Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)
1 tablespoon water (optional)
Sliced Swiss cheese (for topping)
Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined, then shape the mixture into meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, add the sliced onions and cook until softened and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Transfer the cooked onions and garlic to the slow cooker. Place the browned meatballs on top of the onions.
Pour beef broth over the meatballs and onions in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or until the meatballs are cooked through and tender.
If desired, you can thicken the sauce before serving. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker and cook on high for an additional 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Once the meatballs are ready, top each meatball with a slice of Swiss cheese. Cover the slow cooker and let the cheese melt for a few minutes.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, then serve the meatballs with the flavorful onion sauce.