Description
Crock pot french onion beef meatballs deliver comfort and rich flavor in one hearty dish. Savory meat mingles with caramelized onions, creating a satisfying meal that welcomes you home with warm, delicious aromas.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cups Gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)
- 2 tbsps milk
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tsps sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups beef broth
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Combine ground beef with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, milk, and spices in a mixing bowl, blending thoroughly without overworking the mixture to maintain a delicate texture.
- Meatball Formation: Craft uniform spherical meatballs approximately one inch in diameter, using gentle pressure to preserve tenderness and ensure consistent size.
- Crock Pot Setup: Lightly coat the slow cooker interior with cooking spray, then arrange meatballs in a single layer to optimize heat distribution and prevent sticking.
- Onion Sauce Creation: Caramelize onions until they transform into a deep golden-brown, developing a rich, sweet flavor profile that will infuse the entire dish with complexity.
- Cooking Process: Generously pour French onion sauce over meatballs, completely submerging them to ensure thorough flavor absorption and even cooking.
- Slow Cooking: Cover crock pot and set to low heat, allowing meatballs to simmer for several hours until fully cooked, tender, and deeply infused with the sauce’s robust flavors.
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese during the final cooking stage, creating a luxurious melted crust that enhances the dish’s overall richness and visual appeal.
- Serving: Carefully transfer meatballs to a serving platter, generously drizzling the remaining caramelized onion sauce over the top to maximize flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Prevent Overworking Meat: Mix ingredients gently and minimally to keep meatballs tender and prevent tough, dense texture.
- Uniform Meatball Sizing: Use a small ice cream scoop or consistent hand-rolling technique to create evenly sized meatballs for consistent cooking.
- Caramelization Secret: Take time to slowly caramelize onions over low heat, stirring occasionally to develop deep, sweet flavor without burning.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add Parmesan cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent burning and ensure a perfectly golden, crispy cheese crust.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 404
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg