Grandma's Christmas Meatballs

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.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 506 Calories

Ingredients

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

Recipe Instructions

Step 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.

Step 2

Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.

Step 3

Form meat mixture into approximately 36 small meatballs. Place meatballs onto a baking sheet.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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).