Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs

These Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs are the ultimate easy comfort food! Frozen homestyle meatballs simmer low and slow in a rich, savory French onion gravy made with caramelized Vidalia onions, beef broth, French onion soup, herbs, and a touch of balsamic vinegar. Then everything gets topped with plenty of melty cheese for the perfect finishing touch.

We enjoyed these easy slow cooker meatballs over my easy creamy mashed potatoes but fluffy rice would be great as well! It’s a delicious family dinner that requires very little hands-on time.

Even my super picky daughter gobbled up these saucy meatballs! (as soon as I took off all the onions, of course 😆) That is a HUGE win! She eats like 4 things. 🙄 So if you have a picky eater at home, I just know they will love this easy dinner, too!

And the best part? You can skip sautéing the onions if you’re short on time! Simply add the sliced onions straight to the crock pot and let the slow cooker do the work.

If you love a saucy meatballs recipe like this, try Swedish Meatballs in the crock pot or Salisbury Meatballs.

Why You’ll Love These Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs

• Easy weeknight dinner: Frozen meatballs make this recipe incredibly simple.
• Mostly hands-off: Let the crock pot do the cooking while you get on with your day.
• Big French onion flavor: Vidalia onions, beef broth, French onion soup, herbs, and balsamic vinegar create an incredibly flavorful gravy.
• Cheesy and comforting: The melted cheese on top takes these meatballs over the top.
• Family friendly: Serve them over mashed potatoes or rice for a hearty meal.
• Great shortcut recipe: No need to make homemade meatballs!

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 2 Vidalia onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, optional if sautéing the onions
• 32 ounces frozen homestyle meatballs
• 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1-ounce packet beef gravy mix, low sodium if possible
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 10.5-ounce can low-sodium French onion soup
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups shredded Gruyère, Muenster, or mozzarella cheese

For Thickening, If Needed

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water

How to Make Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs

1. Sauté the onions — optional

For extra flavor, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced Vidalia onions and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and nicely browned.

This step adds a delicious caramelized onion flavor to the finished dish, but it’s completely optional. If you’re short on time, you can add the raw sliced onions directly to the crock pot.

2. Add the meatballs and onions

Add the sliced onions to the bottom of the crock pot, followed by the frozen homestyle meatballs.

You don’t need to thaw the meatballs first!

3. Make the French onion gravy

In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, beef gravy mix, balsamic vinegar, French onion soup, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, thyme, parsley, rosemary, and black pepper.

Whisk until the cornstarch is well incorporated.

4. Pour over the meatballs

Pour the French onion gravy mixture evenly over the frozen meatballs and onions.

Cover the crock pot and cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.

5. Check the gravy

Once the meatballs are finished cooking, check the consistency of the sauce.

Keep in mind that the gravy will thicken slightly as it cools and sits.

If you’d like a thicker gravy, whisk together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water to make a slurry. Stir it into the crock pot and allow the sauce to thicken.

6. Add the cheese

Sprinkle the shredded Gruyère, Muenster, or mozzarella cheese evenly over the meatballs.

Cover the crock pot and continue cooking on HIGH for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.

7. Serve

Spoon the cheesy French onion meatballs over creamy mashed potatoes or rice and spoon plenty of the delicious gravy over the top.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

What Kind of Meatballs Should I Use?

I recommend frozen homestyle meatballs for this recipe. They’re an easy shortcut and hold up well during slow cooking.

You can use your favorite brand of frozen meatballs, but avoid Italian-seasoned meatballs if you want the classic French onion flavor.

There’s no need to thaw the meatballs before adding them to the crock pot.

Do I Have to Sauté the Onions?

No! Sautéing the onions is completely optional.

If you have a few extra minutes, sautéing them in olive oil until they’re browned adds extra depth and sweetness. But if you’re looking for a true dump-and-go crock pot dinner, simply add the sliced onions directly to the slow cooker.

The onions will soften and cook along with the meatballs.

What Cheese Is Best for French Onion Meatballs?

Gruyère is my first choice because it melts beautifully and has that classic French onion soup flavor.

However, Muenster or mozzarella are also delicious options. If you don’t have Gruyère on hand, don’t worry! Mozzarella gives you plenty of gooey, melty cheese and is usually a more budget-friendly option.

What Should I Serve With French Onion Meatballs?

These meatballs are especially delicious served over:

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• White rice
• Brown rice
• Egg noodles
• Mashed cauliflower
• Crusty French bread

Mashed potatoes are my favorite because they soak up all that delicious French onion gravy!

Can I Make These Meatballs Ahead of Time?

Yes! You can make the meatballs ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for several days.

When reheating, add a splash of beef broth if the gravy has become too thick. Reheat gently until the meatballs are warmed through.

Can I Freeze Crock Pot French Onion Meatballs?

Yes. Allow the cooked meatballs and gravy to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container.

Freeze for up to about 3 months for the best quality.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently. You may need to add a little beef broth to loosen the gravy.

Tips for Making the Best French Onion Meatballs

Use low-sodium ingredients. The beef broth, gravy mix, and French onion soup can all contain quite a bit of salt. Using low-sodium versions gives you more control over the final flavor.

Don’t skip the balsamic vinegar. Just one tablespoon adds a subtle tang and helps balance the richness of the beef and onions.

Don’t worry if the gravy looks thin at first. It will continue to thicken as it cools. If it’s still thinner than you’d like, use the cornstarch slurry at the end.

Add the cheese at the end. Waiting until the meatballs are cooked keeps the cheese from becoming overcooked or disappearing into the gravy.

Use frozen meatballs for convenience. There’s no need to thaw them first, making this an incredibly easy dump-and-go crock pot recipe.

Why Are My Meatballs So Good in the Crock Pot?

Cooking meatballs in the slow cooker allows them to simmer in the flavorful French onion gravy, giving them plenty of time to absorb all those savory flavors. The result is tender, juicy meatballs covered in rich gravy and gooey melted cheese.

It’s comfort food with almost no effort!

More Crock Pot Meatball Recipes

• Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
• Honey Garlic Meatballs
• Sweet & Savory Meatballs
• Mississippi Meatballs
• Salisbury Meatballs
• Swedish Meatballs
• Italian Meatballs for Hoagies