Description
This recipe for Easy Ground Beef Meatballs and Gravy offers a comforting, classic dish featuring juicy browned meatballs simmered in a rich, flavorful onion gravy. Perfect for a hearty family dinner, these meatballs are tender and infused with a blend of seasonings, then gently cooked in a savory gravy made from caramelized onions, beef and chicken broth, and a touch of smoky and tangy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.75 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 large egg
- 1.5 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 1.25 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp parsley
For the Gravy:
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1.5 tbsp unsalted butter (such as Kerrygold)
- 1.25 cup chicken broth
- 1.25 cup beef broth
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 1.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 drops kitchen bouquet
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, finely minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix gently with your hands until just combined to avoid tough meatballs. Roll the mixture into approximately 24-26 meatballs about 1.5 inches in diameter, wetting your hands slightly with cold water to prevent sticking and form smooth meatballs.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 5-6 meatballs at a time, cooking each side for 2 minutes until a golden-brown crust forms. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate and repeat with the remaining meatballs. The meatballs are browned for flavor and not fully cooked yet.
- Caramelize the Onions: In the same skillet, do not clean it, melt 1.5 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat. Dice the medium yellow onion and add it to the skillet. Cook the onions for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and golden, allowing their natural sugars to develop a rich, sweet base for the gravy.
- Make the Gravy Base: Pour the chicken broth and beef broth into the skillet with the caramelized onions. Crumble in the beef bouillon cube and add onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and kitchen bouquet. Stir well to combine and dissolve the bouillon cube completely. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil to activate flavors and reduce the liquid slightly.
- Thicken the Gravy: While the gravy boils, in a separate small container, mix the cornstarch with cold water vigorously until smooth with no lumps. Slowly pour this slurry into the boiling gravy while stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue stirring for 1-2 minutes until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
- Simmer Meatballs in Gravy: Return all the browned meatballs to the skillet, gently stirring them to coat them evenly in the gravy. Reduce the heat to low and let the meatballs simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and coating.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and let the meatballs rest in the gravy for a few minutes. This allows the flavors to settle and the texture to become tender before serving your delicious meatballs with gravy.
Notes
- Wet your hands with cold water while shaping meatballs to prevent sticking and achieve uniform size.
- Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender and avoid toughness.
- Brown meatballs in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet, ensuring a nice crust formation.
- Caramelizing onions slowly develops sweetness and depth of flavor essential for the gravy.
- Use kitchen bouquet sparingly as it enhances color and adds subtle richness to the gravy.
- Adjust gravy thickness by varying cornstarch slurry amount to your preference.
- Letting meatballs rest after simmering improves tenderness and flavor melding.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground beef meatballs, meatballs and gravy, easy meatball recipe, stovetop meatballs, comfort food, classic meatballs
