Servings: 6 to 8

Meatballs: subheading: Meatballs:
2 lb Lean Ground Beef 2 lb Lean Ground Beef
2/3 cup Bread Crumbs ⅔ cup Bread Crumbs
4 tsp Ketchup 4 tsp Ketchup
2 tsp Mustard 2 tsp Mustard
2 tsp Worcestershire 2 tsp Worcestershire
1 tsp Garlic Powder 1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder 1 tsp Onion Powder
 
Gravy / Sauce: subheading: Gravy / Sauce:
3 cups water 3 cups water
6 teaspoons beef bouillon powder (or 6 beef bouillion cubes) 6 teaspoons beef bouillon powder (or 6 beef bouillion cubes)
3/8 cup unsalted butter 3/8 cup unsalted butter
3/8 cup all-purpose flour 3/8 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder

Mix meatball ingredients together well and form into 1 ½ inch meatballs; set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat and brown the outside of the meatballs.
Place meatballs in the slow cooker sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
To make the gravy: subheading: To make the gravy:
Combine water and bouillon in a heat proof container (I use my glass 2-cup measuring cup). Heat the beef broth in microwave 1 minute at a time, until it is steaming hot.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add flour and onion powder and whisk to combine. Continue whisking until mixture bubbles up and becomes a thick consistency, about one minute. This helps cook out the ‘floury’ taste.
While whisking, pour in hot beef broth to the flour mixture. Whisk to combine.
Pour gravy over the meatballs.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

Instant Pot:  Instant Pot:
Omit flour from broth mix in Making the Gravy, Step 2.  Omit flour from broth mix in Making the Gravy, Step 2.
Saute meatballs in Instant Pot and remove as they are done.  Saute meatballs in Instant Pot and remove as they are done.
Deglaze with broth mixture and add meatballs back to pot.  Deglaze with broth mixture and add meatballs back to pot.
Cook on Meat Setting or Manual High for 25 minutes with a Quick Release.  Cook on Meat Setting or Manual High for 25 minutes with a Quick Release.
Remove meatballs from the pot and set pot to Saute.  Remove meatballs from the pot and set pot to Saute.
Add flour and wisk into liquid. Bring to boil, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens into gravy.  Add flour and wisk into liquid. Bring to boil, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens into gravy.