Delicious pork and beef meatballs are simmered in caramelized onions, herbs, and beef broth in a crockpot to create this comforting French Onion Meatball Soup.
I love combining two favorite dishes to make something new and delicious. This French Onion Meatball Soup is a cozy mash-up: classic French onion flavors meet juicy pork-and-beef meatballs, slow-cooked until tender. The result is a rich, savory soup that works great as a weeknight meal, a dinner party starter, or a hearty comfort-food option on chilly days.
This soup is versatile: serve the meatballs and broth as a simple soup, toss with egg noodles, or spoon over mashed potatoes for an extra-comforting plate. Each serving method brings its own appeal, and all are delicious.
How to make French Onion Meatball Soup
Start by caramelizing thinly sliced onions in butter until they are soft and golden, then transfer them to a slow cooker. In the same skillet, cook diced onions briefly and add garlic. Combine the cooked onions and garlic with ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg yolks, and french onion seasoning to form meatballs. Sear the meatballs on all sides in the hot skillet to develop color and help them keep their shape during slow cooking.
After browning the meatballs, use the skillet drippings to build the sauce: sprinkle in flour, scrape the pan to incorporate browned bits, then add dry white wine and beef broth. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and a bit more french onion seasoning, bring the mixture to a simmer, and pour it over the meatballs and caramelized onions in the slow cooker. Add fresh thyme sprigs and a bay leaf, then cover and cook.
How long to cook this meatball soup
Cook the soup in a slow cooker for at least 2 hours on high, or 4 to 6 hours on low. The meatballs will finish cooking in the broth and soak up the rich onion flavor while staying tender. Before serving, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf.
Why sear the meatballs first?
Searing the meatballs briefly before they go into the slow cooker creates a browned exterior that helps them hold together while cooking. It also adds deeper flavor by caramelizing the proteins and leaving browned pan drippings you can use to enrich the soup base.
Serving suggestions for French Onion Meatball Soup
- Toss cooked egg noodles into bowls of soup for a satisfying noodle soup.
- Spoon the meatballs and broth over mashed potatoes for a rustic, comforting plate.
- Serve with sliced baguette on the side for dunking into the flavorful broth.
- For a soup-and-salad meal, pair with a crisp green salad or roasted vegetable salad.
Other uses for french onion seasoning
French onion seasoning is versatile and adds savory depth to many dishes. Try it mixed into taco meat, added to pot roast, or used with chicken pasta recipes to boost flavor with minimal effort.
Slow Cooker French Onion Meatball Soup
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 2 hours (high) or 4–6 hours (low) | Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Author: Whitney Bond
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cups onions, thinly sliced (for caramelizing)
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 cup onions, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 3 tbsp french onion dip mix, divided (use a store mix or a homemade blend)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Serving Options
- 8 oz egg noodles, cooked
- 1/2 cup swiss or gruyere cheese, shredded (optional)
- Sliced baguette for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and add the 2 cups thinly sliced onions. Sauté about 10 minutes until golden and caramelized. Transfer these onions to a slow cooker.
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the same skillet. Over medium-high heat, cook the diced onions 3–5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook an additional minute. Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl combine the cooked diced onions and garlic with the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg yolks, and 2 tbsp of the french onion dip mix. Mix gently until just combined.
- Form the mixture into approximately 24 meatballs by hand.
- Add the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the skillet and heat to medium-high. Brown the meatballs on all sides, 3–5 minutes, to develop color. Transfer seared meatballs to the slow cooker with the caramelized onions.
- Keep the skillet on medium-high. Add the flour to the pan with the drippings and stir to combine, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
- Pour in the white wine and beef broth, stirring to dissolve any lumps and bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and the remaining 1 tbsp french onion dip mix.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker. Add the thyme sprigs and bay leaf, cover, and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4–6 hours.
- Before serving, remove and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Serve over cooked egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or with sliced baguette. Optionally sprinkle swiss or gruyere cheese over each bowl.
Notes
Nutrition information below does not include additional serving options such as egg noodles, shredded cheese, or a baguette. Adjust seasoning and salt as needed, especially if using a salty store-bought beef broth or seasoning mix.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories: 614 kcal (approx.)
Carbohydrates: 22 g | Protein: 32 g | Fat: 42 g
Saturated Fat: 16 g | Cholesterol: 183 mg | Sodium: 1145 mg
Potassium: 736 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 5 g
Vitamins and minerals shown are approximate and exclude optional additions.
If you try this Slow Cooker French Onion Meatball Soup, consider rating or leaving a review to share how you served it and any tweaks you made. Enjoy this hearty, flavorful soup that brings together the best of meatballs and French onion flavors in a single comforting bowl.
