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I want to start off by apologizing profusely for it taking me so freaking long to get this recipe up on the site! Honestly one of the reasons is because whenever I make these meatballs, they disappear in about ten minutes and it becomes challenging to photograph them for the blog! This is not a drill! LOL.
In any case, this Slow Cooker Meatball recipe is one of my family favorites. My kids eat it up like it’s going out of style—and I find these meatballs to be so versatile! The whole thing ends up being a totally delicious tomato sauce with meatballs in it when it’s all said and done—and you can eat it however you’d normally enjoy meatballs!
Our most-used method is over spaghetti with parmesan cheese, but we have also made meatball subs with these (Kyle told me it was the best meatball sub he’s ever eaten) and meatball sliders for the kids.
If you’re trying to eat fewer carbs, you could even put these over zucchini noodles! (But don’t ask me about that, since I bought a spiralizer over a year ago and haven’t even taken it out of the box. Whoops.)
The best part about these meatballs is that since they’re made in the slow cooker, you can set them and forget them! I start these in the morning right after dropping Lowie at school, and they’re ready by dinner time!
Breville Fast Slow Pro Pressure Cooker, 6-Qt.
Breville
I have this slow cooker, which I’m OBSESSED with! It’s more like an Instant Pot, in that it can sear, sauté, reduce, you name it.
Crock-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker, 6-Qt.
Crock-Pot
I had a much more basic and inexpensive slow cooker until a couple of years ago and it was great while it lasted! You can definitely use a basic slow cooker for this recipe.
Ingredients…
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 15oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 15oz. can diced tomatoes
- ½ tbsp salt
- ½ cup Pecorino Romano, plus more for serving
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tbsp dried oregano flakes
- 4-8 cloves garlic, peeled
- parsley, chopped (optional)
Directions…
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, diced carrot, diced onion, parmesan cheese, and the salt and pepper. Mix with hands until well combined.
- Now start forming into golf ball-sized meatballs. As you form the meatballs, it may look like they’re veggie-heavy. Don’t worry! This is ok! They will cook down and work to make the meatballs so moist. As you make each meatball, place them in the bottom of the slow-cooker cavity. You will probably have to add a second layer, depending on the size of your slow cooker. This is fine, just make sure you’re placing the meatballs gently!
- Now dump both cans of tomatoes/sauce on top of the meatballs, sprinkle the oregano over the top, and scatter the garlic cloves over that.
- Close the lid of the slow-cooker, and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Midway through cooking, open the cooker and with a wooden spoon slowly and gently stir the sauce and meatballs up to combine well.
- When the meatballs are done, remove them into a bowl with a slotted spoon.
- Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
- Spoon the sauce over your pasta, and top with meatballs.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley and devour immediately!
Slow-Cooker Meatballs
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- ¾ cups Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 15oz can tomato sauce
- ½ tbsp kosher salt
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tbsp dried oregano flakes
- 4-8 cloves garlic, peeled
- parsley (optional), chopped
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, diced carrot, diced onion, parmesan cheese, and the salt and pepper. Mix with hands until well combined.
- Now start forming in to golf ball-sized meatballs. As you form the meatballs, it may look like they’re veggie heavy. Don’t worry! This is ok! They will cook down and work to make the meatballs so moist. As you make each meatball, place them in the bottom of the slow cooker cavity. You will probably have to add a second layer, depending on the size of your slow cooker. This is fine, just make sure you’re placing the meatballs gently!
- Now dump both cans of tomatoes/sauce on top of the meatballs, sprinkle the oregano over the top, and scatter the garlic cloves over that.
- Close the lid of the slow cooker, and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Mid way through cooking, open the cooker and with a wooden spoon slowly and gently stir the sauce and meatballs up to combine well.
- When the meatballs are done, remove them in to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
- Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
- Spoon the sauce over your pasta, and top with meatballs.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley and devour immediately!
Nutrition
Other Slow Cooker Recipes I love…
Photographs by Carter Fish | Happily Eva After, Inc. © 2020 All Rights Reserved
I can’t wait to try these. Thanks Eva! What size of cans did you use for the sauce and tomatoes? All the best!
15 oz! Sorry I’ll add that to the recipe xo
Looks amazing! I want to make this weekend in rainy/cold NJ!! What size cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes? Thanks Eva!
Sorry just saw Tara’s post! 🙂
These meatballas look amazing! Do you happen to know the yield?
It makes about 10 meatballs! I’m a little unsure since I almost always double the recipe for my fam so we can eat it for a few days!
Thank you! Can’t wait to make these!
This is making my mouth water!
Hi Eva!
Can’t wait to try these. Your bolognese sauce is amazing and has become a household favourite. When you say tomato sauce, is it a jar of prepared pasta sauce (ie. Rao’s or another brand) or is it crushed/strained tomatoes?
Thanks!
Olivia
Toronto, ON
Love it! I’m definitely buying a slow cooker. Your recipes look sooo good and the best part is forgetting about the food ?
This recipe looks great and I cannot wait to try it! I saw you responded to an earlier comment that the recipe yields approximately 10 meatballs. How many meatballs do you normally eat per serving?
My kids normally eat around 2 each. Major sometimes eats 3. My hubby and I eat 3-4
Sounds delicious ? I️ I did the same , bought a spiral veggie machine . Never used It! Whole Foods and other stores are now making them for us to buy all ready done ?
Ahhh, I cannot wait to make these!! Thank you for posting.
Also, on the spiralizer tip: try it with sweet potatoes. I never used my spiralizer either, but using it with sweet potatoes is now my go-to. I just roast them with salt and chilli powder and it comes out like healthier curly fries!!
I can’t wait to try these! I’m at the airport and the pictures are making me drool and my stomach growl.
These sounds so yummy! I would love to make this recipe in my Instant Pot… have you ever tried and would you by any chance know the cooking time?
Hi Talia! Did you ever try it in the Instant Pot? And if so, what was the cooking time you used?
Have you ever made these with ground turkey instead of beef?
I haven’t (ground turkey kind of grosses me out for some reason) but I’m sure it would work exactly the same
I was going to ask if you substituted ground turkey for beef, would you keep the recipe the same? Turkey isn’t as moist as beef so I was curious ?
I haven’t ever tried that BUT people have told me they did that and it turned out really well– and they didn’t mention subbing anything else in! THe veggies incorporated in to the meatballs also add a lot of moisture so might be ok!
For some reason I got the idea that meatballs would just fall apart in s slow cooker but yours look amazing .
Will definitely try!
http://niccimarquart.com/
All the other ingredients make them stay together!
Hi Eva! I’m making these tomorrow for lunch with a congregant! (Pastor’s wife life?) Any chance they can be prepped the night before?
Make them today and reheat them tomorrow! Put the whole slow cooker insert in the fridge after they’re done tonight so all the flavors stay marinating. Then put the insert back in the cooker at around 11am on high…
Thank you! You’re a life saver!
I have been searching for a good meatball recipe for years and was so excited when you posted the recipe. I made them last night and they are to die for, so so good!! Thank you for sharing.
YASSS!! So happy to hear this!!! xoxox
I so want to try this. I need a slow cooker! This year no excuse, I will invest in one, I pray I actually use it! LOL! I can get lazy with cooking!
When I bought my slow cooker, I bought this book too– and I LOVE it! It really inspires me to use my slow cooker!
Maybe I’m missing it, is there a printable version?
Just made these. Yummy but too salty! Are you sure a tablespoon or should it be a teaspoon?
I made these for dinner tonight and had the same result…they were way too salty! ? Next time I’m going with a tsp. of salt, instead of the Tbsp.
I had the same issue! Other than the saltiness, they were DELICIOUS. I’ll try a tsp next time instead of a tablespoon.
I made these for dinner tonight and I have to say they are absolutely delish!!! Another plus is the house has smelled like a fine Italian restaurant all day. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I don’t cook…..at all!! But I wanted to surprise my boyfriend and make him dinner for once..OMG – these are AMAZING!!!!! And soo easy!! He said they were the best meatballs he has ever had. He loved the carrots in them and couldn’t believe how moist they were. He actually had them for breakfast as well. So thank you!!!!
I made the meatballs tonight for my family! THEY LOVED THEM!!!!!! Unfortunately, I could not eat them because I do not eat carbs but my husband and kids thought they were amazing!! I am keeping this recipe! ?
I made these the other day and they were delicious! The only thing I changed was the amount of salt (I used one teaspoon instead of one tablespoon). I will definitely make them again!
I agree that 1 tablespoon of salt made it too salty & will adjust to 1 teaspoon the next time. Other than being too salty, the meatballs were delicious.
Made these last night, they were so good! And bonus, the kitchen smelled amazing all day while they were cooking. Thanks for the great recipe!
It’s a snowy day in Nova Scotia, perfect tike to try this delicious looking recipe! My two year old daughter is a spaghetti and meatballs addict! Can’t wait for her to try these!
Making these today!!! Can’t wait!!
We love these! My husband is a picky eater and he loves them. I double the recipe every time??♀️. Thank you for sharing!
Yay!! I also double the recipe every time…so necessary! LOL
Hi! This was asked previously but any chance you know the Instant Pot cooking time? Thank you!
Hi! I don’t have an InstantPot so I’m not sure. Sorry!
What percentage ground beef do you use? Looks awesome can’t wait to try it!
I usually use the 90% lean!
I love slow cooker recipes, so I’m excited to try these! When you double the recipe, do you adjust cooking time? Safe to assume we should cook it for the full 8, right? Thanks so much!
Yes! I usually cook for the full 8, but honestly they are usually done at 6. Hope you enjoy!
Does it matter how finely you dice the veggies? I’m making this in a couple hours and don’t want to mess up! Thank you!
No it doesn’t really have to be that precise!
My family loved them! I made them in the InstaPot. 7 minutes. High pressure. Slow release for 5 minutes, then manually release the rest of the pressure. So good.
Oh nice! I don’t really use the instapot, so thanks for sharing this adjustment!
Hi Eva,
I’m cooking your crockpot meatballs right now with a couple adjustments because I didn’t have all the ingredients. I can’t wait to try!!!
These were fantastic. Made them twice now. Just to let you know the printed copy of the recipe omits the diced tomatoes. Although the body of the post includes it, when you go to print it just the sauce shows. I caught the discrepancy but someone may not. Delicious. Thank you.