Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Simmered to perfection, this Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs recipe is comforting and convenient. Using simple ingredients like frozen meatballs and a homemade sauce, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights and is a hearty meal everyone will enjoy.
Why you will love making this Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatball recipe
Here’s why you’ll find making these meatballs so rewarding:
- Convenience: Just pop the frozen meatballs and sauce ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do its magic.
- Versatility: Serve them over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or even rice to keep mealtime interesting.
- Crowd-Pleaser: These meatballs are a hit with both adults and kids, making them perfect for family dinners.
- Flavorful: The combination of beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup creates a rich, savory sauce that’s irresistible.
- Time-Saving: With minimal prep involved, this recipe frees up your evening for other activities while dinner cooks itself.
- Customizable: Easy to adapt with different gravy mixes or added vegetables for a new twist every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to make Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Step-By-Step Instructions
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
Here’s how to bring this comforting dish to life:
Prepare Your Slow Cooker
First up, lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with some non-stick cooking spray. This helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Then, transfer the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker.
Mix the Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, brown gravy mix, onion soup mix, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
Cook
Pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs in the slow cooker, making sure they’re nicely coated. Put the lid on and set your slow cooker to low heat. Let it work its magic for about 6 hours, giving it a gentle stir occasionally to make sure everything cooks evenly.
Thicken the Sauce
About 30 minutes before serving, it’s time to thicken the sauce. Take a small bowl and mix the cornstarch with cold water until smooth. This is your slurry. Pour it into the slow cooker, stirring well to blend it into the sauce.
Serve
Once everything’s thick and bubbly, your meatballs are ready to serve. Spoon them over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, buttery egg noodles, or fluffy rice. Sprinkle some chopped fresh parsley over the top for a fresh, colorful finish.
Recipe Notes and Expert Tips
Here are some handy tips and tricks to make your slow cooker Salisbury steak meatballs even more delectable:
- Boosting Flavor: Try sautéing a finely chopped onion or some minced garlic before adding them to the slow cooker for an extra layer of flavor.
- Thickening Sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can increase the amount of cornstarch slurry towards the end of the cooking process. Just remember to stir it well to avoid lumps.
- Sauce Variations: Feel free to experiment with other gravy mixes or add a splash of red wine for a richer taste.
- Meatballs: While frozen meatballs are super convenient, you can also make your own for a more homemade feel. Just mix ground beef with breadcrumbs, eggs, and spices, form into balls, and brown them slightly before adding to the slow cooker.
- Add Vegetables: Mushrooms, carrots, or bell peppers would be great additions. Add them about halfway through cooking so they don’t become too soft.
- Herb Toppers: Garnish with fresh chopped herbs like parsley or chives to add a pop of color and freshness right before serving.
- Gluten-Free Option: For a gluten-free version, make sure that your meatballs, gravy mix, soup mix, and Worcestershire sauce are gluten-free.
How to Store Leftovers
Here’s how to keep your meatballs tasting great for days:
- Cooling Down: Always allow your leftovers to cool to room temperature before storing them.
- Refrigeration: Place the cooled meatballs and sauce in an airtight container and store them in the fridge. They’ll keep well for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: These meatballs freeze beautifully. Pack them in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, and they’ll stay good for up to 3 months. Perfect for those days when you don’t feel like cooking!
- Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy your meatballs again, you can reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop. If they seem a little dry, adding a splash of beef broth can bring back their moisture and flavor.
Our Top 3 Money Saving Tips for This Recipe
Here are three money-saving tips that don’t compromise on flavor:
- Batch Cooking: Double or triple the recipe when you cook. It doesn’t take much more effort, and you’ll have multiple meals ready for future days.
- Use Leftovers: This recipe is great for using up any leftover mashed potatoes or veggies you have in the fridge.
- DIY Meatballs: Make your own meatballs using ground meat on sale. This can be cheaper than buying pre-made frozen meatballs.
What to Serve with this Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs Recipe
Deciding what to serve with your Salisbury meatballs can be as fun as making them. Here are a few ideas:
Mashed Potatoes
Nothing beats the classic pairing of mashed potatoes with Salisbury steak meatballs. The creamy texture of the potatoes works wonderfully with the rich gravy from the meatballs. For a healthier twist, try making mashed cauliflower or a mix of potatoes and turnips.
Buttered Noodles
For something lighter, buttered egg noodles are a fantastic choice. They’re simple to make and do a great job of soaking up the delicious gravy. To add a bit of color and nutrition, toss the noodles with some chopped parsley or green peas.
Simple Rice
Rice is a fantastic alternative if you’re looking for something a bit different from noodles or potatoes. Its mild flavor and fluffy texture make it an excellent base for soaking up the rich gravy of the Salisbury steak meatballs. White rice is always a hit, but you could also go for brown rice if you’re after something with a bit more fiber.
More Recipes You Will Love
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
- Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
- Taco Casserole Recipe
- Smash Burger Recipe
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Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 bag of frozen meatballs (26-ounce bag)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 packet of brown gravy mix
- 1 packet of onion soup mix
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray. Transfer the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker.1 bag of frozen meatballs
- In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, brown gravy mix, onion soup mix, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs and gently toss to coat.2 cups beef broth, 1 packet of brown gravy mix, 1 packet of onion soup mix, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 6 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Once done, create a slurry by mixing the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth. Pour the slurry into the slow cooker and stir well to incorporate and thicken the sauce.2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons cold water
- Serve the meatballs over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes or egg noodles. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley for added flavor and color.
Notes
- Quicker Cooking: Cook on high for 3 hours for a faster meal.
- Boosting Flavor: Try sautéing a finely chopped onion or some minced garlic before adding them to the slow cooker for an extra layer of flavor.
- Thickening Sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can increase the amount of cornstarch slurry towards the end of the cooking process. Just remember to stir it well to avoid lumps.
- Sauce Variations: Feel free to experiment with other gravy mixes or add a splash of red wine for a richer taste.
- Meatballs: While frozen meatballs are super convenient, you can also make your own for a more homemade feel. Just mix ground beef with breadcrumbs, eggs, and spices, form into balls, and brown them slightly before adding to the slow cooker.
- Add Vegetables: Mushrooms, carrots, or bell peppers would be great additions. Add them about halfway through cooking so they don’t become too soft.
- Herb Toppers: Garnish with fresh chopped herbs like parsley or chives to add a pop of color and freshness right before serving.
- Gluten-Free Option: For a gluten-free version, make sure that your meatballs, gravy mix, soup mix, and Worcestershire sauce are gluten-free.
Storage and Reheating
- Cooling Down: Always allow your leftovers to cool to room temperature before storing them.
- Refrigeration: Place the cooled meatballs and sauce in an airtight container and store them in the fridge. They’ll keep well for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: These meatballs freeze beautifully. Pack them in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, and they’ll stay good for up to 3 months. Perfect for those days when you don’t feel like cooking!
- Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy your meatballs again, you can reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop. If they seem a little dry, adding a splash of beef broth can bring back their moisture and flavor.
