Slow Cooker Meatballs
Posted Aug 31, 2025
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These Italian-style slow cooker meatballs are moist and flavorful. Homemade meatballs are slow-cooked in a delicious marinara sauce, resulting in tender and delicious meatballs!
These slow cooker meatballs are a delicious, hearty family-friendly meal. They’re easy to prepare during less-busy moments in the day, and then cook low and slow until dinnertime.
In this recipe, homemade meatballs are cooked in an easy marinara sauce (or you can use this homemade marinara sauce if you’d prefer), making them incredibly moist, tender and infused with flavor.
If you start the slow cooker meatballs early in the day, all you have to do is cook some pasta at dinner time!
Slow Cooker Meatballs: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground beef. I have used 85% up to 93% lean ground beef to make this recipe. I have also subbed ground turkey with great results (or check out these healthy turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs).
- Whole milk. 2% milk, half and half or cream can be used in place of whole milk. I have also used pasta sauce (like homemade marinara sauce) with great results.
- Worcestershire Sauce. In a pinch you could substitute BBQ sauce or omit it all together.
- Minced Garlic. ½ teaspoon garlic powder can be substituted for 1 teaspoon minced garlic.
- Onion. ½ teaspoon onion powder can be substituted for the diced onion.
- Breadcrumbs. For a different binding agent use quick-cooking oats or oat flour.
- Parmesan cheese. I don’t suggest substitutions here.
- Fresh herbs. Adding fresh parsley or fresh basil to the meatballs is delicious but optional.
How to Make Slow Cooker Meatballs
Let’s walk through this recipe together, step-by-step. Don’t forget to watch the video!
Make the Meatballs
Begin by combining the meatball ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir to combine & let sit while you prepare the sauce.
Store-bought meatballs
Note, you can use store-bought or frozen meatballs if you prefer! But homemade is always best!
Next, form the meatballs by using a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon to measure portions of the meatball mixture. Then, gently forming each portion into balls.
Make the Sauce
While the meatball mixture is sitting (before rolling) put the sauce ingredients in the container of a slow cooker and stir to combine.
Then, put the formed meatballs into the sauce in the slow cooker.
Cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
Serve
Serve the slow cooker meatballs over your favorite store-bought pasta, or your own homemade whole wheat pasta, or with your favorite Italian recipes. Some additional serving suggestions include:
- With a side of roasted vegetables like roasted brussels sprouts, roasted broccoli, or roasted green beans.
- Serve them with a salad like this delicious burrata salad.
- Make them into a meatball sub.
- Oh, and definitely make this recipe for the best tiramisu for dessert!
Store/Freeze
Store leftover slow cooker meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for two months.
Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Crock Pot Meatballs Recipe FAQS
No, you can use store-bought fresh or frozen meatballs in this recipe.
If you don’t want to make the sauce at all – use 40 to 48 ounces of jarred marina sauce.
Yes, just be sure your slow cooker has enough capacity to evenly cook all the meatballs. Or, use two different slow cookers.
I suggest serving them over pasta, with fresh homemade bread and a serving of vegetables.
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Slow Cooker Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg (beaten)
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Sauce
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 14 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ onion (finely diced)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Combine the meatball ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir to combine & let sit while you prepare the sauce.
- Put the sauce ingredients in the container of a slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Use a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon to measure portions of the meatball mixture, gently form it into balls and put into the sauce in the slow cooker and stir to coat.
- Cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
- Serve over your favorite pasta (we love angel hair spaghetti)
Video
Notes
- Ground beef. I have used 85% up to 93% lean ground beef to make this recipe. I have also subbed ground turkey with great results (or check out these healthy turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs).
- Whole milk. 2% milk, half and half or cream can be used in place of whole milk. I have also used pasta sauce (like homemade marinara sauce) with great results.
- Worcestershire Sauce. In a pinch you could substitute BBQ sauce or omit it all together.
- Minced Garlic. ½ teaspoon garlic powder can be substituted for 1 teaspoon minced garlic.
- Onion. ½ teaspoon onion powder can be substituted for the diced onion.
- Breadcrumbs. For a different binding agent use quick-cooking oats or oat flour.
- Parmesan cheese. I don’t suggest substitutions here.
- Fresh herbs. Adding fresh parsley or fresh basil to the meatballs is delicious but optional.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
