Set-it-and-forget-it, no browning required, Nonna-approved Crockpot Meatballs have me so excited on your dinner tonight! These juicy, zesty meatballs package deal conventional Italian taste with the hands-off comfort of the sluggish cooker.
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Meatballs Recipe
- A Present to Your Future Self. Cooking meatballs within the crockpot means you possibly can keep away from the pre-dinner scramble. When starvation strikes, you and your loved ones merely stride into the kitchen, the place a hearty, wholesome, garlic-scented dinner awaits!
- Tremendous Versatile. Serve ‘em with noodles, pile them right into a sub, or settle them on high of Zucchini Pasta; nonetheless you take pleasure in them, crockpot meatballs are a feel-good dinner for all ages.
- A Basic, Re-Imagined. Italian meals is a high style in our family, with meatballs being the primary go-to. Whether or not it’s these sluggish cooker meatballs, Baked Rooster Meatballs, or Baked Turkey Meatballs, we will serve them a number of methods, they’re stellar leftover, and let’s get to the purpose: meatballs style superb.
- Straightforward Fail-Proof Recipe. I examined and re-tested this recipe to verify it gained’t allow you to down—and that it doesn’t require any extra work that wanted. No must sear, and no dry meatballs right here!
Make Crockpot Meatballs
The fantastic thing about this simple crockpot meatballs recipe is that you just don’t must brown the meatballs earlier than placing them within the sluggish cooker.
- Inserting the meatballs in a single layer permits the outsides to brown, so you possibly can skip searing or baking them first.
- Cooking the meatballs on excessive ensures they maintain their form and don’t dry out.
If you happen to’d wish to make a bigger batch of meatballs, try my Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs for a stellar recipe. You may 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 can too swap floor turkey or floor hen, or do a mix.
- Jarred Pasta Sauce. This one-stop ingredient makes recipe prep fast and simple! For the most effective 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 such as you spent extra time making them than you probably did. Win!
- Milk. Ensures completely moist meatballs. Any milk you’ve got readily available will work.
- Recent Parsley + Italian Seasoning. Whether or not recent or dried, herbs are a scrumptious addition to selfmade meatballs.
- Parmesan. Salty, tacky goodness.
- Eggs. Assist bind the meatballs collectively.
- Garlic. For that must-have garlicky taste.
- Crimson Pepper Flakes. An non-compulsory addition that offers your meatballs a touch of spice.
The Instructions
- Mix. Stir the meatball substances collectively.
- Type. Form the meatballs, then place in a flippantly greased sluggish cooker.
- Add the Sauce. Together with the garlic and purple pepper flakes (if utilizing).
- Sluggish Cook dinner. Cook dinner crockpot meatballs on HIGH for two to 2 1/2 hours. Prime with Parmesan and parsley.
- Serve. With pasta, as a sub…no matter you please. 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 might be fashioned as much as 1 day upfront. Refrigerate them in an hermetic storage container till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.
You may 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.
Serve Crockpot Meatballs
- Spaghetti. A real crowd-pleaser with infinite prospects for personalization! Use these meatballs to take Instantaneous 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 bought the proper meatball sub!
- Pizza. Slice the meatballs and use them as a pizza topping. (Attempt my Complete Wheat Pizza Dough for the crust.)
- Appetizer. Merely serve the meatballs as is for a simple 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.
- 1 pound lean floor beef
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons milk of alternative or water
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped recent parsley plus further for serving
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese plus further 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 massive eggs
- 1 (24-ounce) jar ready tomato pasta sauce
- 3 garlic cloves minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/4 teaspoon purple pepper flakes non-compulsory
FOR SERVING (OPTIONAL):
- Cooked complete wheat pasta
- Polenta
- Instantaneous 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 fingers, moist them barely. Prepare them in a single layer within the backside of the sluggish cooker. You’ll have about 12 meatballs complete.
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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 prepare dinner the meatballs on HIGH for two to 2 1/2 hours, till the meatballs are cooked by (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 further 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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Regularly Requested Questions
Due to the sauce, you’re not prone to overcook these floor beef meatballs following the prepare dinner time listed. Nevertheless, it’s doable 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 prepare 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 may make this recipe gluten free by swapping the panko breadcrumbs for gluten free panko breadcrumbs.
