Meatballs And Gravyrn

Meatballs and gravy on a white dinner plate with mashed potatoes.

Our meatballs and gravy is a comforting dish featuring perfectly seasoned meatballs smothered in a rich, savory brown gravy, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.

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Table of Contents

Meatballs And Gravy Ingredients
Substitutions and Additions
How To Make This Meatballs And Gravy Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
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Indulge in the comforting goodness of meatballs and gravy. Perfectly seasoned meatballs smothered in rich brown gravy, this recipe is a family-friendly favorite dish that never goes out of style.

Meatballs And Gravy Ingredients

Ingredients to make meatballs and gravy.

The ingredients for our meatballs and gravy recipe include hearty ground beef, finely diced yellow onions for sweetness, and breadcrumbs for texture.

Minced garlic adds flavor, while condiments like ketchup, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire sauce enhance the meatball’s taste.

The rich gravy uses beef broth for its savory base and has plenty of creaminess thanks to the heavy cream.

You’ll need:

For The Meatballs:

1½ pounds of lean ground beef
½ yellow onion, finely diced
¼ cup of bread crumbs
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg
1 tablespoon of ketchup
1 teaspoon of yellow mustard
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of black pepper
1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, roughly chopped

For The Gravy:

4 tablespoons of olive oil or butter (divided into 1 tablespoon for the meatballs and 3 tablespoons for the gravy)
1 medium yellow onion, sliced into ½-inch strings
3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
2 cups of beef broth or beef broth
½ cup of heavy cream or sour cream (optional)
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Minced fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Substitutions and Additions

GROUND BEEF: For a leaner option, try ground turkey or chicken. For a vegetarian twist, go for plant-based meat alternatives.

YELLOW ONION: Red or white onions can replace yellow ones for subtle flavor variations.

GARLIC: Garlic powder can be substituted for minced garlic in this meatball recipe.

CONDIMENTS: Customize the ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce amounts to suit your tastes.

CREAM: Substitute heavy cream with sour cream, milk, or half and half.

How To Make This Meatballs And Gravy Recipe

Once you make the meatballs, you will cook them in a skillet, followed by the rich brown gravy, to create this hearty main dish.

STEP ONE: Combine the ground beef, finely diced yellow onion, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, egg, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley in a large bowl. Mix until all the ingredients in your bowl until they are evenly incorporated.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

PRO TIP: If you choose to use your hands to mix the meatball ingredients, we strongly recommend wearing gloves. We also strongly recommend wearing gloves when shaping the raw meatballs.

mixture of ground beef and seasonings to make meatballs.

STEP TWO: Using clean hands, a tablespoon, or an ice cream scoop, shape the meat mixture into meatballs; they should be about 1-2 inches in diameter. Set your homemade meatballs aside in a single layer. I like to put mine on a pan.

PRO TIP:

We highly recommend having a dedicated scoop for meatballs. There is always a risk of cross-contamination. Be sure to clearly mark the scoop for anyone to recognize.

Uncooked rolled meatballs on a baking. sheet.

STEP THREE: Heat one tablespoon of olive oil or butter over medium-high heat in a skillet. Add the meatballs and cook them until they are browned on all sides and cooked through.

This will take about 10-12 minutes. They are ready when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.

STEP FOUR: Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and then add the remaining onions. Cook them until they are soft and caramelized. This should take about 8-10 minutes.

STEP FIVE: Melt the remaining oil or butter over medium heat in the same skillet. Sprinkle the flour over the oil or melted butter and whisk continuously until the mixture turns golden brown and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.

STEP SIX: Slowly pour in the beef broth and add Worcestershire sauce while whisking constantly. Continue whisking until the gravy thickens and reaches your desired consistency.

Season your flavorful sauce with salt and pepper to taste. For a lighter and creamier gravy, add heavy cream or sour cream.

Return the caramelized onions to the skillet with the gravy and stir to combine.

A skillet of prepared gravy with a whisk.

PRO TIP:

When adding the broth to the roux, pour it in gradually while whisking constantly. This prevents lumps from forming and helps achieve a smooth, lump-free gravy.

STEP SEVEN: Gently place the cooked meatballs into the skillet and coat them with the creamy gravy sauce. Simmer the meatballs in the rich gravy for an additional 3-5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

a skillet of prepared gravy and meatballs.

STEP EIGHT: Serve the tender meatballs and rich brown gravy hot, garnish with minced fresh parsley if desired.

How To Serve

Serve these meatballs and gravy over creamy mashed potatoes or egg noodles, allowing the luscious gravy to soak into the dish and fill all the nooks and crannies.

Create a hearty sandwich by placing the meatballs and gravy in a warm sub roll or baguette and adding a sprinkle of cheese for an extra gooey sandwich.

For a low-carb option, serve the meatballs and gravy over steamed cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.

For different flavor variations, our buffalo chicken meatballs and Swedish meatballs are both delicious options.

MORE MEATBALL RECIPES

Beef Dinner Ideas

Meatball Parmesan

Beef Dinner Ideas

Crockpot Swedish Meatballs

Storage

MAKE AHEAD: You can prepare the meatballs and gravy a day in advance and refrigerate them separately. Reheat on the stove before serving.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftover meatballs and gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

IN THE FREEZER: Freeze any extra meatballs and gravy in a freezer-safe container for up to two months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and warm on the stove.

REHEATING: To reheat, warm the meatballs and gravy on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, use the microwave, heating in 30-second intervals until warmed through.

Why We Love This Recipe

VERSATILE: Whether served with pasta, potatoes, or as a sandwich, this recipe adapts to various occasions.

FLAVOR HARMONY: The perfectly seasoned meatballs and rich, savory gravy create a harmonious taste experience.

a close up of meatballs on a serving spoon

Meatballs and gravy embody the essence of comfort food. The hearty and savory ground beef meatballs are smothered in a rich brown grave to create a dish that is perfect for family dinners, game nights, date nights, and potluck parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make my meatballs a dark, rich brown?

Adding a little bit of browning and seasoning sauce, such as Kitchen Bouquet or Gravy Master, will help make your meatballs a dark, rich brown.

Can I double the gravy?

You can certainly double the gravy by adjusting the amount of butter, flour, broth, and cream.

What else can I add to this gravy?

You can sauté mushrooms in butter or oil and then add them to the sauce. Also, you can add ¼ to ½ cup of red wine to the gravy for a richer taste.

Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef for the meatballs?

You can substitute ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef for the meatballs.

Can I use ground pork instead of beef for the meatballs?

Absolutely, ground pork adds a different flavor dimension to the dish.

Can I make the meatballs smaller for appetizers?

Certainly, shape them into smaller meatballs for bite-sized appetizers.

Can I use store-bought meatballs for convenience?

While homemade meatballs add a special touch, store-bought ones can save time without sacrificing taste.

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