Slow Cooker Meatballs
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!
Servings: 24 Meatballs
Cost: $8
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
Creamy sauce. I thought about adding ¼ cup heavy cream but in the end the sauce didn’t need it. However if you want a creamy sauce, add some heavy cream in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Ingredient Substitution 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
Serving: 1Meatball | Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 353mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 191IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg