Grandma's Christmas Meatballs

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 70 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

These beefy Christmas meatballs are simmered in the slow cooker in a sweet and savory sauce. No other meatball recipe is easier or more delicious.

Ingredients

3 pounds ground beef chuck
1 (14 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs, or as needed
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, divided
1 (1 ounce) package onion soup mix
2 cups ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup port wine

Directions

1 Mix ground chuck, evaporated milk, bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and soup mix together in a bowl until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2 Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
3 Form meat mixture into approximately 36 small meatballs. Place meatballs onto a baking sheet.
4 Broil meatballs in the preheated oven until just browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn meatballs over and broil until browned on the other side, about 2 minutes more. Remove from the oven and transfer meatballs to a slow cooker.
5 Combine ketchup, brown sugar, port wine, and remaining 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until dissolved, about 2 minutes.
6 Pour sauce over meatballs in the slow cooker. Cook on High until meatballs are no longer pink in the middle and sauce is thick, at least 1 hour or longer if desired. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).