Description
Easy Ground Beef Meatballs and Gravy is a comforting and budget-friendly recipe featuring juicy homemade meatballs browned to perfection and simmered in a rich, savory gravy made from caramelized onions, beef and chicken broth, and flavorful seasonings. This dish is simple to prepare with common pantry ingredients and perfect served over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.75 lbs 80/20 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 black pepper
- 2 tsp parsley, chopped
For the 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 (optional, for color)
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture and Shape: In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, parsley, and finely minced half onion. Mix with your hands just until all ingredients are combined to avoid dense meatballs. Wet your hands with cold water and roll the mixture into about 24-26 meatballs, each approximately 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. In batches to prevent overcrowding, add 5-6 meatballs and cook for 2 minutes per side until they develop a golden-brown crust. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate. This browning adds flavor but does not fully cook the meatballs.
- Build the Gravy Base with Caramelized Onions: In the same skillet, without cleaning, melt 1.5 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the diced medium yellow onion and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, golden, and caramelized, releasing their natural sweetness to form the gravy base.
- Create the Braising Liquid: Pour chicken 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 fully dissolve the bouillon. Increase heat to bring the mixture to a gentle boil to activate flavors and slightly reduce the liquid.
- Thicken the Gravy and Return Meatballs: While the gravy is boiling, mix cornstarch and cold water vigorously in a small bowl until smooth. Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the boiling gravy while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring for 1-2 minutes until gravy thickens to desired consistency. Gently return all browned meatballs to the skillet and coat them thoroughly with the gravy.
- Simmer and Finish: Reduce heat to low and let the meatballs simmer gently in the gravy for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and gravy coverage. This step finishes cooking the meatballs and allows them to soak in the rich gravy flavors. Allow the dish to rest a few minutes before serving for optimal flavor and tenderness.
Notes
- Use 80/20 ground beef for juicy, flavorful meatballs; leaner beef may be dry and fattier beef may shrink too much.
- Avoid over-mixing the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender.
- Do not overcrowd the skillet when browning meatballs; cook in small batches for proper browning.
- Mix cornstarch with cold water before adding to hot gravy to prevent lumps.
- Caramelize onions fully (about 15 minutes) for richest gravy flavor; do not rush.
- Kitchen bouquet is optional and only affects gravy color, not taste.
- Meatballs and gravy store well in the fridge for up to 4 days and freeze up to 3 months.
- Reheat gently on stovetop for best texture; add broth if gravy thickens too much on reheating.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground beef meatballs, easy meatballs, homemade meatballs, comfort food, beef gravy, family dinner, skillet meatballs, meatballs and gravy recipe
