French Onion Meatballs Recipe for Perfect Crockpot Dinner
Tender, juicy meatballs simmered in a rich, flavorful broth with caramelized onions, topped with gooey melted cheese. A comforting and easy crockpot dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs (panko, regular, or gluten-free)
- 1 egg
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheese (Gruyère, mozzarella, or Swiss)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion soup mix, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Form the mixture into evenly-sized meatballs (about 1-1.5 inches in diameter) using a spoon or scoop.
- Slice the yellow onions thinly and set aside.
- Layer the sliced onions evenly across the bottom of the crockpot.
- Place the meatballs on top of the onions in a single layer.
- Mix beef broth and Worcestershire sauce in a separate bowl and pour over the meatballs and onions in the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, sprinkle shredded cheese over the meatballs and cover again to let the cheese melt.
- Serve hot with the sauce from the crockpot.
Notes
For a thicker sauce, whisk in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water) during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Gruyère cheese provides the most authentic flavor, but mozzarella or Swiss are great alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: French onion meatballs, crockpot dinner, comfort food, slow cooker recipe, cheesy meatballs