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a crockpot with meatballs in tomato sauce with a wooden spoon
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Slow Cooker Meatballs

This slow cooker meatballs recipe has classic Italian American flavors! They're simmered in a rich tomato sauce, and it's a family-friendly meal that's great for the freezer.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian American
Keyword: Crockpot meatballs, Slow Cooker Meatballs
Servings: 6
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

Meatballs:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + more for serving
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt see note
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Pepper to taste

Sauce:

  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

For serving:

  • Fresh basil, cooked pasta optional, to taste

Instructions

  • Add the sauce ingredients to your slow cooker and stir thoroughly.
  • Add the meatball ingredients to a large bowl. Using your hands, mix it together and then form about 20 (2-inch) meatballs. Don't over-mix or pack them too tightly, and use a delicate touch. Place the meatballs inside your slow cooker (it's ok if some overlap). Gently spoon some sauce over top so the meatballs are covered with the sauce as best as you can.
  • Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours (meatballs should be at least 160F in the middle).
  • Serve with cooked pasta or however you prefer. Fresh basil goes wonderfully with these meatballs. If needed, add extra salt & pepper to taste.

Notes

  • I use sea salt in most of my cooking, which is less potent than regular table salt. If you're not using sea salt or kosher salt, you may want to add a bit less than suggested, and then add more if needed after tasting the finished dish. Keep in mind this recipe has a fair bit of meat and sauce, so it needs to be seasoned properly to bring the flavors out.
  • These are fairly large meatballs, so I recommend about 3/person. Nutrition info is for meatballs & sauce for 1/6 of the recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 582kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 1625mg | Potassium: 1116mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 951IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 264mg | Iron: 6mg
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