Set-it-and-forget-it, no browning required, Nonna-approved Crockpot Meatballs have me so excited in your dinner tonight!
Serve ‘em with noodles, pile them right into a sub, or settle them on high of Zucchini Pasta; nevertheless you take pleasure in them, they’re a feel-good dinner for all ages.
Italian meals is a high style in our family, with meatballs being the primary go-to.
We will serve them a number of methods, they’re stellar leftover, and let’s get to the purpose: meatballs style superb.
Whenever you don’t begin cooking till 5 or 6 p.m., a quick oven meatball recipe like Baked Chicken Meatballs or Baked Turkey Meatballs is great and at all times scrumptious.
When you might have somewhat leeway to begin forward, sluggish cooker meatballs are a present to your future self.
- Cooking meatballs within the crockpot means you may keep away from the predinner scramble.
- When starvation strikes, you and your loved ones merely stride into the kitchen, the place a hearty, wholesome, garlic-scented dinner awaits.
How one can Make Crockpot Meatballs
The fantastic thing about this straightforward crockpot meatballs recipe is that you simply don’t have to brown the meatballs earlier than placing them within the sluggish cooker.
- Putting the meatballs in a single layer permits the outsides to brown, so you may skip searing or baking them first.
- Cooking the meatballs on excessive ensures they maintain their form and don’t dry out.
For those who’d wish to make a bigger batch of meatballs, take a look at my Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs for a stellar recipe. You possibly can swap beef in the event you like.
The Components
- Floor Beef. To make this a wholesome crockpot meatballs recipe, I used lean floor beef. You may as well swap floor turkey or floor hen, or do a mix.
- Jarred Pasta Sauce. This one-stop ingredient makes recipe prep fast and simple! For one of the best crockpot meatballs, select a high-quality sauce. You’ll style the distinction.
- Panko. Panko breadcrumbs add texture and assist bind all of the substances collectively.
- Worcestershire. For a contact of umami. It makes these style all of the extra selfmade.
- Milk. Ensures completely moist meatballs. Any milk you might have available will work.
- Recent Parsley + Italian Seasoning. Whether or not recent or dried, herbs are a scrumptious addition to selfmade meatballs. Parsley and Italian seasoning assist give these meatballs an Italian aptitude.
- Parmesan. Salty, tacky goodness.
- Eggs. Assist bind the meatballs collectively.
- Garlic. For that must-have garlicky taste.
- Pink Pepper Flakes. An non-obligatory addition that provides your meatballs a touch of spice.
The Instructions
- Stir the meatball substances collectively.
- Type the combination into meatballs, then switch them to a calmly greased sluggish cooker.
- Pour the pasta sauce over the meatballs. Add the garlic and purple pepper flakes (if utilizing).
- Cook dinner sluggish cooker meatballs on HIGH for two to 2 1/2 hours. Prime with Parmesan and parsley.
- Function desired and ENJOY!
Wine Pairing
Serve your meatballs with Sangiovese, Chianti, Cabernet Sauvignon, or a Tuscan purple mix.
Storage Suggestions
- To Retailer. Refrigerate meatballs in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze meatballs with the sauce in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
The meatballs could be shaped as much as 1 day upfront. Refrigerate them in an hermetic storage container till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.
You possibly can freeze baked or unbaked meatballs for as much as 3 months.
- To freeze, place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze till strong. Switch the frozen meatballs to an hermetic freezer-safe storage container and freeze them.
- Thaw in a single day within the fridge. Cook dinner as directed (if uncooked) or rewarm within the oven.
How one can Serve Crockpot Meatballs
- Spaghetti. A real crowd-pleaser with countless potentialities for personalization! Use these meatballs to take Instant Pot Spaghetti up a notch.
- Spaghetti Squash. To maintain issues low-carb, serve this dish over Roasted Spaghetti Squash or Crockpot Spaghetti Squash.
- Sandwiches. With these meatballs, sauce, a toasted hoagie, and a few melty cheese, you’ve obtained the proper meatball sub!
- Pizza. Slice the meatballs and use them as a pizza topping. (Attempt my Whole Wheat Pizza Dough for the crust.)
- Appetizer. Merely serve the meatballs as is for a straightforward app.
- Eggplant Dishes. Elevate eggplant Parmesan by spooning these saucy meatballs excessive (bonus factors in the event you use Grilled Eggplant). Or, add them to a bowl of Eggplant Pasta.
- Casserole. Use the meatballs in a recipe like this Meatball Casserole.
What to Serve with Crockpot Meatballs
Beneficial Instruments to Make this Recipe
The Greatest Sluggish Cooker
Keep away from overcooking your meals with this programmable sluggish cooker. It can swap to a “hold heat” setting as soon as the cook dinner time has ended.
Make it a meatball day!
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Due to the sauce, you’re not prone to overcook these floor beef meatballs following the cook dinner time listed. Nevertheless, it’s attainable if the meatballs are left within the sluggish cooker too lengthy. I do advocate utilizing a programmable sluggish cooker that can swap to low after the cook dinner time elapses to assist keep away from overcooking.
Flip up the warmth on these sluggish cooker meatballs by including extra purple pepper flakes to style.
Sure, you can also make this recipe gluten free by swapping the panko breadcrumbs for gluten free panko breadcrumbs.
- 1 pound lean floor beef
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons milk of selection or water
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped recent parsley plus extra for serving
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon floor black pepper
- 2 giant eggs
- 1 (24-ounce) jar ready tomato pasta sauce
- 3 garlic cloves minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/4 teaspoon purple pepper flakes non-obligatory
FOR SERVING (OPTIONAL):
- Cooked entire wheat pasta
- Polenta
- Instant Pot Brown Rice or cauliflower rice
- Hoagie buns and Provolone cheese for making a sub
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Calmly coat the underside of a 5-quarter or bigger sluggish cooker with nonstick spray. In a big mixing bowl, place the meat, panko, milk, parsley, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and eggs. With a fork, break up the meat and stir the substances collectively till evenly mixed.
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Gently kind the combination into 2-inch meatballs, being cautious to not compact the meat. If the combination is sticking to your arms, moist them barely. Prepare them in a single layer within the backside of the sluggish cooker. You’ll have about 12 meatballs whole.
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Pour the pasta sauce excessive. Sprinkle evenly with the garlic and purple pepper flakes.
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Cowl the sluggish cooker and cook dinner the meatballs on HIGH for two to 2 1/2 hours, till the meatballs are cooked via (slice one in half to test). With a spoon, gently flip the meatballs to coat them within the sauce and distribute the garlic and purple pepper flakes.
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Sprinkle extra Parmesan and parsley on high, to style. Function desired.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate meatballs in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze meatballs with the sauce in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1(of 4), about 3 meatballsEnergy: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 31gFats: 9gSaturated Fats: 4gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 4gTrans Fats: 0.4gLdl cholesterol: 155mgPotassium: 1071mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1198IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 6mg
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