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Crockpot French Onion Meatballs

Tender beef meatballs braised in a sweet, savory French onion-style sauce, perfect for a cozy meal with minimal hands-on time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food, French
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatball Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef Can substitute with ground turkey or pork
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs Use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make it gluten-free
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large onion, sliced Yellow or sweet onion works best
  • 1 cup beef broth Use low-sodium beef broth for richer flavor
  • 1 cup French onion soup Canned or prepared
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid dense meatballs.
  2. Form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs (about 1 to 1 1/4 inches each) so they cook uniformly.
  3. Spread the sliced onions in the bottom of the crockpot in an even layer.
  4. Arrange the meatballs atop the onions in a single layer; they can be snug but try not to crowd too tightly.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the beef broth and French onion soup until smooth.
  6. Pour the broth-and-soup mixture over the meatballs and onions.
Cooking
  1. Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or on high for 3–4 hours. Meatballs are done when cooked through and sauce is fragrant and slightly reduced.
  2. Serve hot, sprinkled with fresh parsley.

Notes

For richer flavor, consider adding 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce to the meat mixture. If you want cheesy meatballs, stir 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella into the mix or top with Gruyère before serving.