Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the French Onion Sauce

• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For Topping

• 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
2. Shape the mixture into 18–20 meatballs.
3. For better flavor, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the meatballs for 2–3 minutes per side. They don’t need to be cooked through.
4. Prepare the onions: Melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the sliced onions and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly caramelized.
5. Transfer the onions to the slow cooker. Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, thyme, and black pepper. Stir well.
6. Carefully place the browned meatballs into the slow cooker and gently coat them with the onion sauce.
7. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through.
8. Sprinkle the shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese over the meatballs. Cover again and cook for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these French onion meatballs over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or toasted crusty bread to soak up the delicious onion gravy.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4–5 hours
Servings: 4–5