Name: Crockpot French Onion Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 36 ounce frozen meatballs; 2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced into half moons; 3-5 garlic cloves, minced; 2 cups low sodium beef broth; 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed French onion soup; 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar; 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme, minced; ¾ teaspoon black pepper, to taste; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese; Fresh thyme or parsley, for garnish (optional)

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This Crock Pot French Onion Beef Meatballs recipe, made with frozen meatballs, is the perfect easy dinner! With tender meatballs, sweet onions, and a rich, savory French onion sauce, this slow cooker recipe is a hit for busy nights.

For more quick meals on a budget try my crockpot sausage and peppers, crockpot baked ziti and crockpot chicken and stuffing.

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

The meatballs stay tender and juicy as they soak in the caramelized onion sauce, while melted Gruyere cheese adds more of the classic French Onion Soup flavor.

I love how the flavors of French onion come together as the onions soften and sweeten — just like in my delicious one-pan French onion chicken recipe.

It’s the ultimate warm comfort dish, perfect as an appetizer or a hearty meal, and amazing over mashed potatoes or egg noodles with a side of crusty bread.

Ingredients

36 ounce frozen meatballs
2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced into half moons
3-5 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups low sodium beef broth
1 (10.5 oz) can condensed French onion soup
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
¾ teaspoon black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
fresh thyme or parsley, for garnish is optional

Substitutions

Instead of gruyere, you can opt for another melty cheese such as comte, fontina, provolone, swiss, or even mozzarella.
Instead of a can of condensed french onion soup, you can opt to use an envelope of french onion soup mix.
Use any frozen meatballs you like such as angus beef, italian, or even turkey. This recipe is also great with homemade meatballs (fresh or frozen).

How To Make Crockpot French Onion Meatballs

Onions sprinkled on top of frozen meatballs in crockpot.

STEP ONE – Place frozen meatballs in crockpot.

STEP TWO – Top with sliced onions and minced garlic.

STEP THREE – In a mixing bowl or large measuring cup, combine the beef broth, French onion soup, balsamic vinegar, thyme, black pepper, and cornstarch. Whisk well to combine.

Cooked meatballs are sprinkled with cheese in slow cooker.

STEP FOUR – Pour mixture over the meatballs, onions, and garlic.

STEP FIVE – Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 3-5 hours, until the meatballs are fully heated through. Stir halfway through cooking time to ensure even heating and to make sure the sauce is not burning on the bottom of the pan.

STEP SIX – Right before serving, top the meatballs with the shredded gruyere cheese. Cover with lid and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted.

STEP SEVEN – Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or thyme if desired. Serve as an appetizer or over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. Enjoy!

Sandra’s Tips

I highly recommend shredding a block of cheese for the best meltability. Packaged pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents to prevent clumping.
Due to the high sodium content of the can of condensed french onion soup (or envelope packet of french onion soup mix if using that instead), I recommend using a low sodium beef broth and not adding additional salt to the recipe. If you find it needs more salt, then add it after cooking
If using fresh homemade meatballs, cooking times may vary slightly. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or until the internal temp of the meatballs reaches 160-165 F.

Storage And Reheating Instructions

Once cooled store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.

Reheat on a microwave-safe dish in the microwave using 30 second intervals until warmed through.