Description
Hearty crockpot French onion meatballs blend classic French flavors with comforting slow-cooker technique. Savory beef meatballs simmer in rich caramelized onion sauce, creating a delicious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
Bread and Binding:
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 packet French onion soup mix
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Cheese Topping:
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese (shredded)
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Mix ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Shape into uniform round meatballs.
- Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Carefully brown meatballs on all exterior surfaces until golden, creating a rich exterior crust.
- Transfer browned meatballs directly into the crockpot, maintaining their seared texture.
- Using the same skillet, slowly caramelize sliced onions until deep golden and soft, approximately 10 minutes, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Layer caramelized onions over meatballs in the crockpot.
- Pour beef broth and Worcestershire sauce into the crockpot. Sprinkle French onion soup mix evenly, ensuring complete flavor distribution.
- Set crockpot to low temperature and cook for 4-6 hours, allowing flavors to meld and meatballs to become tender.
- During final 15 minutes of cooking, generously top meatballs with shredded cheese. Cover and let cheese melt completely.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finish. Serve piping hot directly from the crockpot.
Notes
- Customize meatball size for even cooking, aiming for 1-inch uniform balls to ensure consistent texture and doneness.
- Enhance flavor depth by using a mix of ground meats like beef and pork for more complex taste profile.
- Reduce fat content by using lean ground beef or turkey and draining excess oil after browning meatballs in the skillet.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (or 6 hours)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg