How to deliciously cook meatballs with gravy in a slow cooker

Classic meatballs with tomato sauce in a slow cooker

Classic meatballs with tomato sauce are prepared from a mixture of several types of meat, which are processed simultaneously. It can be chicken and pork, pork and beef, turkey or rabbit - you choose. Minced chicken comes out juicier from a whole chicken carcass, but from fillet the dish will turn out a little dry. It is better to take pieces of pork that are moderately fatty, for example, use ham or neck. Beef in its pure form (especially veal) is a dietary dish, and it is important to choose the right sauce for it. In general, the number of ingredients is small, and housewives usually always have them in stock.

For the meatballs you will need:

Minced meat – 500 g;
Onion (large) – 1 pc.;
Rice, cooked until half cooked – 250 g;
Chicken eggs – 2 pcs.;
Tomatoes in their own juice, tomato paste for sauce – 500 g or 3 tbsp;
Spices and salt to taste.

Mix meat, rice, eggs, onion, cut into small cubes, salt and pepper. From the resulting mass we make balls slightly larger than a tennis ball. Roll each one in flour. Using the “Fry” mode, fry the meatballs until they have an appetizing crust, if possible, on all sides.

At the same time, mix the sauce. Ideally, these should be pureed tomatoes without skins, to which a little salt and spices are added to taste. But you can replace fresh tomatoes with canned tomatoes in their own juice, tomato juice or paste diluted in boiled water at the rate of 3 tbsp. for 250 ml. You can add cream, a couple of spoons of sour cream or a little milk to the tomatoes to give the dish a creamy hue and soften the acid that is always present in tomatoes.

The sauce should completely cover the meatballs, or even better if the meat balls seem to “float” in it: in this case you cannot skimp on the sauce, otherwise the dish will turn out dry. And also, do not forget about the size: the balls should not be huge, and should have time to cook completely. But you shouldn’t chop them up either: these are still not meatballs.

Place the meatballs on the bottom of a multi-bowl greased with vegetable oil, then pour the sauce over them. Cook on the “Stew” mode for 20-30 minutes. Serve with any side dish or on its own, topped with the prepared sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs. Meatballs are a completely self-sufficient dish, although they go well with side dishes: mashed potatoes, buckwheat or pasta.

How to make meatballs with white gravy

As you know, there are 2 popular options for preparing this meat dish. The first was presented above, now it’s the turn of the second method - with sour cream.

Required components:

mixture of two minced meats (beef, pork) – 550 g;
flour – 30 g;
onions – 4 pcs;
white bread – 80 g;
egg;
rice – 100 g;
oil – 40 ml;
distilled water – 600 ml;
sour cream – 350 g;
pepper, salt and other spices to taste.

Related article: How to cook juicy roast chicken

Time spent on cooking: 40 minutes for stewing + 20 minutes for preparing ingredients.

Number of calories: 136 kcal.

Step-by-step technological process:

Boil the rice until half-raw;
Soak the bread pulp in the liquid;
Finely chop two onions or grind through a meat grinder along with softened bread;
Add onion to the minced meat, beat in the egg, spices, bread and half-cooked rice;
Knead the semi-finished meat product and be sure to beat it thoroughly;
Form meatballs;
Cut the remaining onions into strips and fry in hot oil for about 10 minutes in the “Frying” mode;
In a separate bowl, mix flour, sour cream, water. Salt;
Place the meatballs on top of the fried onions and pour over the white sauce;
Cook the dish for 40 minutes in the “Stew” mode

Recipe for hedgehogs with rice

Hedgehogs with rice are a favorite children's dish. They are especially tasty from tender minced chicken, which is rolled from several chicken parts - breasts, thighs or legs. The meatballs are molded as in the classic recipe. The difference, and a fundamental one, is in the degree of readiness of the rice. It should be almost raw, because during cooking each grain of rice swells, which is why the meatballs resemble “hedgehogs”. Long-grain cereals that have been steamed are more suitable: this reduces the cooking time.

Hedgehogs are cooked in sauce, but it’s even better to steam them and, so that they don’t turn out dry, serve with sour cream and herbs.

Meatballs in sour cream sauce in a slow cooker

Some housewives do not add tomatoes on principle, considering them too aggressive for the stomach. But sour cream 2.5% fat is a wonderful sauce that gives a creamy taste to the meatballs. To prevent the sour cream from curdling during the stewing process, you can mix it with cream and add two tablespoons of flour - this sauce will be tender, tasty and thick. True, you need to knead everything well so that the gravy does not contain unpleasant flour lumps.

Preparing the balls is very simple: we make them from minced meat, fry them (as in the basic recipe), and place them on the bottom of the multi-bowl. Cook until done using the “Stew” mode, serve the meatballs in sour cream sauce with mashed potatoes or pasta.

If desired, you can stew the meatballs under a “cap” of onions, carrots, bell peppers and herbs. But, if you fill the balls with sour cream sauce, you shouldn’t add all these vegetables: they don’t go together.

Step-by-step recipe for making meatballs with gravy in a slow cooker.

In our fast-paced times, you even need to cook food faster than usual. A slow cooker will always help with this. This recipe is for the Polaris multicooker.

Recipe for the Polaris multicooker (Polaris 0517AD)

A multicooker is always a help to the modern housewife. With it you don't need to stand at the stove for hours. All you need to do is prepare the products (cleaning, cutting, mixing ingredients), and the equipment will do the rest for you. Meatballs can be baked, stewed, fried or steamed. The multicooker bowl always produces juicy and tender meatballs that are very tasty, nutritious and certainly healthy!

In the process of preparing meatballs with gravy, a Polaris 0517AD multicooker is used.

Ingredients for the dish “Juicy meatballs in a slow cooker in tomato-sour cream sauce”:

- minced meat (pork, beef) - 700 gr.;
- rice - 150 gr.;
- onion - 1 pc.;
- sour cream - 1.5 tbsp. l.;
- tomato paste - 1.5 tbsp. l;
- seasonings for meat (oregano, basil, black and red pepper, turmeric, cumin, marjoram);
- salt, ground black pepper to taste;
— refined sunflower oil for frying.

How to cook meatballs with gravy in a Polaris multicooker:

The first step is to prepare the rice. Pour it into a small saucepan and rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear. After that, we fill it again with water (the volume is 2 times more than the cereal) and send it to cook until half-cooked, since it will be completely cooked during the process of stewing the meatballs.

Peel the onions and wash them. Then finely chop. If desired, the onion can be chopped in a blender.

When the rice is half cooked, remove it from the heat and cool.

We take out a deep bowl in which it will be convenient for us to prepare future meatballs. Place minced meat (pork, beef) in a bowl. Add rice to the minced meat. Mix the contents well.

Then lay out the chopped onions. Let's combine our ingredients.

Let's add flavor to our meatballs. Salt and pepper the minced meat. Add aromatic spices to give it a piquant taste. The base for the meatballs is ready. If desired, you can break one chicken egg into the minced meat, but this is not provided for in this recipe.

Turn on the multicooker. Set the “Frying” mode at a temperature of 1500C for 20 minutes. Pour some vegetable oil into the bowl.

While the vegetable oil is heating up, we form our meatballs. To do this, wet your hands in water so that the meat does not stick to your palms. We take the required amount of minced meat into a tablespoon, depending on the desired size of the meatballs, and begin to form them into balls. We won't roll it in flour.

The oil was already well heated up by this point. As you form the meatballs, fry them on all sides until golden brown. At the same time, turn them over with a wooden or plastic spatula.

Place the lightly fried meatballs on a plate to change the cooking mode of the multicooker. We got 14 medium meatballs.

Our meatballs will be stewed in a fragrant, juicy gravy. To prepare it, take a container with a volume of 0.5 liters (in this case, a large mug is used). Place 1.5 tablespoons of sour cream and tomato paste into it.

Add spices (the same as for meat). If desired, we can add dried dill and parsley. Mix everything.

Pour in 500 ml of boiled or filtered water. Mix our gravy well.

Place the meatballs in the multicooker bowl. If it doesn’t fit in one row, then lay the meatballs on top of the previous ones.

Carefully pour sour cream and tomato sauce over everything. Close the multicooker with a lid. Set the “Quenching” mode for one hour.

After finishing cooking, the multicooker will emit a sound signal. Open the lid of the multicooker and enjoy the wonderful result of our labors!

Our fragrant juicy meatballs in a slow cooker with gravy are ready. Serve the dish hot along with a side dish (boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, buckwheat porridge, pasta, etc.), and do not forget to garnish with herbs. Enjoy your meal!

Meatballs in a slow cooker can be prepared for both children and adults. Meatballs in a slow cooker turn out juicy and tender, you will definitely try to prepare such a dish for your family and friends.

Recipe for multicooker Panasonic 18 (Panasonic 18)

Meatballs in a slow cooker can be prepared for both children and adults. Meatballs in the Panasonic multicooker turn out juicy and tender, be sure to try preparing this dish for your family and friends. Almost any side dish for meatballs with minced meat in a multi-cooker will do. These meatballs with rice in a slow cooker are easy and simple to prepare; even a beginner in cooking can prepare them. However, like any second dish in a slow cooker. They are ideal for both baby food (from 8 months) and adult lunches. In my opinion, the ideal option for mothers who want to kill two birds with one stone: feed all family members tasty and healthy with one dish.

Ingredients for the dish: “Meatballs in a slow cooker”:

- rice - 1 glass;
- minced beef - 700 - 800 gr.;
— egg – 2 pcs.;
- water - half a glass;
- salt - to taste;
— carrots – 1 pc.;
— onion – 1 pc.;
— tomatoes – 2 – 3 pcs.;
— eggplant – 1 pc.;
– vegetable oil – 30 gr.

How to cook meatballs in a slow cooker:

Boil the pre-washed rice until half cooked (you don’t have to cook it, but it will stick together worse)

Defrost the minced meat if it was frozen.

Place rice, minced meat and eggs in one large bowl, add salt to taste

Mix everything thoroughly.

Now we begin to sculpt “balls” from the resulting mass; I take about a handful of the mixture and roll it in my hands like a snowball. Place the meatballs in the multicooker bowl on the bottom and add half a glass of water there.

Turn on the “Extinguishing” mode for one hour. While our meatballs are stewing, you can prepare a delicious vegetable side dish for them, which can be served with meatballs to older children or adults. Three carrots on a coarse grater

Then we cut the onion into half rings, which in turn we cut in half again

Cut tomatoes into cubes

We also cut the eggplant into cubes and pour boiling water over them, then squeeze them out and also put them in the frying pan.

And we simmer it all in a frying pan for about 20 minutes. The result is this side dish, believe me, it’s very tasty, and the smell... mmm. This is simply divine

That's it, the dish is ready! We serve meatballs in different ways: for kids with sour cream, and for older family members with vegetables or ketchup. Finger-licking delicious! Meatballs in a slow cooker turn out very tender and juicy. This dish is ideal for any side dish.

Bon appetit.

The recipe “Meatballs in a slow cooker” was prepared by mania

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Cooking like in kindergarten - a delicious recipe

For meatballs in kindergartens, they always use either chicken or beef - pork is prohibited in kindergartens. Cooks in kindergartens also do not put eggs in meatballs, but fry onions in butter: the meat becomes juicy and sweet, which, naturally, is very much appreciated by little eaters.

Next, we “cook” in stages:

Mix the minced meat well with rice and onions.
Roll the balls in flour.
Fry in a frying pan.
Pour in sour cream sauce and add just a little tomato sauce.
Simmer in the slow cooker on the “Stew” mode for 15-20 minutes.

You can serve the meatballs with small noodles, buckwheat or mashed potatoes with water: the fat content in the meatballs is quite enough.

Rolling in flour is not a necessary part of the cooking technology. But it is this stage that helps the balls keep their shape and not crack during frying and then stewing.

Option meatballs with gravy - steamed in a slow cooker

Many models of multicookers are equipped with a grate for steaming dishes. It’s easy to cook meatballs with rice in a slow cooker this way. By the way, such meat balls can include any cereal, for example, buckwheat and oatmeal. Believe me, it only enhances the taste.

Preparing the dish is simple, following these steps:

We form meatballs by mixing cereals and meat.
Place the balls, without dredging them in flour, on a greased wire rack.
Place the sauce at the bottom of the bowl. To do this, mix tomato sauce with a couple of tablespoons of flour, spices, and salt.
We cook in the “Stew” or “Steam” mode (what options do you have).
Serve the meatballs sprinkled with sauce or separately.

It is better to cook the cereals until al dente. However, multi-pressure cookers manage to cook them to the desired condition. In such models they can be placed raw in minced meat.

The undoubted advantages of the cooking method are the ability not to weigh down the meat with sauce, which in other cases (say, with stomach diseases) may be contraindicated. But one way or another, our meat balls are soaked in sauce and only benefit from juiciness. This has been verified.

Recipe 2: Meatballs in a slow cooker with buckwheat porridge

If meatballs with rice no longer surprise anyone, then try cooking the same dish with buckwheat. This will be especially appropriate for mothers of those children who flatly refuse to eat buckwheat porridge, which is so healthy and rich in vitamins.

Buckwheat meatballs in a slow cooker have a completely unusual taste, and it is simply impossible to “recognize” porridge in them.

Required ingredients:

Minced beef 300 grams
Buckwheat 50 grams (raw)
Carrot 1 piece
Onion 1 piece
Bell pepper 1 piece
1 tomato
Sour cream 3 tablespoon
The water for the sauce is clean
Spices

Cooking method:

Sort through the buckwheat and sift out the black grains. Rinse and set to boil. For meatballs, the boiled cereal should be slightly undercooked, so cook it for 6 minutes after boiling and remove from heat. Cool.
Peel the onion and finely chop it. Fry it in a multicooker in the “Frying” mode, after greasing the bottom of the container with sunflower oil. Cool.
Mix ground beef, onion and buckwheat porridge, add salt and spices. Form medium sized balls from this mixture. Turn on the “Stew” mode on the multicooker for 40 minutes, add oil to the bottom of the container and lower the meatballs into the multicooker for five minutes.
Let's prepare the dressing for the meatballs. To do this, wash the vegetables and grind them in a blender. Add sour cream, tomato paste to the vegetable puree, dilute with water, and add salt. Pour the resulting sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker and cook the dish until the end of the program.

Minced chicken recipe

As already mentioned, meatballs in a steamed slow cooker or meatballs in sour cream sauce become much more tender if they are made from minced chicken.

What parts of poultry are best for homemade minced meat?

Chicken fillet (if you are on a diet). You don’t have to put rice in this option, but add juiciness with a large amount of onion.
Chicken thighs.
Chicken legs, without skin.

Grind the minced meat in a meat grinder or blender, knead well, form meatballs and cook them, following the classic recipe. Serve with baked potatoes, pasta or any sugar-free porridge.

Ingredients

minced pork and beef - 400 g;
rice - 1/2 cup;
tomato juice - 0.5 l;
egg - 1 pc.;
bay leaf - 2 pcs.;
onion - 2 pcs.;
sugar - 1 tsp;
carrot - 1 pc.;
salt;
coriander seeds;
black (ground) pepper - a pinch;
black peppercorns - several pieces;
flour - 2 tbsp. l.;
vegetable (sunflower) oil - for frying.

How to cook meatballs in tomato sauce in a slow cooker

We take ready-made mixed minced meat, or prepare it ourselves. To do this, cut the meat into small pieces and pass through a meat grinder. Add the rice, boiled until half cooked, after cooling it.

Peel the onion and finely chop into squares.

Fry the chopped vegetable.

We wash the carrots, peel them, and grate them.

Pour the grated carrots into a frying pan with the fried onions, sauté, stirring occasionally.

Add fried vegetables to minced meat with rice.

Salt, season with ground pepper, mix.

Add a raw chicken egg, mix the minced meat well until smooth.

Dip your hands in water and form small meatballs from the minced meat. It is worth considering that during the stewing process they will swell slightly.

Bread the meatballs on both sides in flour and fry them in well-heated vegetable oil. Transfer the meatballs fried on both sides from the frying pan into the multicooker bowl.

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Prepare the sauce. First, fry the onions, and then pour tomato juice into the frying pan with the fried onions and let it boil. Season the tomato juice with black peppercorns, coriander seeds, salt, and sugar. Pour tomato sauce over meatballs in a slow cooker. Put in a bay leaf. The sauce should completely cover the meatballs.

Close the lid of the multi-cooker and cook for 20 minutes, activating the “Stew” program.

Serve the finished meatballs in tomato sauce in a slow cooker with lightly salted cucumbers, sprinkled with finely chopped fresh herbs.

Tips for cooking meatballs with tomato sauce in a slow cooker:

Tomato sauce can be made from fresh tomatoes. To do this, they are doused with boiling water, the thin peel is removed and pureed in a blender.
You can add sour cream or mayonnaise to tomato sauce.
Add bread soaked in milk to the minced meat. It will retain the juice inside, and the meatballs will turn out juicy.
As a breading, you can use not only flour, but also breadcrumbs.
For children, it is better to make meatballs from chicken or turkey meat, which is minced twice through a meat grinder.
If you adhere to the principles of a healthy diet, you can not fry the meatballs, but steam them. The dish is served with a side dish of vegetables, cereals or pasta.

A meat dish like meatballs has a very juicy taste. It’s not for nothing that it is mentioned even in the children’s fairy tale about Carlson as the main character’s favorite treat. Meatballs are easy to bake or stew, but it's even easier to cook meatballs with gravy in a slow cooker. You will learn how to do this from several original recipes below.

Fish meatballs with gravy - step-by-step recipe

Surprisingly, meatballs in a slow cooker turn out very unusual, tasty, and light if you replace the meat with fish. What types of fish are preferable? This is cod, pollock or haddock (if you are not too lazy to tinker with it for quality cutting). Pike perch is a good river fish for meatballs - it is meaty, bakes well, and contains few bones. And from the sea, try the greenling: here it is important to find it in extreme freshness and the latest catch.

Making fish meatballs is simple:

We cut the fish, separating the fillets, grind it in a meat grinder, or grind it in a blender.
Add squeezed bread crumb soaked in milk or cream to the minced fish.
Form meatballs and roll them in flour.
Fry in the bottom of a multi-bowl in a small amount of vegetable oil.
Pour in tomato sauce.
Cooking in the “Stew” mode.

It is better to serve fish balls with vegetables. In the winter season, fried cabbage - red, cauliflower or white - is ideal for fish.

When preparing minced fish, remember the rule: fish drink milk! Be sure to soak the fish in milk or add bread crumbs soaked in milk sauce. But it’s better not to put sour cream in such a dish: tomatoes are enough.

How to cook fish meatballs

Dinner or lunch of meatballs in a slow cooker turns out to be especially healthy if you cook them from fish fillets. The following products are needed:

egg – 1 pc.;
sour cream – 1 tbsp.;
onions – 2 pcs.;
fish fillet – 0.6 kg;
tomato paste – 2 tbsp. l.;
water – 250 ml;
milk – 0.2 l.

Cooking process:

Process the fish fillet into minced meat using a meat grinder, along with bread previously soaked in milk. Season with spices and salt.
Roll the formed meatballs in flour and fry in a multicooker bowl using a little vegetable oil.
Pour in the water, first dissolving the flour and pasta in it.
Add chopped onion and carrot sticks. Season with more spices, if necessary.
Cook for about half an hour, selecting “Stew” or “Baking”.