Description
Hearty French onion beef meatballs simmer in a rich, savory sauce that blends classic comfort with gourmet flair. Melted cheese and caramelized onions elevate this dish, promising a delicious meal you’ll want to savor with crusty bread and good company.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Binding and Seasoning:
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce and Liquid Ingredients:
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, amalgamate ground beef with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, and seasonings, ensuring gentle incorporation without excessive manipulation to preserve meat’s delicate texture.
- Craft uniform spherical portions approximately 1-inch in diameter, creating roughly 16-20 consistent meatballs.
- Caramelize thinly sliced onions in butter over medium heat, stirring frequently until achieving deep golden-brown coloration, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Enhance skillet’s flavor profile by deglazing with beef broth, extracting intricate browned essence from pan’s surface.
- Transfer caramelized onions into slow cooker, creating foundational layer for meatball preparation.
- Gently nestle meatballs atop onion layer, ensuring balanced distribution throughout cooking vessel.
- Cascade remaining beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme over meatballs, delicately coating each morsel.
- Secure lid and orchestrate slow cooking process: LOW temperature for 4-5 hours or HIGH temperature for 2-3 hours, guaranteeing thorough internal cooking and optimal tenderness.
- During final cooking stage, generously crown meatballs with shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese.
- Allow additional 10-15 minutes of cooking to facilitate complete cheese melting, creating irresistibly glossy, bubbling surface.
Notes
- Prevent tough meatballs by handling the ground beef mixture gently and avoiding excessive mixing, which can make them dense and chewy.
- Caramelize onions slowly over medium-low heat to develop deep, rich flavor without burning, stirring occasionally to ensure even browning.
- Adjust cooking time based on your slow cooker’s performance: newer models might cook faster, so check meatballs for doneness around the earlier end of the recommended time range.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs, ensuring all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 417 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg