Crockpot Italian Meatballs Recipe

Paige Gilmore

By Paige Gilmore

Lastest Updated June 27, 2024
Home ยป Recipes A-Z ยป Crockpot Italian Meatballs Recipe
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Want to make melt-in-your-mouth crockpot Italian meatballs but donโ€™t have too much time to stand around in the kitchen? Then these slow-cooked Italian meatballs in a homemade marinara sauce are the perfect solution for you!

There are many benefits from cooking with crockpot, from giving you free time while itโ€™s cooking away to developing deep flavors.

Also, donโ€™t worry about buying store-bought marinara with this easy tomato-based sauce made from scratch, which is slow-cooked with your delicious meatballs.

Crockpot Italian Meatballs: A Tasty Delight

Crockpot Italian meatballs are a delicious meal prepared ahead of time. They are cooked on very low heat in a crockpot/slow cooker appliance on your kitchen bench. Very easy, right!

Crockpot Italian
Slow Cooked Italian Meatballs
Crockpot Italian Meatballs

Meatballs typically are a mixture of ground meat, with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, and seasoning. In this recipe, you will place Italian meatballs in a crockpot with marinara sauce ingredients and then slow-cook them altogether.

Must-Have Tools for Crockpot Italian Meatballs

Use the following tools to make cooking your next Italian meatballs recipe easier than ever before!

  • Crockpot/slow cooker: This is versatile cookware that everyone should have! There is nothing hard about using a slow cooker; all you need to do is just โ€œclick and goโ€.
  • Baking tray: You will need a baking tray to bake the meatballs before cooking them with sauce in the crockpot.
  • Parchment paper: It prevents your meatballs from sticking on the baking tray and helps you remove them off the baking sheet easier.
  • Chopping board: It is a basic tool to prep ingredients (cutting or chopping herbs, onions, and garlic)
  • Grater: Use it to cut the cheese into small pieces.
  • Sharp knife: It provides an easier and safer cutting process.
  • Serving spoon: To control the accuracy of the ingredient portion.
Tools Italian Meatballs Recipe

Crockpot Italian Meatballs: Whatโ€™s in the Mix?

I have listed the main ingredients below to make your crockpot Italian meatballs delicious.

For the Meatballs

  • Ground beef: This is the core ingredient of your meatballs. You can use 90% lean beef for better results.
  • Ground pork: Itโ€™s usually best to mix your ground beef with ground pork to give your meatballs extra flavor.
  • Bread crumbs: You can use any dry bread crumb, but I prefer a finer textured crumb.
  • Parmesan cheese: Because parmesan cheese is an essential ingredient in Italian-style cooking!
  • Eggs: This is a perfect ingredient to bind all meatball components together.
  • Wholegrain mustard: Mustard adds an extra layer of flavor to the meatballs.
  • Dried oregano & rosemary: These items can add a beautiful grassy flavor to your meal.
Ingredients Italian Meatballs Recipe

For the Sauce

  • Canned crushed tomatoes: Use them as the base of your sauce.
  • Tomato paste: It can add extra strength to the flavor of your sauce.
  • Milk & sugar: Combining these with the tomatoes balances the sauce and makes it creamier and thicker.
  • Onion & garlic: The stars in enhancing the overall flavor of your sauce.
  • Worcester sauce: Use it to increase the savory taste.

Crockpot Italian Meatballs: Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these easy steps to make cooking your next Italian meatballs a breeze! Including your very own homemade marinara sauce.

Step 1: Prepare Your Meatballs

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients:

  • 10.5 oz (300g) ground beef
  • 10.5 oz (300g) ground pork
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • 0.5 cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
  • Salt and pepper

Mix everything thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended. Shape the mixture into small, round meatballs (around 1-inch). With these ingredients, you should be able to make about 20 meatballs.

Preheat your oven to 390 degrees F fan grill, and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.

Place your rolled meatballs on the baking tray in a single layer, leaving a little space between each meatball.

Prepare Your Meatballs

Step 2: Cook Your Italian Meatballs

Cook your meatballs in the preheated oven for approximately 10 minutes. Remove from the oven before the tops of the meatballs start to burn. The meatballs donโ€™t need to be cooked all the way through, as they will finish cooking in your crockpot.

Cook Italian Meatballs

Step 3: Mix Your Marinara Sauce Ingredients

Prepare your crockpot/slow cooker on your kitchen counter. Add all the ingredients below:

  • 3 14.5-ounce cans crushed crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 0.25 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcester sauce
  • 0.5 onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh parsley to garnish

Stir till fully combined.

Prepare Crockpot Or Slow Cooker

Step 4: Add the Grilled Italian Meatballs

Layer your grilled Italian meatballs on your marinara sauce in the crockpot, and press the meatballs down into the sauce until they are ยพ of the way submerged.

Meatballs And Marinara Sauce

Step 5: Cook Your Italian Meatballs and Marinara Sauce

To cook meatballs and sauce, turn on your crockpot to the high setting for 4 hours or the low setting for approximately 8 hours. When the meatballs are cooked through, serve piping hot!

Grilled Italian Meatballs

Crockpot Italian Meatballs: Tips and Serving Ideas

Use the following tips and serving suggestions next time you make these easy crockpot Italian meatballs in a homemade marinara sauce!

What Are the Best Tips for Crockpot Italian Meatballs?

Itโ€™s super easy to make this full-bodied crockpot meal! Here are a couple of tips to really create a mouth-watering meal:

  • Make sure you use ground pork for this dish. Pork is more flavorful than just beef on its own.
  • Even though itโ€™s tempting to skip grilling the meatballs, donโ€™t!! Grilling them will help them hold their round shape in the slow cooker and add more flavor.
  • This recipe makes 20 decent-sized meatballs, so itโ€™s perfect for serving 6 – 8 people or for freezing leftovers for a special midweek meal.
  • If you donโ€™t have whole-grain mustard, you can substitute it with any kind of mustard you have on hand.
  • You can substitute the dry herbs for fresh; just make sure you finely chop them.

What Should I Serve With My Crockpot Italian Meatballs?

There are so many side dishes you can serve with these meatballs! Here are my top suggestions:

  • I like to serve these meatballs on some spaghetti pasta that has a small drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on it.
  • Make your own DIY Italian meatball subway sandwich with a fresh breadstick, cheese, and your favorite fresh vegetables.

Proper Storage And Reheating Trick for Crockpot Italian Meatballs

These easy-to-make Italian meatballs are also simple to store! And you can use the leftover meatballs for different dishes. Just follow these instructions for proper storage:

  • Store your food in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days.
  • Meatballs (either full-cooked or par-cooked ones) can freeze well. Keep them in an airtight food container, and they can last up to 3 months.
  • As the meatballs contain pork, make sure you thoroughly reheat the meatballs until piping hot.

Letโ€™s Try These Yummy Crockpot Italian Meatballs!

This is one of the absolute best ways to create juicy, robust Italian meatballs and homemade marinara sauce. Everything comes together beautifully in a crockpot to make cooking it so effortlessly.

This delicious dish is perfect for you to make for your family and can be served on any type of pasta you like! Drop a comment below and let me know what you served your crockpot Italian meatballs on. Thank you, and enjoy!

Crockpot Italian Meatballs

Crockpot Italian Meatballs Recipe

Crockpot Italian meatballs are a massive timesaver while also being able to serve and eat a filling, tasty meal! Delectable Italian meatballs served in hearty marinara sauce.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Crockpot Italian Meatballs
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Preference: None
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 106kcal

Equipment

  • Crockpot / Slow cooker
  • Baking tray
  • Parchment Paper
  • Knife
  • Chopping Board
  • Grater

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

For the Meatballs (Makes 20 meatballs)

  • 10.5 oz ground beef
  • 10.5 oz ground pork
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • 0.5 cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs whisked
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
  • Salt and pepper

For the Marinara Sauce

  • 3 14.5-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 0.25 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcester sauce
  • 0.5 onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions 

  • Combine your meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl, make small plum-sized meatballs (around 1-inch).
    Prepare your oven by preheating to 390โ„‰ fan grill, and then use parchment paper to line a large baking tray. Place the meatballs on your baking tray.
    Prepare Your Meatballs
  • Place the meatballs in the preheated oven for around 10 minutes. They donโ€™t need to be completely cooked as youโ€™ll continue cooking them in the crockpot. Make sure the tops of the meatballs donโ€™t burn in the oven.
    Cook Italian Meatballs
  • On a chopping board, finely chop your onions and garlic. Set up your crockpot/slow cooker in your kitchen. Gather all your marinara sauce ingredients, add them to the crockpot, and stir.
    Prepare Crockpot Or Slow Cooker
  • Place your grilled Italian meatballs into your sauce, making sure they are submerged in 3/4 of the way.
    Meatballs And Marinara Sauce
  • Cook your meatballs and sauce for 4 hours on the high setting or approximately 8 hours on the low setting. Serve hot when cooked through. Enjoy!
    Grilled Italian Meatballs

Video

Notes

  • If you donโ€™t have access to an oven, then fry your meatballs in a skillet on your stovetop. Handle them carefully to keep the round shape.
  • You can use a cookie scoop to shape even and uniform meatballs conveniently.
  • Refrigerating or freezing leftovers is acceptable.
  • If you want to reheat your food, just place them (with the sauce, too) inside the crockpot again and set the low setting to warm it. Or using a pan to do it is also a good solution.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 282mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 189IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 2mg
Crockpot Italian Meatballs
Paige Gilmore

Paige Gilmore

Content Writer

Expertise

Home Cooking, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Data Analysis, Business Owner, Strategy & Marketing Director

Education

Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

  • Program: Bachelor of Science – BSc, Astronomy & Analytics
  • Focus: Skills in scientific inquiry, analytical reasoning, and understanding the universe through astronomy and computational methods.

Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

  • Program: Certificate in Science and Technology, Mathematics
  • Focus: Key areas in engineering, computing, and mathematics, setting the stage for advanced learning, especially for those eyeing degrees in mathematical sciencesโ€‹.

The Culinary Collective, New Zealand

  • Program: Certificate in Cookery
  • Focus: A broad range of culinary skills and disciplines, aimed at preparing students to work confidently in commercial kitchens.
Linkedin

Paige Gilmore is a versatile content creator from Auckland, with a focus on culinary arts and a distinctive foundation in science and analytics. Her varied skills enrich her cooking, enabling her to combine precise techniques with imaginative style in the kitchen.

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating