Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs (Frozen Meatballs)

When you need a meatballs recipe crockpot dinner that takes only a few minutes to start, these Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs bring classic Salisbury steak flavor to an easy meatball format. Frozen meatballs simmer in a rich brown gravy made from beef broth, seasoning packets, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.

This is a low-prep, dump-and-go slow cooker meal for busy weeknights. Add the frozen meatballs and whisk together the sauce in the morning, then let the crockpot cook while you handle the rest of the day. By dinnertime, the meatballs are tender and flavorful, and the gravy is ready to spoon over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or cooked white rice.

The recipe keeps the classic flavors of Salisbury steak but uses an easy meatball format. The gravy creates itself in the slow cooker, and a quick cornstarch slurry at the end gives you control over whether the finished sauce is thinner or more thickly spoonable. It is a practical comfort-food dinner that can fit into a repeatable weeknight routine, and the familiar combination is one the whole family can enjoy.

For a classic Salisbury steak recipe beyond the meatball version, a homemade mushroom-gravy variation is another option.

Recipe details: This American recipe is categorized as Crock Pot and Dinner. It has a 5-minute prep time, a 6-hour cook time, a total time of 6 hours 5 minutes, and makes 6 servings.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Almost no prep: You do not need to brown or thaw the meatballs. Spray the insert, add the frozen meatballs, whisk the sauce, and let the slow cooker do the work.
• Classic Salisbury steak flavor: Brown gravy mix, onion soup mix, beef broth, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce create a savory, rich brown gravy with very little measuring.
• Flexible serving: Mashed potatoes are the recommended base, but egg noodles and cooked white rice also work well with the gravy.
• Adjustable texture: The cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce after cooking, while omitting it or using the smaller slurry option keeps the gravy thinner but still pourable.

Ingredients for Salisbury Steak Meatballs

These ingredients are divided into the frozen meatballs and gravy ingredients and the finishing slurry. The recipe makes six servings, with a five-minute prep time, a six-hour cook time, and a total time of 6 hours 5 minutes. The cooking directions give a LOW setting range of 5-6 hours.

Salisbury Steak Meatballs

• 1 bag (26 oz) frozen meatballs: This is about 30-35 meatballs in the ingredient guidance. Use your favorite frozen meatballs, including classic homestyle, turkey, or Italian meatballs. Costco Kirkland Signature frozen meatballs are also an option; about 30 from the package are referenced because they are a good size and taste good.
• 2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth: This is the listed amount and the preferred choice when full-salt broth makes the gravy too salty. Longer slow-cooker cooking can slightly dilute flavors, which is why full-salt broth is also a recognized option for slow-cooker recipes.
• 1 packet brown gravy mix
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Cornstarch Slurry

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

To serve: Choose mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or cooked white rice. Chopped fresh parsley makes a classic Salisbury steak garnish. A vegetable side dish is another suggested accompaniment.

How to Make This Meatballs Recipe Crockpot Style

1. Prepare the slow cooker. Spray the insert of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. This coats the cooking surface before the sauce and meatballs go in.
2. Add the frozen meatballs. Dump the frozen meatballs directly into the slow cooker insert. They go in frozen, so there is no thawing step.
3. Whisk the gravy mixture. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, brown gravy mix packet, onion soup mix packet, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Pour the mixture over the frozen meatballs and stir everything together.
4. Cook on LOW. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW heat for 5-6 hours. Six hours is the listed cook time. Keep the lid on during the cooking period so the slow cooker can maintain its heat.
5. Thicken the gravy if desired. When the cook time is done, mix the cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl with a fork. Stir this cornstarch slurry into the crockpot and let it cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened.
6. Serve. Spoon the Salisbury steak meatballs and gravy over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or cooked white rice. Mashed potatoes are the recommended choice. Finish with chopped parsley and enjoy.

Tips for Success and Troubleshooting

Use the frozen meatballs as they are

The quick prep depends on starting with frozen meatballs, and the recipe specifically says to dump them directly into the crockpot. Do not thaw them first. Use 26 ounces, whether you choose homestyle, turkey, Italian, or another favorite variety.

Choose the broth and seasoning packets together

Use reduced-sodium beef broth with regular brown gravy and onion soup mix packets for the listed combination. Reduced-sodium broth is helpful when full-salt beef broth makes the finished sauce too salty. To reduce the sodium further, choose a reduced-sodium brown gravy mix as well. If you prefer a saltier flavor, use full-sodium broth and regular packets throughout. Because the slow-cooker cook time is long and flavors can dilute slightly, full-salt broth remains a slow-cooker option.

Thicken only after the slow cooking is complete

Make the slurry after the meatballs have finished their 5-6 hours on LOW, not at the beginning. Stir the cornstarch and cold water with a fork, then give the gravy an additional 10 minutes in the crockpot. Look for the sauce to thicken before serving. If you prefer a thinner consistency, skip the slurry and serve the meatballs with the sauce as it is.

Keep the serving plan simple

Serve the meatballs and gravy over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or cooked white rice. Mashed potatoes are the favorite and recommended option. Add a vegetable side dish if you want to round out the plate, and use chopped fresh parsley as a classic garnish.

Variations and Substitutions

Change the type of meatball

Use your favorite frozen meatballs in the same 26-ounce amount. Classic homestyle meatballs are the preferred style, but turkey meatballs, Italian meatballs, or another preferred variety can be used. Costco Kirkland Signature meatballs are specifically mentioned, with about 30 counted from the package. Homemade meatballs are also an option: prepare your favorite homemade meatball recipe, make the meatballs about the same size or diameter as the store-bought ones, and use about 30.

For 26 ounces, the count may be about 25-30 meatballs or about 30-35, depending on package and meatball size. Use the 26-ounce weight as the dependable guide. If you are counting, about 30 is the Costco-package reference given with the recipe.

Choose your gravy thickness

The listed finishing option is 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water for a thicker gravy. A smaller option of 1 tablespoon cornstarch plus 1 tablespoon water makes a thinner but still pourable gravy. If you like the sauce thinner than either option, omit the slurry completely and serve the meatballs with the cooking sauce.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover Salisbury steak meatballs and gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you are ready to eat, reheat the leftovers along with the extra gravy in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.

Serving Suggestions for Salisbury Steak Meatballs

For the most classic plate, serve the meatballs and rich brown gravy over mashed potatoes. Cream cheese mashed potatoes are the suggested favorite, and a vegetable side dish completes that serving idea. Egg noodles or cooked white rice are also serving options. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for a classic Salisbury steak garnish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of frozen meatballs should I use?

Use your favorite kind, as long as you have 26 ounces. Classic homestyle meatballs are the preferred style, but turkey meatballs, Italian meatballs, or another variety can be used. Costco Kirkland Signature frozen meatballs are specifically mentioned as a good-size option. The count can vary: 26 ounces may be about 25-30 meatballs or about 30-35. The weight matters more than the count.

Do I need to thaw the meatballs before cooking?

No. Dump the frozen meatballs directly into the crockpot. There is no need to thaw them before starting the recipe.

Can I use homemade meatballs?

Yes. Prepare your favorite homemade meatball recipe instead of using frozen meatballs. Make them about the same size or diameter as the store-bought meatballs, and plan on about 30 meatballs.

What is the cornstarch slurry for?

The slurry thickens the gravy after the slow-cooking time is complete. For the thicker version, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water, stir it into the crockpot, and cook for another 10 minutes or until the gravy thickens. For a thinner but still pourable gravy, use 1 tablespoon of each. If you prefer a thinner consistency, omit the slurry and serve the meatballs with the sauce.

What if I want less sodium?

Use the listed reduced-sodium beef broth, and choose a reduced-sodium brown gravy mix as well if you want to reduce the sodium further. Regular packets pair with the reduced-sodium broth in the listed combination. For a saltier flavor, use full-sodium broth and regular packets.

Nutrition

Nutrition values are: calories, 366 kcal; carbohydrates, 9 g; protein, 22 g; fat, 26 g; saturated fat, 10 g; polyunsaturated fat, 2 g; monounsaturated fat, 12 g; cholesterol, 88 mg; sodium, 985 mg; potassium, 481 mg; fiber, 0.5 g; sugar, 2 g; vitamin A, 37 IU; vitamin C, 2 mg; calcium, 36 mg; and iron, 1 mg.