Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs (Frozen Meatballs) (2024)

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Quick & easySlow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballsare an easy prep slow cooker dinner that starts with frozen meatballs. The best part is the rich brown gravy sauce that creates itself from packets of seasoning mix and beef broth. Serve over mashed potatoes for a delicious dinner idea tonight.

For a classic salisbury steak recipe be sure and try my recipe forHomemade Salisbury Steak Recipe With Mushroom Gravy.

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Easy Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs (With Frozen Meatballs)

You won’t believe how easy these Salisbury steak meatballs are to make! This frozen meatball recipe is quick to prep thanks to store-bought frozen meatballs – perfect for busy weeknights because it’s a dump & go slow cooker meal that cooks itself during the day. Only a few minutes prep in the morning and dinner tonight is done.

All the classic flavors of traditional salisbury steak but in an easy meatball version with tender meatballs and a rich brown gravy sauce that creates itself from packets of seasoning mixes and beef broth. They’re the perfect comfort food that the whole family can enjoy.

I love recipes that begin with frozen meatballs – not only is the prep time so simple but the meatballs always come out so tender & flavorful. Be sure and add these other frozen meatballs recipes to your dinner rotation; Easy Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs, Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Sweet and Sour Meatballs (serve over rice).

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Ingredients Needed For Salisbury Meatballs

Frozen Meatballs :Use your favorite frozen meatballs in this recipe. I love the frozen meatballs from Costco (Kirkland Signature brand) because they are a good size and they taste so good. Use Italian meatballs, homestyle meatballs, turkey meatballs, or whatever variation you prefer.
Beef Broth :Because of the longer cook time I always recommend using full-salt broth in slow cooker recipes because the long cook time tends to dilute the flavors slightly.
Brown Gravy Mix Packet
Onion Soup Mix Packet
Ketchup
Worcestershire Sauce
Cornstarch + Cold Water :This creates the cornstarch slurry that helps to thicken the rich gravy sauce after the cook time.

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How To Make Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

Spray the insert of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Dump the frozen meatballs into the slow cooker insert. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, gravy gravy mix packet, onion soup mix packet, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Pour this over the frozen meatballs and stir everything together.

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Cover with the lid and cook on LOW heat for 5-6 hours.

How To Store Leftover Salisbury Steak Meatballs?

Store any leftover meatballs inside an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 4 days. Reheat leftovers plus the extra gravy on the stove top in a saucepan or inside the microwave until heated through.

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Serving Suggestions For Easy Salisbury Meatballs

My favorite way to serve these meatballs is over myCream Cheese Mashed Potatoesand a vegetable side dish. Another options is to serve them over cooked white rice or egg noodles. Chopped fresh parsley is a classic garnish for Salisbury steak.

Recipe FAQ’s

What Type of Frozen Meatballs Do I Use?

You can use your favorite type of frozen meatballs for this recipe. You want 26 ounces of meatballs, which is about 25-30 meatballs. I like the classic homestyle meatballs, but you can even change it up and use turkey, Italian, or whatever kind you want. I use the Costco frozen meatballs and count out about 30 of them from the package.

Do I Need To Thaw The Meatballs Before Cooking Them?

Nope, simply dump the frozen meatballs right into the crockpot. No need to thaw!

Can I Use Homemade Meatballs?

Yes you can. Prepare your favorite homemade meatball recipe instead of using frozen meatballs. The meatballs need to be about the same size/diameter as the store-bought ones and you will need about 30 of them.

What Is The Cornstarch Slurry For?

This is what thickens the gravy sauce after the cook time. If the cook time is done and you like the thinner consistency then omit the cornstarch slurry and just serve the meatballs with the sauce. If you want the thicker gravy sauce for serving then go ahead and mix the cornstarch + cold water which is what will thicken the gravy for serving.

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More Meatball Recipes To Try

Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
Crockpot Jelly Meatballs
Italian Meatball Soup
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Homemade Italian Meatballs
Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
5 Ingredient Meatball Sub Casserole

Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Author Jessica – Together as Family

Course Crock Pot, Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 hours hours

Total Time 6 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Salisbury Steak Meatballs

▢ 1 bag (26 oz) frozen meatballs (about 30-35 meatballs)
▢ 2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth (see notes)
▢ 1 packet brown gravy mix
▢ 1 packet onion soup mix
▢ 2 tablespoons ketchup
▢ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Cornstarch Slurry

▢ 2 tablespoons cornstarch (see notes)
▢ 2 tablespoons cold water

Instructions

Spray the insert of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Dump the frozen meatballs into the slow cooker.
1 bag (26 oz) frozen meatballs
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, brown gravy mix packet, onion soup mix packet, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Pour this over the frozen meatballs and stir everything together.
2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth, 1 packet brown gravy mix, 1 packet onion soup mix, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Cover with the lid and cook on LOW heat for 5-6 hours.
When the cook time is done mix together the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl with a fork. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the crockpot and allow it cook for an additional 10 minutes or until the gravy has thickened.
2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons cold water
Serve the Salisbury steak meatballs over egg noodles or mashed potatoes (recommended), and garnish with chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Frozen Meatballs : You can use your favorite type of frozen meatballs for this recipe. You want 26 ounces of meatballs, which is about 30-35 meatballs. I like the classic homestyle meatballs, but you can even change it up and use turkey, Italian, or whatever kind you want. I use the Costco frozen meatballs and count out them from the package.

Don’t Thaw The Meatballs : Simply dump the frozen meatballs right into the crockpot. No need to thaw!

Beef Broth : When I use full salt beef broth my family finds that it’s much too salty. I prefer using reduced-sodium beef broth + regular packets of the gravy and onion soup mix. To reduce the sodium further, use a packet of reduced-sodium brown gravy mix as well. Or if you want that salty flavor then use everything full sodium.

Cornstarch Slurry : When I first posted the recipe it said 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water to help thicken the gravy. I have actually found that I prefer 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water to thicken it – it keeps it thinner but still pourable for a gravy. Do whichever one you prefer; for a thicker gravy use the 2 tablespoons and for a thinner but still pourable thick gravy use 1 tablespoon each.

Nutrition

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