If you need a dinner that practically makes itself, crock pot meatballs are the answer. With just 5 minutes of prep and a slow cooker, you end up with fall-apart tender meatballs in a rich, savory marinara sauce. Serve over pasta, pile them into sub rolls, or set them out as an appetizer, they work every single way.
Understanding Easy Crock Pot Meatball: Tips Every Parent Can Use
Notes
Tips for Success
- Frozen meatballs work perfectly: Don’t thaw first. Frozen meatballs go straight into the crock pot and result in the juiciest, most tender texture.
- Homemade meatballs: If you prefer homemade, you can brown them first for texture or add them raw, both work in the crock pot.
- Pasta tip: Cook pasta separately and serve the meatballs and sauce over it. Adding dry pasta to the crock pot doesn’t cook evenly.
- Double and freeze: This recipe doubles easily. Make a double batch and freeze half in the sauce for another night, reheat straight from frozen.
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For nutrition guidance, USDA MyPlate nutrition guidelines is an excellent free resource families can rely on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frozen meatballs in marinara take 6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH in the crock pot. Thawed or homemade raw meatballs cook faster, 4-6 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH. You can’t really overcook them, the longer they cook, the more tender they get.
Yes, and there are two approaches. You can add raw meatballs directly to the slow cooker and they’ll cook through in the sauce. Or brown them in a skillet first for extra texture and flavor, then add to the crock pot. Either way works; browning first gives you a slightly better crust.
Any jarred marinara, tomato sauce, or pasta sauce works great. For extra depth, add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce to the jarred sauce. A can of diced tomatoes added to the sauce gives it a more homemade quality.
It’s not recommended, pasta absorbs too much liquid and ends up mushy. Cook pasta separately according to package directions and serve the meatballs and sauce over the cooked pasta. The crock pot sauce is excellent as-is over any pasta shape.
