Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs Recipe
This Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs recipe combines savory frozen meatballs with sweet, caramelized onions and a rich brown gravy, all slow-cooked to perfection. Topped with melted Gruyère cheese, it’s a comforting and hearty dish perfect for serving over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes on HIGH or 5 to 6 hours on LOW
- Total Time: 3 hours to 7 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French-American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs and Onions
- 2 medium yellow onions, sliced
- 26 oz frozen meatballs
Gravy
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 oz packet brown gravy mix
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
Thickener
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Topping
- 1½ cups Gruyère cheese, grated
Instructions
- Prepare Crock Pot Base: Place the sliced onions evenly at the bottom of a 6-quart Crock Pot, then layer the frozen meatballs on top of the onions.
- Mix Gravy Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the low-sodium beef broth, brown gravy mix, minced garlic, black pepper, dried thyme, and white wine vinegar until the gravy mix is fully dissolved and ingredients are well combined.
- Add Gravy to Crock Pot: Pour the prepared broth and gravy mixture evenly over the meatballs and onions in the Crock Pot, ensuring everything is well coated.
- Cook Meatballs and Onions: Cover the Crock Pot with its lid and cook on HIGH for 2½ to 3½ hours or on LOW for 5 to 6 hours until the meatballs are heated through and the onions are tender and flavorful.
- Thicken the Gravy: In a small bowl, whisk the water together with the cornstarch to create a slurry, then stir this mixture into the Crock Pot. This will thicken the sauce during the next step.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Sprinkle the grated Gruyère cheese evenly over the meatballs and sauce, then cover the Crock Pot again and allow to cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Serve the French Onion Meatballs hot over your choice of mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles for a complete meal.
- Optional Garnish: Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and added freshness, if desired.
Notes
- For best results, use a 6-quart Crock Pot to ensure even cooking and enough space for all ingredients.
- If fresh onions are preferred, caramelize them separately before adding to deepen flavor complexity.
- The dish pairs excellently with creamy mashed potatoes, buttery noodles, or steamed rice to soak up the luscious gravy.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving, especially salt, as the gravy mix and broth might add sodium.
- For a thicker gravy, allow the slurry to cook a few extra minutes in the Crock Pot after adding cornstarch.
Keywords: French onion meatballs, crock pot meatballs, slow cooker recipe, Gruyère cheese meatballs, comfort food, easy dinner
Find it online: https://ricoloranz.com/crock-pot-french-onion-meatballs-recipe/
