Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Here’s a recipe for Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Meatballs:
   • In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
   • Shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1-inch in diameter.
2. Brown Meatballs:
   • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
   • Brown the meatballs on all sides, working in batches if necessary. This step is to give them a nice crust but they don’t need to be fully cooked at this stage.
3. Prepare Slow Cooker:
   • Place sliced onions and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
4. Add Meatballs:
   • Arrange the browned meatballs on top of the onions in the slow cooker.
5. Make Sauce:
   • In a small bowl, whisk together beef broth and flour until smooth.
   • Pour the broth mixture over the meatballs.
   • Add dried thyme and bay leaf to the slow cooker.
6. Cook:
   • Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and the onions are tender.
7. Finish:
   • About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese over the meatballs.
   • Cover and let the cheese melt.
   • Once melted, remove the bay leaf.
8. Serve:
   • Serve the meatballs and onions hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.

Enjoy your delicious Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs!