Description
Tender, juicy meatballs drenched in a savory Salisbury steak-inspired gravy, slowly cooked to perfection. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup (120 g) breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-seasoned)
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion, grated or finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp oil (for browning, optional)
- 1 tbsp butter
- Pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
- Pinch of dried parsley (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch (2.5 cm) meatballs, yielding around 20-24 meatballs. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Optional: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add oil, and sear the meatballs on all sides for extra flavor.
- Place the meatballs into the slow cooker and pour the prepared gravy over them, ensuring all meatballs are coated.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until meatballs are tender and gravy thickened.
- If the gravy is too thin, whisk 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir it into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15 minutes.
- Serve hot with mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles.
Notes
[‘Browning the meatballs before slow cooking adds extra flavor.’, ‘Chill the meatball mixture for 15 minutes before forming to help them hold their shape.’, ‘Do not overcrowd the slow cooker to ensure even cooking.’, ‘Prep the meatballs and gravy the night before for a quick morning setup.’, ‘If the gravy is too salty, add unsalted beef broth or water to balance the flavor.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 5-6 me
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: slow cooker, Salisbury steak, meatballs, comfort food, easy dinner, family meal