Description
Creamy Potato Casserole brings warmth and nostalgia to dinner tables, promising rich flavors and hearty satisfaction. Home cooks can savor this classic dish that combines simple ingredients with comforting culinary magic.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 large egg
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Cooking and Gravy Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Craft a harmonious blend of ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings in a spacious mixing bowl, gently combining ingredients until just incorporated.
- Mold the meat mixture into 12 uniform spheres, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat (375°F), then carefully sear meatballs in batches, rotating to achieve a rich golden-brown exterior on all surfaces.
- Transfer seared meatballs to the slow cooker, preserving the caramelized exterior.
- Deglaze the skillet with beef broth, scraping accumulated flavor fragments from the pan’s bottom to intensify the sauce’s depth.
- Pour the aromatic broth over meatballs in the slow cooker, then cover and simmer on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours until thoroughly cooked.
- Create a smooth cornstarch slurry by whisking cornstarch with water until completely integrated.
- Incorporate the slurry and heavy cream into the slow cooker, stirring thoroughly and allowing the mixture to thicken for 20 minutes.
- Taste and refine seasoning with salt and pepper, then present the succulent meatballs atop mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or polenta, generously draped with the luxurious gravy and accompanied by verdant vegetables.
Notes
- Customize meat blend by mixing ground beef with ground pork or veal for richer flavor complexity.
- Reduce carbohydrate content by replacing breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds for a low-carb version.
- Ensure meatballs remain tender by avoiding overmixing and handling meat gently during shaping to prevent dense texture.
- Create dairy-free alternative by substituting heavy cream with coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk for creamy gravy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg