Meatballs in Mushroom Gravy

We like making meatballs and putting it with mushroom gravy and serving over mashed potatoes is an easy comfort food that people love to eat.  Although you can make this right on the stove top, it tastes better when baked in the oven. The flavors have a chance to mingle.  

I have two versions of gravy to choose from.  We usually make the one with the mushroom soup, but sometimes, we like to change it up and do something different. Which one do you prefer?

Meatball Ingredients

1.5 lbs. ground beef
1 c. bread crumbs (dry)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c. milk
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp. dry mustard or 1 Tbs. prepared mustard
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Gravy Version 1

2 Tbs butter
8 oz. can mushrooms, drained
1 onion, chopped
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. beef broth
2 Tbs. cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste

Gravy Version 2

1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can full of milk
1 small can mushrooms, drained
1 onion, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. 

Into a large bowl, add the ground beef,  bread crumbs, milk, egg, onions, ketchup, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well with clean hands.  Roll the meat mixture into 1 1/2 inch meatballs and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.   Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until  the meatballs are cooked through.   Prepare the gravy.   Decide if you want to make the homemade gravy or the fast and easy gravy.   Gravy version 1. Homemade  Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet.  Add the cornstarch to the beef broth. Stir until there are no lumps of cornstarch left. Pour this into the skillet. Add the Worcestershire sauce, stir to combine.   Add the  meatballs into the skillet.  Season the gravy with salt and pepper and bring to a full boil.   Bake at 300° for 1 hour.   Gravy version 2 Fast and easy  In a medium bowl, mix the soup, milk, mushrooms, onion, salt and pepper. Put the meatballs in a baking dish or a cast iron skillet. Pour the gravy over the top.  Bake at 300° for 1 hour.