Hearty Meatball Stew for Cozy Winter Nights
Warm up on cold winter nights with this hearty meatball stew. Using common pantry ingredients, this slow-cooked dish is easy to prepare at lunchtime and ready by dinner, filling your home with comforting aromas.
Equipment
- 3-quart slow cooker
- Measuring cups
- spatula
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 ½ teaspoons of salt or a salt-free seasoning blend
- ½ teaspoon of pepper
- 4 medium potatoes peeled and chunked
- 4 medium carrots chunked
- 1 large onion chunked
- ½ cup of water
- ½ cup of ketchup
- 1 ½ teaspoons of cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon of dried basil
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with 1 tablespoon of salt and ¼ tablespoon of pepper.
- Shape the meat mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
- In a large skillet, brown the meatballs on all sides over medium heat, then drain the excess fat.
- Place the chunked carrots, potatoes, and onion in a 3-quart slow cooker.
- Add the browned meatballs on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ketchup, water, cider vinegar, dried basil, and the remaining salt and pepper.
- Mix well.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs and vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours, or until the vegetables are tender and the stew is thoroughly heated.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Pair with a robust red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or a Malbec to complement the rich flavors of the stew.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 350 kcal | Carbohydrates: 30 g | Protein: 18 g | Fat: 16 g | Fiber: 5 g | Sugar: 8 g | Salt: 900 mg