Salisbury Steak Meatballs in the Crock Pot (or stovetop)

If you’re a fan of comfort food, you’ll love this slow cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs recipe. The meatballs are simmered low and slow in savory mushroom and onion gravy. The dish is full of flavor and perfect for dinner any night of the week. The best part? It’s made in the slow cooker, so you can set it and forget it.

Wait! Did you forget to start your slow cooker this morning? No problem, this dish can be cooked on the stove, too!

Salisbury Steak Meatballs In The Slow Cooker

With the changing seasons and cold weather approaching, this slow cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs recipe is a must. There’s nothing better than coming home to a ready-to-eat meal. And it’s ideal for those busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table quickly.

Loved by all, meatballs are the perfect family-friendly meal. Leftovers are great for lunch the next day. Throw them in a warmed thermos, and the kids will have a hearty lunch to keep them fueled at school.

Meatballs:

Ground beef | Choose a lean ground beef. Since you are cooking the meatballs in the slow cooker, you want as little fat/grease as possible.
Panko bread crumbs | Panko bread crumbs add texture to the meatballs.
Milk | Any milk can be used to make the meatballs.
Egg | Large and slightly beaten helps bind the meatballs.
Steak seasoning | Steak seasoning adds a deep, savory flavor. Montreal steak seasoning is my preferred steak seasoning, but use whatever kind you have on hand.
Soy sauce | I like to use a low-sodium soy sauce, but any kind will work.
Worcestershire sauce | Worcestershire adds an excellent depth of flavor to the meatballs.
Dijon mustard | Dijon mustard gives these Salisbury steak meatballs a nice kick.

For the slow cooker:

Beef broth | Use low-sodium beef broth.
Melted Butter | You can use salted or unsalted, whichever you prefer. (I like salted- but if you are watching your salt, go with unsalted.)
Tomato paste | Tomato paste adds flavor and thickens up the sauce.
Onions | Thinly sliced white onions work well, though any type of onion will work.
Mushrooms | Thinly sliced button mushrooms add texture and flavor to the sauce. Bella or Cremini mushrooms are also a good option.
Cornstarch | Mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry to thicken the sauce.
Fresh Parsley | Parsley, as a garnish, adds a pop of color.

How To Make Crock Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs 

1 Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs, milk, beaten egg, steak seasoning, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Make tablespoon-sized meatballs and set aside.

2 Prepare the crockpot: Add the beef broth, melted butter, tomato paste, salt, and pepper to the crock pot. Stir until well combined. Add the onions and mushrooms and then the meatballs to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.

3 Add the cornstarch: Combine the cornstarch and water and gently stir the mixture into the meatballs. Cook for another 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

4 Serve the meatballs: Serve over mashed potatoes or rice and sprinkle with parsley.

Recipe Tips

• Use a medium cookie scoop to make the meatballs. This will ensure they are all the same size and cook up at the same pace.
• Spray your crock pot with cooking spray to make clean-up a little easier.
• If shaping the meatballs by hand, make sure your hands are wet so the meat doesn’t stick.
• If your meatballs are not holding together, you may not have enough egg (I’ve noticed large eggs seem to be getting smaller and smaller.) or you used too much breadcrumbs. Just add another egg if needed.
• You can substitute frozen meatballs if you don’t have time to prepare your own. (the flavor will not be quite the same.)

Storage

Leftover meatballs will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to three months.

Thaw frozen meatballs and gravy in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Variations

• Use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of ground beef.
• Make patties instead of meatballs. (Premade patties will work, too; they just won’t have the extra flavor compared to making your own
• Mix in some half-and-half or heavy cream for a creamier sauce.
• Try using Italian bread crumbs and some additional Italian seasoning.
• For gluten-free meatballs, choose gluten-free breadcrumbs and soy sauce.
• Try a variety of different mushrooms for a different flavor profile. Portobello, Cremini, Shitake, or white button mushrooms would all be great.
• If you wish to cook the meatballs using another method, you could go up in the fat of the meat. (like 82/20 or 85/15) See other cooking method instructions under the FAQs.

Serving Suggestions

• The meatballs are delicious and served over mashed or even baked potatoes with a side of green beans.
• In a hoagie roll or sourdough bun.
• Over egg noodles or rice.
• I personally love to meal prep for my lunches and this recipe is perfect for that! I use these bpa free plastic meal prep containers, but these glass ones are great, too.

FAQs

Looking for more crock pot recipes?

• Easy Crockpot Meatball Sub Recipe
• Lean ‘N Green Crockpot Chili
• Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Barbecue Pulled Pork Recipe
• Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Chowder

Did You Make This Salisbury Steak Meatballs Recipe?

Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. If you share an image on Instagram or Facebook, be sure to tag me and use #scatteredmomrecipes!

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