Easy and Quick Italian Meatballs Crockpot Recipe
This Easy and Quick Italian Meatballs Crockpot Recipe is perfect for those who crave a flavorful and comforting Italian meal with minimal effort. The crockpot does all the work, slowly cooking the meatballs in a rich tomato sauce until they are tender and bursting with flavor. This recipe combines simple ingredients to create delicious homemade meatballs that can be served over pasta, in a sub sandwich, or enjoyed on their own. With just a few minutes of prep time, you can have a hearty and satisfying dinner that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Tomato Sauce:
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Serve the meatballs and sauce over cooked pasta, in sub rolls with melted cheese, or as an appetizer.
Prepare the Meatballs:
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
Prepare the Tomato Sauce:
In the crockpot, combine crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped onion, minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix well.
Cook:
Place the meatballs into the crockpot, making sure they are submerged in the sauce.
Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and the flavors have melded together.
Serve:
Serve the meatballs and sauce over cooked pasta, in sub rolls with melted cheese, or as an appetizer.
Easy and Quick Italian Meatballs Crockpot Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Crockpot (slow cooker)
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Tomato Sauce:
- 1 can 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 can 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
- Prepare the Tomato Sauce:
- In the crockpot, combine crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped onion, minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix well.
- Cook:
- Place the meatballs into the crockpot, making sure they are submerged in the sauce.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and the flavors have melded together.
- Serve:
- Serve the meatballs and sauce over cooked pasta, in sub rolls with melted cheese, or as an appetizer.
- Enjoy these simple yet flavorful Italian meatballs, perfect for any meal!
Helpful Tips for Cooking
- Uniform Meatballs: Use a small ice cream scoop to ensure meatballs are the same size, which helps them cook evenly.
- Searing Optional: For extra flavor, sear the meatballs in a pan before adding them to the crockpot.
- Fresh Herbs: If you have fresh herbs on hand, use them instead of dried for a brighter flavor. Add them towards the end of cooking.
- Tomato Variations: You can add a splash of red wine to the tomato sauce for a deeper flavor.
- Freezing Meatballs: Make a double batch of meatballs and freeze half before cooking. They can be cooked directly from frozen in the crockpot with the sauce.
Enjoy this simple yet delicious Italian meatball recipe that brings the taste of Italy to your table with minimal effort!
