Trader Joe's French Onion Meatballs

These crockpot French onion meatballs are an easy Trader Joe's dinner made with savory French onion soup, tender meatballs, and melted Swiss and Gruyère cheese. The meatballs are coated in a rich onion sauce and served over creamy risotto for a comforting, cheesy meal. Using all Trader Joe's ingredients makes this recipe so convenient, with no need to caramelize onions or make meatballs from scratch!

Why You’ll Love These Crockpot French Onion Meatballs

I love finding easy shortcut meals I can make entirely with Trader Joe's ingredients. If you've had my Trader Joe's white chicken chili enchiladas, you know what I mean. With comfort food season and crockpot season here, I've been looking for more hearty dinners that don't require much prep work. I've always loved French onion soup, so when I saw Trader Joe's frozen version, I thought it would make an incredible sauce for meatballs. Add some melted Swiss and Gruyère cheese and serve everything over their creamy risotto, and you've got a French onion meatball dinner that's to die for!

The combination of flavors has everything you'd want in a French onion soup and more. The meatballs soak up that rich French onion sauce, the melted cheese makes everything extra comforting, and the risotto is perfect for catching all the extra gravy.

My favorite part is how convenient the whole recipe is. You get all those classic French onion flavors without spending an hour caramelizing onions or making homemade meatballs. It's an ideal easy, cozy dinner for when the weather gets colder!

Ingredients You'll Need

• 1 (10 oz.) portion Trader Joe’s Frozen French Onion Soup
• 1 bag (20 oz.) Trader Joe’s Party Size Meatballs
• 1 cup Trader Joe’s Swiss and Gruyere Cheese Mix
• 1 cup beef broth
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bag (16 oz.) Frozen Trader Joe’s Simple Risotto

Ingredient Notes That Make These French Onion Meatballs Better

• Trader Joe's Frozen French Onion Soup: You'll need one 10-ounce portion, not the entire two-pack. This is my favorite shortcut because it gives the meatballs that rich caramelized onion flavor without having to cook onions from scratch.
• Trader Joe's Party Size Mini Meatballs: Use one 20-ounce bag. The meatballs become extra tender and juicy as they cook in the crockpot.
• Trader Joe's Shredded Swiss & Gruyère Cheese: This blend gives the meatballs that classic French onion soup flavor. If you can't find it, you can use shredded Gruyère, Swiss, or a combination of both.
• Beef broth: I recommend low-sodium beef broth since the soup, meatballs, and cheese already contain salt. You'll need 1 cup, but you can use a little less if you prefer a thicker sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce: Just 1 tablespoon adds extra savory flavor to the French onion gravy. The onion powder and garlic powder help season the sauce without adding any prep work.
• Trader Joe's Simply Risotto: This frozen risotto makes an easy, creamy base for the meatballs. Just prepare it according to the package directions. Mashed potatoes or egg noodles are also delicious alternatives.

How to Make Trader Joe’s French Onion Meatballs in the Crockpot

Step 1: Add Everything to the Crockpot

Add one portion of Trader Joe's French Onion Soup, the bag of Party Size Meatballs, and 1 cup of beef broth to a medium-sized crockpot.

Step 2: Cook the Meatballs

Cover the crockpot and cook on HIGH for approximately 1–2 hours, until the meatballs are heated through and the French onion soup and beef broth have combined into a rich, savory sauce. The sauce should also thicken slightly as everything cooks.

Step 3: Add the Seasonings

Once the meatballs are heated through, add the onion powder, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir everything together so the meatballs are evenly coated in the seasoned French onion sauce.

Step 4: Melt the Cheese

Sprinkle the shredded Swiss and Gruyère cheese evenly over the meatballs. Switch the crockpot to WARM, cover, and let the cheese melt until it's gooey and coats the meatballs.

Step 5: Prepare the Risotto

While the cheese is melting, prepare the Trader Joe's Simply Risotto according to the package directions.

Step 6: Serve

Spoon the creamy risotto onto serving plates or into shallow bowls. Add the cheesy French onion meatballs on top, making sure to get plenty of that melted Swiss and Gruyère cheese. Finish with an extra spoonful of the French onion sauce from the crockpot and enjoy!

My Tips for the Best French Onion Meatballs

• Use a smaller crockpot. I recommend a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker for this recipe. In a larger crockpot, the soup and broth can spread out too much, leaving some of the meatballs sitting above the sauce instead of soaking up all that French onion flavor.
• Give the soup a stir once it melts. Trader Joe's frozen French onion soup comes in a solid portion, so it takes a little time to melt into the broth. Once it has softened, gently stir everything together to distribute the onions and sauce around the meatballs.
• Don't count on the sauce thickening too much. Since the crockpot stays covered, the broth won't reduce as quickly as it would in a skillet. If the sauce is thinner than you'd like, you can transfer some to a small saucepan and simmer it until slightly reduced before adding it back.
• Make sure the meatballs are hot before adding the cheese. I recommend checking that the meatballs have reached 165°F before switching the crockpot to WARM. You want everything thoroughly heated so the shredded Swiss and Gruyère can melt evenly over the top.
• Prepare the risotto right before serving. Trader Joe's Simply Risotto is best when it's freshly heated and creamy. I recommend waiting until the meatballs are almost ready before making it, since risotto tends to thicken as it sits. That way, the risotto stays creamy underneath the cheesy meatballs and French onion sauce.

Trader Joe’s French Onion Meatballs FAQs

What are French onion meatballs?

French onion meatballs combine tender meatballs with the rich, savory flavors of French onion soup, including caramelized onions, beef broth, and melted cheese. This Trader Joe's version uses frozen French onion soup, precooked meatballs, and Swiss and Gruyère cheese to make an easy comfort food dinner served over creamy risotto.

Can you make French onion meatballs without a slow cooker?

Absolutely! You can make these French onion meatballs in a large skillet on the stovetop. Add the French onion soup, meatballs, and beef broth to the skillet and simmer until the meatballs are heated through to 165°F. Stir in the seasonings and Worcestershire sauce, sprinkle the cheese over the top, and cover until melted. Serve over the prepared risotto.

What do you serve with French onion meatballs?

These French onion meatballs are delicious over Trader Joe's Simply Risotto, but mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or white rice also work well. I especially like serving them with something that can soak up the rich onion gravy. You could also skip the risotto and serve the cheesy meatballs with toasted baguette slices as an appetizer.

Are Trader Joe's French onion meatballs gluten-free?

No, this recipe isn't gluten-free as written. Trader Joe's Party Size Mini Meatballs contain wheat breadcrumbs, and the frozen French onion soup may also contain wheat. To make a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free meatballs, gluten-free French onion soup, and check the labels on the Worcestershire sauce and other packaged ingredients.

Can you make French onion meatballs ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the meatballs and French onion sauce a day in advance and refrigerate them in an airtight container. When you're ready to serve, reheat everything on the stovetop until it reaches 165°F, then add the shredded cheese and let it melt. I recommend preparing the risotto fresh since it has the best creamy texture right after cooking.

How do you store and reheat leftover French onion meatballs?

Store leftover French onion meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. I recommend keeping the risotto separate so it doesn't absorb all the gravy. Reheat the meatballs and sauce in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth if needed, until they reach 165°F. You can also freeze the meatballs and sauce for up to 2–3 months for the best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Trader Joe's Recipes to Try Next

• Trader Joe's Chicken Pot Pie
• Trader Joe's Flatbread Pizza
• Trader Joe's Pumpkin Ravioli Bake
• Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese