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Easy Ground Beef Meatballs and Gravy Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 58 reviews

Easy Ground Beef Meatballs and Gravy is a comforting and budget-friendly recipe that combines juicy meatballs made from 80/20 ground beef with a rich, savory homemade gravy. Browned to perfection and simmered in a flavorful sauce with caramelized onions, beef and chicken broth, and a blend of spices, this dish is perfect served over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice. The recipe is straightforward, uses simple pantry ingredients, and is great for meal prep or feeding a family with a kid-approved taste.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Meatballs:

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1.75 lbs ground beef (80/20)
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 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, diced
  • 1.5 tbsp unsalted butter (e.g., 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 (optional for color)
  • 1/4 cup water (cold)
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meatball Mixture and Shape: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, finely minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, parsley, and diced half yellow onion. Mix gently with your hands until just combined to avoid dense meatballs. Roll the mixture into approximately 24-26 meatballs about 1.5 inches in diameter. Wet your hands with cold water to prevent sticking and achieve uniform meatballs.
  2. Brown the Meatballs: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, add 5-6 meatballs and cook for 2 minutes per side until a golden-brown crust forms. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate and repeat with remaining meatballs. The goal is to brown for flavor, not cook through.
  3. Build the Gravy Base with Caramelized Onions: In the same skillet (do not clean), melt 1.5 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the diced medium onion and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and golden, releasing their natural sugars for a rich, sweet base.
  4. Create the Braising Liquid: Pour chicken broth and beef broth into the skillet with the caramelized onions. Crumble in the beef bouillon cube, then add onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and kitchen bouquet. Stir well to dissolve the bouillon. Increase heat to bring mixture to a gentle boil to activate and slightly reduce flavors.
  5. Thicken the Gravy and Return Meatballs: In a small container, combine cornstarch and cold water, shaking until smooth without lumps. Slowly pour the slurry into the boiling gravy while stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Stir 1-2 minutes until gravy thickens. Return browned meatballs to the skillet, gently stirring to coat them in the gravy.
  6. Simmer and Finish: Reduce heat to low and gently simmer meatballs in the gravy for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally for even cooking and coating. This ensures meatballs cook through and absorb rich gravy flavors. Let the dish rest a few minutes off heat to allow flavors to settle and texture to become tender before serving.

Notes

  • Use 80/20 ground beef for juicy, flavorful meatballs; leaner beef may result in drier meatballs.
  • Do not overmix meat mixture to avoid dense meatballs.
  • Cook meatballs in batches to prevent overcrowding and ensure proper browning.
  • Always mix cornstarch with cold water before adding to hot gravy to avoid lumps.
  • Caramelize onions fully (about 15 minutes) for the best gravy flavor.
  • Kitchen bouquet is optional and used primarily for coloring the gravy.
  • Meatballs and gravy can be stored in the refrigerator up to 4 days, or frozen up to 3 months.
  • Reheat gently on stovetop adding broth as needed to maintain gravy consistency.

Keywords: ground beef meatballs, homemade meatballs, meatballs and gravy, easy comfort food, skillet meatballs, family dinner, budget-friendly dinner, stovetop meatballs, caramelized onion gravy

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