Slow cooker meatballs are a fantastic and convenient way to prepare a hearty meal with minimal effort. Cooking meatballs in a slow cooker ensures they are tender, flavorful, and thoroughly infused with the sauce of your choice. Here’s a basic recipe to get you started, along with a simple tomato sauce to cook them in. You can serve these meatballs over pasta, in a sub sandwich, or enjoy them on their own as an appetizer.
Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients for the Meatballs:
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (or a mix of ground beef and ground pork)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Ingredients for the Tomato Sauce:
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for a bit of heat)
- 1 bay leaf