpot French Onion Meatballs with savory beef and caramelized onions that your family will absolutely love.
Ingredients
Scale
- Meatball & Sauce Base:
- 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef (80/20 preferred)
- 3 Large Yellow Onions, thinly sliced
- 4 cups (1 quart) Beef Broth
- 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1 Large Egg
- Flavor Builders:
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup Dry Red Wine (such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Seasonings & Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- Finishing Touches:
- 1 cup Shredded Gruyere Cheese
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Start by thinly slicing your onions. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook onions slowly until deeply golden and sweet, about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. This builds the essential flavor base.
- Form Meatballs: In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef, panko, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix just until combined, don’t overwork. Roll into 1.5-inch meatballs. This helps create tender Crockpot French Onion Meatballs.
- Build Sauce: Add minced garlic to the caramelized onions for 1 minute. Deglaze the skillet with red wine, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in beef broth, Worcestershire, Dijon, and thyme. Bring this flavorful sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Slow Cook: Carefully transfer the meatballs and sauce mixture into your crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and tender. These Crockpot French Onion Meatballs will be incredibly savory.
- Add Cheese: Just before serving, sprinkle the shredded Gruyere cheese over the meatballs in the crockpot. Cover again for 10-15 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt into a bubbly, irresistible layer.
- Garnish & Serve: Garnish your delicious Crockpot French Onion Meatballs with fresh chopped parsley. Serve hot over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice for a complete and comforting meal that everyone will adore.
Notes
Gently combine meatball ingredients; overmixing them leads to a tough, dense texture.
Store leftover Crockpot French Onion Meatballs in an airtight container, refrigerated for 3-4 days.
Swiss cheese or provolone are excellent melting alternatives if you don’t have Gruyere cheese.
Serve these meatballs hot over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice for a complete, comforting meal.
Prepare meatballs and sauce base a day ahead for streamlined cooking and stress-free dinner prep.
**Allergy Information:** Dairy, Eggs, Gluten, Fish