comfort essentials: salisbury meatballs & gravy

(1 rating)
Recipe by
Andy Anderson !
Wichita, KS

I have several meatball recipes posted, but most of them are Italian meatball recipes, that call for a red sauce. This is a savory recipe with elements of Salisbury steaks and served with a yummy brown gravy. Serve these over a plate of garlic mash taters and you will be in comfort food heaven. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

(1 rating)
yield serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 3 Hr
method Slow Cooker Crock Pot

Ingredients For comfort essentials: salisbury meatballs & gravy

  • PLAN/PURCHASE
  • THE MEATBALLS
  • 1 lb
    ground beef, lean (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
  • DRY INGREDIENTS
  • 1/3 c
    breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt, kosher variety, fine grind
  • 1/2 tsp
    white pepper, freshly ground
  • WET INGREDIENTS
  • 1 lg
    egg, whisked
  • 1/4 c
    ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp
    creamy brown mustard, i prefer grey poupon
  • 2 Tbsp
    yellow onions, grated, and patted dry
  • 1 Tbsp
    worcestershire sauce
  • ADDITIONAL ITEMS
  • grapeseed oil, or other non-flavored oil
  • THE GRAVY
  • 2 c
    beef stock, not broth
  • 1 Tbsp
    ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp
    worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt, kosher variety, freshly ground, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp
    white pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
  • OPTIONAL ITEMS
  • 1/2 md
    yellow onion, sliced into halfmoons
  • THE SLURRY
  • 1/4 c
    beef stock, room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp
    cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or all-purpose flour

How To Make comfort essentials: salisbury meatballs & gravy

  • 1
    PREP/PREPARE
  • 2
    If your slow cooker/instant pot has a sauté feature, you can cook the meatballs directly in the machine. If it does not, you will need a good size pan… The steps in this recipe are written out and photographed using a large pan.
  • 3
    When it comes to condiments and the like, homemade are always the best. Here are the recipes for two of the ingredients in this recipe: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/other-sauce-spread/versatile-homemade-ketchup.html?r=3 https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/other-sauce-spread/diy-essentials-homemade-worcestershire-sauce.html?r=1
  • 4
    In this recipe I am using plan breadcrumbs, made with oven-dried bread, ground up in my food processor. Many store-bought breadcrumbs are pre-seasoned, but I would shy away from them, especially the Italian seasoned variety. These are Salisbury meatballs; not Italian.
  • 5
    Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
  • 6
    THE MEATBALLS
  • 7
    Add the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl, and whisk to combine. Then, add the wet ingredients, and whisk until combined. Finally, break up the hamburger, place into the bowl, and use your hands to gently mix the ingredients together.
  • 8
    We want the ingredients mixed, but not overmixed. If you overmix, the meatballs will turn out being on the tuff side. And we HATE it when that happens.
  • 9
    Form into 1- inch (2.5cm) balls. I use a small ice cream scoop.
  • 10
    Add enough oil to a skillet to lightly cover the bottom, then add the meatballs. Set the heat to medium and cook until browned on all sides.
  • 11
    Place on the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
  • 12
    If you are using the optional sliced onions, place them into the pan that you browned the meatballs in, cook until they soften, then place into the slow cooker with the meatballs.
  • 13
    THE GRAVY
  • 14
    Whisk all the gravy ingredients together.
  • 15
    Pour the gravy over the meatballs.
  • 16
    Set your slow cooker/instant pot to Low and cook for about 2 – 2.5 hours.
  • 17
    THE SLURRY
  • 18
    Whisk the slurry ingredients together in a bowl or mixing cup. You now have two choices: 1. You could remove the meatballs, stir in the slurry, then return the meatballs and slow cook for an additional 30 minutes. 2. You could remove the meatballs, place the gravy in a saucepan, add the slurry and bring to a simmer until thickened, about 3 – 5 minutes. Then, add the meatballs to the saucepan and allow to heat through, about 2 – 3 minutes. I chose the latter.
  • 19
    PLATE/PRESENT
  • So yummy
    20
    Serve while nice and warm over a steaming plate of mashed taters, wide cut noodles, or even rice. Enjoy.
  • Stud Muffin
    21
    Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

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