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Easy Ground Beef Meatballs and Gravy Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 65 reviews

This Easy Ground Beef Meatballs and Gravy recipe features perfectly tender and flavorful meatballs simmered in a rich, savory homemade gravy. The meatballs are browned to golden perfection before being cooked through in a deeply seasoned gravy made with caramelized onions, beef and chicken broth, and a blend of spices. It’s a comforting, hearty dish ideal for family meals and pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1.75 lbs ground beef
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely minced
  • 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

Gravy

  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1.5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 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 cold water
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine 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 dense meatballs. Wet your hands slightly with cold water and roll the mixture into approximately 24-26 meatballs about 1.5 inches in diameter.
  2. Brown the meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. In batches of 5-6, add meatballs and cook for 2 minutes on each side until golden-brown crust forms. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate. This browning adds flavor but does not fully cook the meatballs.
  3. Caramelize the onions: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced medium yellow onion and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and golden, releasing their natural sugars to form a sweet flavor base for the gravy.
  4. Make the gravy base: Pour chicken and beef broth into the skillet with caramelized onions. Crumble in beef bouillon cube and add onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and kitchen bouquet. Stir well to dissolve bouillon. Bring mixture to a gentle boil to activate flavors and slightly reduce the liquid.
  5. Thicken the gravy: Mix cornstarch and cold water in a small container until smooth. Slowly pour slurry into boiling gravy while stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue stirring 1-2 minutes until gravy thickens.
  6. Simmer meatballs in gravy: Return browned meatballs to the skillet, gently coating them with gravy. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and flavor absorption. Let the dish rest a few minutes after simmering for best texture and flavor melding.

Notes

  • Wet your hands with cold water when rolling meatballs to prevent sticking and create smooth uniform shapes.
  • Do not overmix the meatball mixture to avoid tough meatballs.
  • Caramelizing onions slowly enhances their sweetness and depth of flavor in the gravy.
  • Kitchen bouquet adds color and a subtle rich flavor to the gravy; it can be omitted if unavailable.
  • Simmering meatballs in gravy ensures they cook fully and absorb delicious flavors.
  • Serve with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or rice for a complete comforting meal.

Keywords: ground beef meatballs, homemade gravy, comfort food, easy meatballs, stovetop meatballs, caramelized onion gravy

Find it online: https://annakocht.com/easy-ground-beef-meatballs-and-gravy-recipe/