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Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs Recipe

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3.8 from 7 reviews

This Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs recipe combines tender frozen meatballs with caramelized onions, rich French onion soup, and melted Gruyere cheese for a comforting and flavorful dish that cooks effortlessly in your slow cooker. Perfect for a hearty meal with minimal prep and maximum taste.

  • Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Meatballs and Onion Base

  • 36 ounces frozen meatballs
  • 2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced into half moons
  • 3-5 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce

  • 2 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 10.5 ounces condensed French onion soup (1 can)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Topping and Garnish

  • 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
  • Fresh thyme or parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meatballs: Place the frozen meatballs into the crockpot evenly, creating the base of your dish.
  2. Add Onions and Garlic: Layer the thinly sliced sweet onions and minced garlic over the meatballs, ensuring even distribution for maximum flavor infusion.
  3. Mix the Sauce: In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the low sodium beef broth, condensed French onion soup, balsamic vinegar, minced fresh thyme, black pepper, and cornstarch until smooth and well combined.
  4. Combine Sauce with Meatballs: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the meatballs, onions, and garlic, covering all the ingredients to allow them to cook in the flavorful liquid.
  5. Slow Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW heat for 3 to 5 hours, stirring once halfway through to promote even cooking and prevent sticking.
  6. Add Cheese: Just before serving, sprinkle shredded Gruyere cheese over the top of the meatballs and cover again for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt beautifully.
  7. Garnish and Serve: Garnish the meatballs with fresh thyme or parsley if desired, then serve hot for a cozy and delicious meal.

Notes

  • Use frozen meatballs directly from the freezer to save prep time.
  • Adjust garlic quantity based on your preferred flavor intensity.
  • Balsamic vinegar enhances the sweetness of onions and balances the flavors.
  • If the sauce is too thin, increase cornstarch slightly for thicker consistency.
  • Gruyere cheese adds a creamy, nutty flavor but can be substituted with Swiss or mozzarella if necessary.
  • Garnishing with fresh herbs is optional but adds a pop of color and freshness.
  • Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker model; check meatballs for doneness after 3 hours.
  • Author: Amelia
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 hours
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://recipesvibe.com/slow-cooker-french-onion-meatballs-recipe/