Description
Savory slow cooker French onion meatballs blend classic comfort with French countryside flavors. Rich beef meatballs simmered in caramelized onion sauce promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or mix of beef and pork)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps chopped parsley (optional)
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsps water (slurry)
- ½ tsp thyme (optional)
- ¼ cup (60 g) shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese (for topping, optional)
Instructions
- Meatball Preparation: Thoroughly mix ground beef with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper, and parsley until ingredients bind seamlessly into a cohesive mixture.
- Shaping and Positioning: Carefully form compact, uniform meatballs roughly one inch in diameter, arranging them strategically on a clean surface.
- Slow Cooker Setup: Lightly spray the slow cooker’s interior with cooking spray and spread caramelized onions across the base to create a flavorful foundation.
- Assembly and Liquid Infusion: Gently place meatballs over the onion layer, ensuring even distribution, then methodically pour French onion soup to thoroughly coat and permeate the meat.
- Cooking Process: Secure the slow cooker lid and simmer on low temperature for 4-5 hours, allowing flavors to develop and meatballs to become tender and succulent.
- Serving Presentation: Carefully transfer meatballs to a serving platter, optional garnish with fresh parsley and melted Gruyère cheese to elevate the dish’s visual and gustatory appeal.
Notes
- Ensure Meat Moisture: Mix ingredients gently to prevent dense, tough meatballs; overmixing can make them tough and dry.
- Control Meat Fat Content: Use ground beef with 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio for juicy, flavorful meatballs that won’t become crumbly or dry.
- Prevent Sticking: Lightly spray slow cooker with cooking spray and avoid overcrowding meatballs for even cooking and easy removal.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add Gruyère cheese during last 15-20 minutes of cooking or broil briefly to achieve perfect golden, bubbly cheese topping.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg