Description
Slow Cooker Mississippi Meatballs are a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender meatballs simmered in a rich and buttery ranch and au jus gravy sauce, accentuated by the tangy heat of pepperoncini peppers. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or casual gatherings and pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 lbs frozen meatballs
Seasoning Mixes
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix (approx. 1 oz)
- 1 packet au jus gravy mix (approx. 1 oz)
Other Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, sliced
- 6–8 pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place the frozen meatballs in the bottom of the slow cooker, spreading them evenly to create a base layer.
- Add seasoning mixes: Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix and the au jus gravy mix evenly over the top of the meatballs, ensuring full coverage for flavor distribution.
- Add butter: Slice the unsalted butter into smaller pieces and scatter them evenly over the spiced meatballs. The butter will melt and create a rich sauce as it cooks.
- Top with pepperoncini: Add 6-8 whole pepperoncini peppers on top of the butter and meatballs to infuse the dish with a tangy heat and slight spicy kick.
- Cook the meatballs: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or on high heat for 2-3 hours. The meatballs will become tender and soak in the flavorful sauce during this time.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the Mississippi Meatballs warm. They pair excellently with mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or crusty bread to enjoy the savory sauce.
Notes
- You can adjust the number of pepperoncini peppers to control the heat level.
- Using frozen meatballs saves prep time, but fresh homemade meatballs can also be used if preferred.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to let some liquid evaporate.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- The recipe is easily doubled for larger gatherings; just ensure your slow cooker is large enough.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours (low) or 2 to 3 hours (high)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe (approx. 4 oz meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: Mississippi Meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, ranch meatballs, au jus meatballs, pepperoncini meatballs, easy slow cooker recipe, comfort food, Southern cuisine
