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Easy Slow Cooker Meatballs

This easy crockpot meatballs recipe can be prepared in a slow cooker for a delicious hot meal at the end of the day. Serve with hot cooked spaghetti noodles.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 3052.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For combining meatball ingredients.
  • 1 Cutting Board For chopping onion, garlic, and parsley.
  • 1 Chef's knife For preparing aromatics.
  • 1 Slow Cooker Essential for simmering the meatballs and sauce.
  • 1 Large Spoon or Spatula For mixing ingredients and stirring sauce.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef
  • 1 ¼ cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1 28 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
  • 1 16 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 14.25 ounce can tomato puree

Instructions
 

  • Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Place ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, parsley, and egg in a large bowl. Mix well until evenly combined; shape into 16 meatballs. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Pour spaghetti sauce and crushed tomatoes into the slow cooker; stir in tomato puree. Place the meatballs into the sauce mixture. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
  • Enjoy! DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 

Notes

For enhanced flavor and a better textural contrast, consider quickly browning the shaped meatballs in a hot skillet with a touch of olive oil before placing them into the slow cooker. This step builds a deeper umami crust. When mixing the meatball ingredients, be careful not to overmix; overworking the ground beef can lead to tough meatballs. Mix just until everything is uniformly combined. Adjust the seasoning of the sauce to your preference, perhaps adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle heat or a dash of dried oregano for more Italian aroma. Using an 80/20 ground beef ratio provides the best moisture and richness. For a more robust sauce, you can add a splash of red wine.