Meatballs and Gravy – A Comforting Classic Meal

This Meatballs and Gravy dish is the ultimate comfort food, featuring tender homemade meatballs smothered in a savory brown gravy with caramelized onions. The meatballs, made with a mix of ground beef, breadcrumbs, and seasoning, are seared to golden perfection before being simmered in a rich, flavorful gravy. Served over creamy mashed potatoes or with roasted vegetables, this dish is hearty, filling, and sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It’s perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or a cozy night in. You can also make the meatballs ahead of time, making it an easy, freezer-friendly meal.

Ingredients

• For the meatballs
  
  

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    
    

  • 1 ½ lbs. ground beef (85% lean)
    
    

  • ½ yellow onion, finely diced
    
    

  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian)
    
    

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    
    

  • 1 large egg
    
    

  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
    
    

  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
    
    

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    
    

  • ½ teaspoon salt
    
    

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    
    

  • 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped
    
    

• For the gravy
  
  

  • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced into ½ inch strings
    
    

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    
    

  • 1 cup chicken broth
    
    

  • 1 cup beef broth
    
    

  • 1 beef bouillon cube, or 1 teaspoon Better than Bouillon
    
    

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    
    

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    
    

  • 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
    
    

  • 2-3 drops Kitchen Bouquet browning and seasoning sauce (optional)
    
    

  • ¼ cup cold water + 3 tablespoons cornstarch
    
    

Directions

1. Make the meatballs:
   
   

   • In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, diced onion, minced garlic, egg, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and parsley.
     
     

   • Gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat. Roll into 1 ½ inch meatballs.
     
     

   • Refrigerate the meatballs for 15 minutes to help them hold their shape while cooking.
     
     

2. Brown the meatballs:
   
   

   • Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, about 2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Set aside.
     
     

3. Make the gravy:
   
   

   • In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and caramelized, about 15 minutes.
     
     

   • Add chicken broth, beef broth, beef bouillon, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and Kitchen Bouquet (if using). Stir to combine.
     
     

   • Bring the mixture to a boil, then whisk in the cornstarch-water mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to whisk until the gravy thickens.
     
     

4. Cook the meatballs in the gravy:
   
   

   • Add the browned meatballs back to the skillet with the gravy. Spoon gravy over the meatballs and simmer for about 10 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.
     
     

5. Serve:
   
   

   • Garnish with fresh parsley and serve over mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables for the perfect comfort meal.
     
     

Nutritional Value

• Calories: 307 per serving
  
  

• Carbohydrates: 13g
  
  

• Protein: 27g
  
  

• Fat: 16g
  
  

• Saturated Fat: 5g
  
  

• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
  
  

• Monounsaturated Fat: 8g
  
  

• Trans Fat: 1g
  
  

• Cholesterol: 103mg
  
  

• Sodium: 664mg
  
  

• Potassium: 546mg
  
  

• Fiber: 1g
  
  

• Sugar: 2g
  
  

• Vitamin A: 118 IU
  
  

• Vitamin C: 6mg
  
  

• Calcium: 42mg
  
  

• Iron: 4mg