Crockpot French Onion Meatballs Recipe
These Crockpot French Onion Meatballs are a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender beef meatballs slow-cooked in a savory French onion soup broth and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal that yields rich, hearty flavors ideal for family dinners or casual gatherings.
- Author: Amaya
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high) plus 15 minutes for cheese melting
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Topping
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 packet French onion soup mix (about 1.25 ounces)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, finely chopped onion, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly mixed.
- Form the meatballs: Shape the mixture into evenly sized meatballs, approximately 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter for even cooking.
- Place meatballs in crockpot: Arrange the formed meatballs in a single layer inside the crockpot to ensure even cooking.
- Mix the broth and soup mix: In a separate bowl, whisk together the beef broth and the packet of French onion soup mix until fully combined.
- Pour sauce over meatballs: Carefully pour the beef broth and soup mixture over the meatballs in the crockpot, covering them evenly.
- Cook the meatballs: Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and tender.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the cooked meatballs and cover the crockpot again.
- Melt the cheese: Continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes on low or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh grated Parmesan and freshly shredded mozzarella cheese.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option, but cooking times may vary slightly.
- If you don’t have a crockpot, this recipe can be adapted to a low oven bake covered in a covered baking dish at 300°F for 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Serve with crusty bread or over egg noodles for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
Keywords: crockpot meatballs, French onion meatballs, slow cooker recipes, comfort food, easy dinner