Here’s a slow cooker meatballs recipe—tender, flavorful, and perfect for parties, sandwiches, or just a hearty dinner. 🍝🍖
Slow Cooker Meatballs (Serves 6–8)
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp onion powder (optional)
Sauce
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Make meatballs
- In a large bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and onion powder until combined.
- Form into 1–1.5 inch meatballs (about 18–20).
2. Prepare slow cooker
- Pour sauce into the slow cooker and stir in Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes if using.
- Gently place meatballs in the sauce.
3. Cook
- Cover and cook 4–5 hours on low or 2–3 hours on high, until meatballs are fully cooked.
4. Serve
- Serve over pasta, rice, or in a sandwich roll.
- Garnish with extra Parmesan or parsley if desired.
Tips
- No-bake shortcut: You can place uncooked meatballs directly in sauce; slow cooker will cook them gently and keep them tender.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze uncooked meatballs in sauce in a freezer-safe container for easy meals.
- Extra flavor: Sauté meatballs briefly in a pan for a brown crust before adding to slow cooker.
Variations
- Swedish-style: Use cream of mushroom soup instead of marinara and add a touch of Worcestershire sauce.
- BBQ meatballs: Use barbecue sauce instead of marinara for a sweet-savory twist.
- Spicy: Add crushed red pepper, cayenne, or hot sauce to the sauce.
I can also give a super-easy dump-and-go slow cooker meatball recipe that uses frozen store-bought meatballs and is ready in under 30 minutes prep.
Do you want me to do that version?
