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Slow cooked Salisbury steak meatballs simmering in rich brown gravy inside crockpot, garnished with fresh parsley and ready to serve.
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Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs

These Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs are tender, juicy, and simmered in a rich onion gravy that practically makes itself. Pure comfort food with almost no effort required.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: salisbury steak meatballs, slow cooker recipe, slow cooker salisbury steak meatballs
Servings: 6
Calories: 386kcal
Author: Joanna Cismaru

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ pound ground pork
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Gravy:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for browning meatballs
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 cups beef broth low sodium
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch + 2 teaspoons cold water slurry
  • fresh parsley for garnish
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Mix until just combined. Don’t overwork it.
  • Shape into meatballs, about 1½ inches each. I find it easier to use a small cookie scoop.
    process shots showing how to cook slow cooker salisbury steak meatballs.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and quickly brown the meatballs on all sides. Don’t cook through, just a quick sear.
    process shots showing how to cook slow cooker salisbury steak meatballs.
  • Add chopped onion to the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the browned meatballs on top.
    process shots showing how to cook slow cooker salisbury steak meatballs.
  • In a bowl, whisk together beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and Dijon mustard. Pour over the meatballs.
    process shots showing how to cook slow cooker salisbury steak meatballs.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. The meatballs should be tender and cooked through.
    process shots showing how to cook slow cooker salisbury steak meatballs.
  • About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the cornstarch slurry. Let the gravy thicken while it finishes cooking.
    process shots showing how to cook slow cooker salisbury steak meatballs.
  • Spoon over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice. Sprinkle with parsley and dig in.

Notes

  1. Browning the meatballs first adds big flavor, but if you’re in a rush, you can skip it.
  2. Gravy too thin? Add a tiny bit more cornstarch slurry. Too thick? Splash in extra broth.
  3. Frozen peas can go right into the slow cooker at the end if you want to pretend there’s a vegetable.
  4. Serve with mashed potatoes, noodles, rice, or whatever carb makes you happiest.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 750mg | Potassium: 502mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 111IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 3mg
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