Easy Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Gravy
Equipment
- Normal Kitchen Utensils
- Slow Cooker or multicooker
Ingredients
- For the Meatballs
- 2 Lbs Ground Beef 80/20 is preferred, but any mix works
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 C Breadcrumbs Plain or seasoned
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- Salt and Pepper to Taste I like 1/2 tsp of each
- For the Gravy
- 2 C Beef Broth
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tsp Mustard Yellow or Dijon
- 1 1 Oz. Packet Onion Soup Mix See Notes for a Homemade Substitute
- 2 Tbsp Corn Starch
- 2 Tbsp Water
- 1 Small Onion, Thinly Sliced (Optional)
- 1 C Mushrooms, Sliced (Optional), roughly 4-5 Oz.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients (ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper). Mix just until everything comes together uniformly – don't overmix it.2 Lbs Ground Beef, 2 Large Eggs, 1 C Breadcrumbs, 2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tsp Garlic Powder, 1 tsp Onion Powder, Salt and Pepper to Taste
- Roll those mixture into meatballs of 1.25-1.5 inches in diameter (you should get between 30-40 meatballs). Alternatively, you could form the meat mixture into 8 even-sized oval patties – the traditional Salisbury steak shape. They will cook just like the meatballs in the following steps. Note: you can make these meatballs the night before and refrigerate them raw – so you can pop them in the slow cooker before going to work.
- Optional Step: right before adding everything to the slow cooker, you can sear the meatballs/patties to get a little more color and flavor. This step is great if you have a multicooker, because you can simply switch to slow cooking after searing the meat. If you are using a slow cooker, you can sear the meat in a separate pan and then deglaze the pan with the broth used in the following step.
- For the gravy, mix together the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix, ketchup and mustard.2 C Beef Broth, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 2 Tbsp Ketchup, 1 tsp Mustard, 1 1 Oz. Packet Onion Soup Mix
- In your slow cooker/multicooker, layer the (optional) onions and mushrooms in the bottom. Then add the meatballs/patties, doing your best to keep them in a single layer. Pour the gravy mixture evenly over the top.1 C Mushrooms, Sliced, 1 Small Onion, Thinly Sliced
- Slow cook on high for 4-5 hours, or low for 8-10 hours.
- To finish the gravy, make a slurry by mixing the corn starch and water in a small bowl. Pull the meat out of the slow cooker and add the corn starch slurry to the gravy (and optional onions and mushrooms).2 Tbsp Corn Starch, 2 Tbsp Water
- Let the gravy cook uncovered for another 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens from the corn starch. If using a slow cooker, turn it to high for this. In a multicooker, set it to sauté or something similar.
- Taste the gravy for salt and pepper.
- Mix the meat back in the with gravy and serve! The meatballs are great appetizers. You can also serve them (or the patties) over mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice for a full main course.
Notes
- 3 Tbsp Dried Minced Onion
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Beef Bouillon
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Celery Seed (Optional)
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Why These Salisbury Steak Meatballs Deserve a Spot on Your Dinner Table
Classic Salisbury steak is delicious—but what if we want to make it easier? That’s where these Crockpot Salisbury steak meatballs come in. They’re a modern twist on an old-school comfort food favorite, made right in your Crockpot® (a brand name for a slow cooker) or multicooker. You get all the rich, savory flavor of traditional steak and gravy, but in a slow cooker–friendly format that practically cooks itself.
I like to roll the meatballs the night before and pop them in the fridge. Then I set them up in the slow cooker the next morning before work. By the time I walk through the door at the end of the day, dinner is nearly done—and it smells amazing.
This dish is also incredibly versatile. Serve it as a main course over mashed potatoes or egg noodles, or keep it casual and dish them up as party appetizers with toothpicks. Either way, they disappear fast.
A Little History on Salisbury Steak
The original Salisbury steak was created in the late 1800s by Dr. James Salisbury, a physician who believed a meat-heavy diet could improve digestion and overall health. His version of the dish was simple: ground beef patties, seasoned and served with gravy. While his health claims didn’t stand the test of time, his beefy creation definitely did.
Today, we’ve taken that concept and made it even easier with slow cooking. Instead of patties, this version uses meatballs—way more fun to eat and much easier to serve as an appetizer or finger food (using toothpicks).
You can still form these into patties if you’re going for that traditional diner-style look. But I love the meatballs for their convenience and crowd-pleasing charm.
Tips for Flavor and Flexibility
This recipe works beautifully in a standard slow cooker or multicooker like the Instant Pot®. In fact, if you’re using a multicooker, you can even sear the meatballs right in the same pot before switching to slow cooking. It adds that extra layer of flavor without dirtying another pan.
I’ve included a quick homemade substitute for onion soup mix, so you can skip the store-bought packet if you want. But if you’re in a rush, the packet works just fine.
Don’t skip the mushrooms and onions if have them. They make this dish feel more like a complete meal and add a whole new flavor layer to the gravy.
And yes, these meatballs freeze beautifully. You can prep a double batch, freeze half, and pull them out when you need a cozy dinner in a pinch.
Pairings and What to Try Next
My favorite way to serve these is over a bed of crack mashed potatoes with a side of garlicky green beans. It’s the kind of meal that makes everyone at the table sigh with happiness.
If you’re looking for another beefy meatball recipe that stretches your ground beef even further, check out my porcupine meatballs. They’re just as comforting and just as easy—and they’ll give you another weeknight winner to add to your rotation.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving something cozy, these Crockpot Salisbury steak meatballs deliver every time.
I wrote and edited this post with help from ChatGPT, based on my own tested recipe and original photography.