Easy Crock Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs: Cozy, Comforting, and Totally Effortless! If you’re in the mood for a dinner that’s hearty, packed with flavor, and basically cooks itself—let me introduce you to your new weeknight favorite! Dish up these meatballs—an absolute treat! These meatballs are paired with brown gravy, onion soup, mushrooms, onion, and other ingredients. Serve over a bed of mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles, or even as an appetizer.

This is one of those meals that feels like comfort food through and through. The mushrooms and onions melt down into the gravy, the garlic adds a little depth, and when it all comes together, you’ve got a warm, cozy bowl of goodness that’s perfect served over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or even rice.
This is a recipe that so many will love. The rich gravy coats the meatballs perfectly and will tickle your tastebuds with delight. This is one frozen meatball recipe that you will want to make over and over again.
If you are like me and a fan of frozen meatballs, I have a few more recipes you might want to try soon. My apple butter meatballs offer a sweet and savory flavor. You can also dish up these French onion meatballs or my Instant Pot Dr. Pepper meatballs. All are must-try recipes.
It’s also super easy to customize. Want it extra saucy? Add a little more broth. Not into mushrooms? Leave them out. Need to stretch it a bit? Just toss in more meatballs. And if you’re cooking for a crowd, this recipe doubles easily.
What is Salisbury Steak?
Salisbury steak is a traditional dish. It typically consists of ground beef mixed with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings, pan-seared, and then coated in a rich gravy and mushrooms. This total comfort food style recipe offers that stick-to-your-bones style dish.
Reasons To Try Out These Salisbury Steak Meatballs Soon…
- You start with frozen meatballs, making for a quick prep recipe!
- Minimal ingredients are required; it is the perfect dump-and-go crock pot recipe.
- The meatballs are versatile in serving. They can be a meal or party food for a crowd.
- A meal that kids and adults can enjoy.
Ingredients Needed
Meatballs: I reached for a bag of frozen meatballs, but you can easily use homemade meatballs.
Mushrooms: I used Baby Bella mushrooms for this, but your favorite mushrooms can be swapped in place of the Bellas.
Onion and Garlic: Fresh chopped onion and garlic will be a star in this recipe, adding depth of flavor to the meatballs.
Water or Broth: Reach for a low-sodium beef broth for this, or even water—either works.
Worcestershire Sauce: This will add some richness and a bit of tanginess to the recipe.
Mixes: Brown gravy mix and onion soup mix are both used to help create the thick and flavorful gravy that coats the meatballs.
Parsley: This is optional, but it will look pretty as a garnish.
Variations to the Recipe
- Creamy: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, add 1/2 cup of sour cream to the meatball mixture. Stir well and let it warm up. This will create a creamy sauce for the gravy.
- Veggies: You can dice up bell peppers or jalapenos for extra flavor, or add more vegetables like carrots or peas. I prefer a green bell pepper, but you can play around with what you want.
- Red Wine: Add a splash of red wine to deepen the dish’s flavors; two tablespoons would do well.
- Cheese: Top your meatballs with some grated parmesan, mozzarella, or other cheese you would like. It will add a nice cheesy twist.
Storing Leftovers
You can refrigerate any meatballs you do not eat right away for 3-4 days in the fridge. Just ensure you place them in an airtight container.
Then you can warm them up in the slow cooker, microwave, or on a low setting in a skillet. Don’t heat too quickly, or you can burn the gravy mixture.
You can also freeze the meatballs in a freezer-friendly container for a few months. Then defrost and heat up as you prefer.
Tips For Success
Here are a few helpful tips to help set you up for success. This is a super simple recipe, so it would be hard to mess it up.
- Do not thaw the meatballs; toss them in the slow cooker frozen.
- For added flavor, I recommend using a beef broth over water, as it will enhance the overall taste.
- If the sauce seems thin, mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with one tablespoon of cold water, stir it in, and let it cook another 15 minutes on high. This will help thicken the sauce.
- You can adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences. Just know that any changes will alter the flavor overall.
This dish checks all the boxes. It’s rich, savory, and has that classic “Sunday dinner” vibe, but it comes together with almost zero prep thanks to the magic of frozen meatballs and your trusty slow cooker. Toss in a few pantry staples and fresh veggies, and let the Crock Pot do the heavy lifting while you go about your day. It’s the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it meal.
Whether you’re feeding the family on a busy weeknight or just want something satisfying and low-effort for dinner, this Crock Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs recipe is a total win. Minimal effort, maximum comfort.
What makes this recipe shine is how those frozen meatballs soak up all the delicious flavor from the onion soup mix, brown gravy, mushrooms, and Worcestershire sauce. As everything simmers low and slow, it creates this rich, savory gravy that tastes like something you spent all afternoon working on. But you didn’t. And that’s the beauty of it.
It’s the kind of meal that makes the house smell amazing, like something your grandma might have made—but with way less effort. And the best part? Leftovers taste even better the next day, if you’re lucky enough to have any. Pair it with some crusty bread to soak up that rich gravy, a side of green beans or a simple salad, and you’ve got a well-rounded, no-stress dinner that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
FAQs For Salisbury Steak Meatballs
How do I create more sauce or gravy?
If you want extra gravy, add a packet of gravy and beef broth or water. You can also add a can of cream of condensed mushroom soup to help thicken it up and create more sauce.
Can I use homemade meatballs for this recipe?
Yes, you can use homemade meatballs. Just aim to cook them until the internal temperature reads 160-165 degrees. This will take around 4-6 hours, depending on the size of your meatballs and the heating element of your crock pot.
Can I double this recipe?
If you have a larger slow cooker that will hold all the meatballs and ingredients and not be too full, you can. However, you will not want to double the recipe if you have a smaller slow cooker.
So next time you’re staring at a bag of frozen meatballs wondering what to make, give this slow cooker Salisbury steak twist a try. It’s easy, it’s comforting, and it might just become a regular in your dinner rotation.
Craving More Tasty Meatball Recipes
Crock Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Ingredients
- 36 ounce bag frozen meatballs
- 8 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 1 onion chopped
- 3-5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 ½ cups water or low sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 envelope brown gravy mix
- 1 envelope onion soup mix
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Place frozen meatballs in crockpot.
- Scatter the mushrooms, onion, and garlic on top.
- Add the broth (or water) and Worcestershire sauce.
- Sprinkle the gravy mix and onion soup mix on top.
- Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 3-5 hours, until the meatballs are fully heated through. Stir halfway through cooking time to ensure even heating.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve as is or over mashed potatoes. Enjoy!
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