Step 5: Add the Frozen Meatballs
Take the fully cooked frozen meatballs directly from the freezer and arrange them over the sauced potatoes.
There is no need to thaw them first.
Spread them as evenly as possible over the top so they heat at approximately the same rate.
Why Fully Cooked Frozen Meatballs Are Ideal
Using fully cooked frozen meatballs keeps this recipe especially simple.
There is no raw meat to brown in a separate pan, which means less preparation and fewer dishes.
As the meatballs heat, they release additional savory flavor into the sauce below.
Step 6: Slow Cook Until Tender
Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
Cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
The stew is ready when the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork and the meatballs are thoroughly heated.
Slow cookers vary in temperature, so begin checking near the lower end of the cooking range.
Step 7: Stir the Stew
Once everything is cooked, gently stir from the bottom of the slow cooker.
Bring some of the tender potatoes and thick gravy up around the meatballs.
Some of the potatoes may break slightly as you stir, and that is a good thing.
The released starch helps transform the sauce into a richer, stew-like gravy.
Step 8: Adjust the Seasoning
Taste the stew before adding extra salt.
The onion soup mix, condensed soup, broth, and meatballs may already provide plenty of seasoning.
Add freshly ground black pepper if desired.
If you used low-sodium broth or soup, you can add a small pinch of salt only after tasting.
Step 9: Let the Gravy Thicken
Turn off the slow cooker or switch it to WARM.
Remove the lid and let the stew sit for about 5 minutes.
This brief resting period allows some excess steam to escape and gives the sauce time to thicken slightly before serving.
How to Serve Amish Meatball Stew
Ladle the hot stew into wide bowls and make sure each serving gets plenty of potatoes, meatballs, and creamy gravy.
If you have fresh parsley or chives, sprinkle a little over the top for color.
What to Serve With It
Because the stew itself is rich and filling, simple sides work best.
- Crusty bread
- Soft dinner rolls
- Buttered green beans
- Steamed carrots
- Simple lettuce salad
- Coleslaw
- Applesauce
The bread is especially useful for soaking up the extra gravy left at the bottom of the bowl.
Variation: Cream of Chicken
Replace the cream of mushroom soup with condensed cream of chicken soup.
This produces a slightly milder and creamier flavor while keeping the recipe just as easy.
Variation: Cream of Celery
Cream of celery soup is another easy substitute.
It adds a subtle vegetable flavor that pairs particularly well with the potatoes.
Try Different Meatballs
You do not have to use beef meatballs.
Fully cooked frozen turkey, pork, chicken, or mixed-meat meatballs can also work.
Flavor and salt levels vary by brand, so taste before adding additional seasoning.
A Slightly Sweet Farmhouse-Style Gravy
For a subtle sweet-savory variation, stir 1 to 2 teaspoons of brown sugar into the soup mixture before pouring it over the potatoes.
The sweetness should remain very mild, simply rounding out the savory onion and beef flavors rather than turning the stew sweet.
Once you have the basic five-ingredient version down, a few small additions can turn this simple stew into an even heartier one-pot family dinner.
