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Use this crockpot meatball recipe to make an easy weeknight meal of spaghetti and meatballs. A few minutes of prep in the morning yields delicious results by dinner time!
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This crockpot meatball recipe is so easy to put together with simple ingredients but lots of flavors! Spaghetti and meatballs are always a favorite family dish and the slow cooker makes it my favorite too! I spend a few minutes rolling meatballs in the afternoon and I have delicious savory meatballs and sauce by dinner time.
Create the best dish using this crockpot meatball recipe! Take your traditional meatball recipe to the next level using these homemade ingredients. These meatballs are full of flavor and come together quickly and easily with just the right amount of ingredinets. Kids to adults will love the flavor, texture, and deliciousness these crockpot meatballs have to offer!
Easy Crockpot Meatball Recipe Ingredients
Don’t let the list of ingredients scare you when making this meatball recipe. You will love how easy this crockpot meatball recipe is to make! Most of the ingredinets are pantry staples and easy to have on hand. The crockpot meatball recipe is the perfect way to make meatballs and can be done all in the slow cooker!
- Ground Beef – Make sure to use lean ground beef. If the beef is too fatty, the sauce will turn out very oily. Not a huge fan of ground beef? Feel free to try ground pork meatballs, ground turkey meatballs, or ground chicken meatballs too! We will often do a mixture of both ground beef and pork to make them more tender.
- Onion – In this recipe instead of dicing the onion, you grate it with a cheese grater. This creates small, thin pieces of onion that keep the meatball texture super smooth.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs help to bind the meatballs together. I like using panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
- Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan cheese adds flavor and helps to bind the meatballs together. Try to get grated parmesan instead of shredded for the best texture.
- Eggs – Eggs add moisture and help bind the meatballs.
- Milk – Milk helps the meatballs stick together and creates a juicy, soft texture.
- Garlic – Freshly crushed garlic cloves are the best, but you can use the minced garlic from the jar.
- Spices – I keep it simple with this recipe and just use kosher salt, black pepper, and oregano. If you want to go a little further, then you can add basil, fresh parsley, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Sauce – For this recipe, I used our own Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce but you can use your own recipe or just store-bought spaghetti sauce. No matter what you use, it is going to be awesome. Even store-bought spaghetti sauce will be kicked up a notch because the meatballs will be cooked in it, giving it an incredible flavor.
How to Make Crockpot Meatball Recipe from Scratch
Make the crockpot meatball recipe just the way you like it with these simple instructions on how to create the best meatball recipe! They are simple to throw together ingredinets that are full of flavor! Cover the meatballs in their favorite traditional tomato sauce for a family-friendly dinner!
- Mix – Combine all ingredients, except spaghetti sauce, until well-mixed. Mixing together with your hands works great.
- Form meatballs – Spray the bottom of the crockpot with cooking spray. Form into balls using your hands or a small cookie dough scoop. You want them to be slightly smaller than a golf ball.
- Layer slow cooker – Place meatballs in the pot, layering them if necessary. It’s okay if they touch, just don’t squish them too much. Pour sauce over the top of all the meatballs.
- Slow cook – Cook on high for 3 hours. Serve over noodles or in meatball subs!
How to Serve Homemade Crockpot Meatballs
The classic way to serve this crockpot meatball recipe is over noodles with some basil and parmesan cheese. You can also make meatball subs. If you want to serve these meatballs as an appetizer, you can put them on a cocktail toothpick with a mozzarella pearl and a basil leaf.
Recipe Tip
For this recipe, I used our own Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce but you can use your own recipe or just store-bought spaghetti sauce. No matter what you use, it is going to be awesome. Even store-bought spaghetti sauce will be kicked up a notch because the meatballs will be cooked in it, giving it an incredible flavor.
If you stir the meatballs during the cooking process make sure to stir gently. If the meatballs aren’t fully cooked when you stir, they could break apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
For this crockpot meatball recipe, you do not need to brown the meatballs ahead of time. You simply place the meatballs into the slow cooker raw.
Either baking or pan-cook meatballs are great options. For this recipe, we are using a crockpot or slow cooker to help the cooking process along. If you are wanting to bake or pan-cook your meatballs both are fast and easy ways to cook them. Baking in the oven ensures even baking.
One of the secrets to ensuring tender meatballs each time is using day-old bread that is soaked in milk or water. This adds lightness to the meatball as well as moisture.
Yes, you can make these gluten-free by replacing the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or oats. Serve the meatballs and sauce over gluten-free pasta for celiac-friendly spaghetti and meatballs!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Eat leftovers within a week. You can reheat in the slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the microwave. You can also stick leftovers in the freezer and reheat them later.
Yes! Obviously, homemade meatballs taste amazing, but frozen meatballs will do in a pinch! Follow the same cooking instructions – covered in sauce, on high for 3-4 hours.
Freezing Crockpot Meatball Recipe
Once the meatballs are cooked in the crockpot place them individually on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for a few hours or until frozen. Once frozen, gently remove them from the baking sheet and place them in airtight bags or containers to store for three months long. When ready to reheat, place it in the oven or slow cooker to make it once again.
More Meatball Recipes
If you are a lover of meatballs then these recipes are just for you! Meatball recipes are the perfect appetizer, and side dish, and even can be added to most pasta dishes. Try these favorite family recipes that are sure to impress your family and friends when making a classic meatball recipe!
How to Make Crockpot Meatball Recipe
Crockpot Meatball Recipe
Equipment
- Crock Pot or Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef lean
- 1/2 cup onion grated
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 eggs
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 cups spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (except spaghetti sauce) until well-mixed. Mixing together with your hands works great.
- Spray the bottom of the crockpot with cooking spray. Form into balls using your hands or a small cookie dough scoop. You want them to be slightly smaller than a golf ball. Place meatballs in the pot, layering them if necessary. It's okay if they touch, just don't squish them too much.
- Pour sauce over the top of all the meatballs.
- Cook on high for 3 hours. Serve over noodles or in meatball subs!
I’m stocking up on crockpot meals for our busy weeks ahead and these meatballs are a perfect addition! So easy!
Thank you so much! The flavors are perfect and I can’t wait to try this recipe!