Description
Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender, juicy meatballs simmered slowly in a rich, savory mushroom gravy. Perfect for busy weeknights, this hands-off recipe combines simple ingredients to create a classic comfort food that pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
For the Mushroom Gravy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 oz sliced white or cremini mushrooms
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, soaked bread crumbs (soaked in milk), egg, minced onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and thyme. Mix gently until just combined to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form and Brown Meatballs: Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs. Heat a skillet with a little oil and brown the meatballs on all sides to lock in juices and add color. This step is optional but recommended.
- Prepare the Mushroom Gravy Base: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté sliced mushrooms and onions until soft and golden. Stir in flour and cook for about one minute to remove the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, cooking until the gravy thickens.
- Combine and Cook in Slow Cooker: Place browned meatballs in the slow cooker and pour the mushroom gravy over them. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until meatballs are tender and flavors meld.
Notes
- Don’t skip browning meatballs if possible; it enhances flavor and texture.
- Use fresh mushrooms for the best flavor and texture in the gravy.
- Avoid overmixing the meatball mixture to prevent toughness.
- If gravy is too thin, thicken by mixing flour or cornstarch with cold water and stirring it in near the end of cooking.
- Low and slow cooking yields the best tender meatballs with rich flavor infusion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3.5 hours (high)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: slow cooker, Salisbury steak, meatballs, mushroom gravy, comfort food, dinner, easy recipe
