Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs Recipe
This Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs recipe combines tender meatballs with caramelized onions and a rich brown gravy sauce, all slow-cooked to perfection. Finished with melted Gruyere cheese, it’s a comforting and hearty meal perfect for serving over rice or mashed potatoes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs and Onions
- 2 medium yellow onions, sliced
- 26 ounces frozen meatballs
Sauce
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 ounce package brown gravy mix
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon white apple vinegar
Thickener and Topping
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1½ cups Gruyere cheese, grated
Instructions
- Prepare Onions: Place the sliced yellow onions at the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot to create a flavorful base for the meatballs.
- Add Meatballs: Layer the frozen meatballs evenly over the bed of onions in the crock pot.
- Mix Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine the low-sodium beef broth, brown gravy mix, minced garlic, black pepper, dried thyme, and white apple vinegar. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Pour Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture evenly over the meatballs and onions inside the crock pot.
- Slow Cook: Cover the crock pot with its lid and cook on high heat for 2½ to 3½ hours or on low heat for 5 to 6 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to heat through.
- Thicken Gravy: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the meatballs and onions to thicken the sauce.
- Add Cheese and Finish: Sprinkle the grated Gruyere cheese evenly over the top, cover again, and cook for an additional 10 minutes on high or low until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Spoon the French onion meatballs and rich gravy over cooked rice or mashed potatoes for a comforting and delicious meal.
Notes
- You can substitute frozen meatballs with homemade or fresh meatballs if preferred.
- Adjust the cooking time based on your crock pot model and size for best results.
- Gruyere cheese provides a nutty and creamy flavor, but Swiss cheese can be used as an alternative.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful gravy if desired.
- To make the recipe gluten-free, ensure the brown gravy mix and meatballs are certified gluten-free.
Keywords: Crock Pot, French Onion Meatballs, Slow Cooker, Comfort Food, Gruyere Cheese, Easy Dinner, Beef Meatballs
