Description
Rich and buttery meatballs made easy in a slow cooker for a comforting dinner experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5–2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or panko)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 stick (8 tbsp) butter
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix (about 1 oz)
- 1 packet au jus or brown gravy mix (about 1 oz)
- 1/2 cup beef broth (optional)
- 8–10 pieces sliced pepperoncini (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands.
- Form 1.5-inch meatballs, aiming for about 24 meatballs.
- Optional: Sear meatballs in a hot skillet for 1–2 minutes per side.
- Place meatballs in the crockpot in a single layer.
- Sprinkle ranch dressing mix and au jus mix over the meatballs without stirring.
- Cut the stick of butter into pieces and distribute over the top. Add sliced pepperoncini and beef broth if desired.
- Cook on Low for 4–6 hours or on High for 2–3 hours, checking for an internal temperature of 160°F.
Notes
For a richer sauce, stir in 4 oz of cream cheese during the last 20 minutes of cooking. Avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 100mg