Description
These Slow Cooker Mississippi Meatballs are a flavorful and easy-to-make comfort food perfect for family dinners or parties. Combining tender frozen meatballs with a creamy and tangy sauce made from au jus mix, ranch dressing mix, beef broth, heavy cream, and pepperoncini juice, this recipe lets the crockpot do all the work to deliver a rich, savory dish with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 1 packet au jus mix
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 cup beef broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Juice from pepperoncini peppers (about ¼ cup)
Main
- 1 bag (about 24 ounces) frozen beef or homestyle meatballs
- 6–8 whole pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the au jus mix, ranch dressing mix, beef broth, heavy cream, and the juice from the pepperoncini peppers until well combined, forming a smooth and flavorful sauce base.
- Add meatballs: Place the frozen meatballs directly into the bottom of the crockpot without thawing to keep prep quick and easy.
- Combine sauce and peppers: Pour the prepared sauce mixture evenly over the frozen meatballs, then tuck whole pepperoncini peppers throughout the crockpot to infuse gentle heat and acidity while cooking.
- Cook slow cooker: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and for the meatballs to absorb all the savory, creamy flavors.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the meatballs warm over mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles. For parties, serve them as cocktail meatballs with toothpicks for easy grabbing and sharing.
Notes
- You can substitute beef broth with vegetable broth for a lighter flavor.
- Adjust the amount of pepperoncini peppers depending on your spice preference.
- For a thicker sauce, you can stir in a slurry of cornstarch and water during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Meatballs can be served over mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or as party appetizers.
- Ensure the meatballs are fully cooked by checking internal temperature or cooking times suggested.
