Easy Crockpot Meatballs Dinner Recipe
An easy crockpot meatballs dinner recipe in your back pocket is always a good idea. These meatballs are good for so many different purposes. The first step is making the meatballs, and the crockpot is the best way to do that.
Our easy crockpot meatballs dinner recipe is full of flavor and can be used to make dozens of delicious meals! What is it about meatballs that we love so much? It is believed that meatballs originated in Ancient Rome.
The dish was pretty much exactly what we know meatballs to be today: ground pork, breadcrumbs, and seasoning. However, meatballs really took off in Italy. Italian meatballs vary depending on region but are called polpette de Carne in each region.
Of course, meatballs have taken on a life of their own. There are versions from Italy, Sweden, China, Persia, and even the US. The US version has been around since the 1960s, and it combines grape jelly and BBQ sauce with meatballs.
The meatball can be customized in so many different ways. The most common ground meats are ground pork and beef, but with the right ingredients, any ground meat can become a meatball. Then, we have the sauce.
The sauce can be a classic Italian sauce or an even more classic red wine sauce like the Ancient Romans used. Then there is the way we cook them. Meatballs have always been either boiled, fried, or even deep-fried. Last, we have the sauce.
The sauce can completely change the taste of the meatballs. For example, use a BBQ sauce for a smokey flavor, a syrup for a sweeter taste, and a tomato sauce for a classic taste.
This easy crockpot meatballs dinner recipe utilizes an Italian take on the meatball. The tomato base sauce allows us to use these meatballs in a few different ways.
Easy Crockpot Meatballs Dinner Recipe
This crockpot meatballs recipe can be used for so many different things. This one dish can work as an appetizer, lunch, dinner, or even a snack. For example, you can use these meatballs in an Italian sub sandwich for lunch.
Layer some of your favorite Italian cheeses on top, and you’ll have a mouthwatering sandwich. You can also serve the meatballs as appetizers. Toothpicks will help make them easier to serve as finger food.
People are very familiar with using grape jelly and BBQ sauce meatballs as appetizers. Why not treat Italian meatballs the same? Then, there is the Italian way of serving meatballs over a bed of pasta.
You truly can’t go wrong with this easy crockpot meatballs dinner recipe.
Crockpot Meatballs Ingredients
Meatballs are relatively easy to make. We just need ground beef and ground Italian sausage. Breadcrumbs and seasoning will help keep things together. The Italian sausage will already have some seasoning.
However, we want to add parsley, garlic, onion, pepper, and oregano. Mixing everything can be therapeutic. Homemade meatballs also allow us to know exactly what’s in the mix. There is no need to be concerned about added sugars if you don’t add any sugars yourself.
We can also use frozen meatballs if we’re in a hurry. However, frozen meatballs often contain added ingredients we don’t want. Of course, either way will work; you just need to adjust the cooking time if you plan to go with fresh meatballs instead of frozen.
How to Make Crockpot Italian Meatballs
In a mixing bowl, pour in the breadcrumbs and milk. Stir until all the breadcrumbs have absorbed the milk.
Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, parsley, garlic, onion, egg, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and oregano to the bowl and mix until well combined.
Preheat your oven’s broiler.
Shape the meatballs using an ice cream scoop or big spoon into about 1-inch balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Broil the meatballs for about 8 minutes.
Place the meatballs in your Crockpot. Add the marinara sauce on top.
Cover the Crockpot and cook on high for 3-4 hours (recommended) or on low for 6-8 hours.
Easy Crockpot Meatballs Dinner Recipe
4
servings15
minutes4
hoursOur easy crockpot meatballs dinner recipe is full of flavor and can be used to make dozens of delicious meals!
Ingredients
1 Lb Ground Beef
1 Lb Ground Italian Sausage
3/4 Cup Breadcrumbs
1/2 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Italian Parsley, Flat Leaf, Chopped
1 Clove Garlic, Minced
1/2 Cup Onion, Finely Chopped
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Grated Pecorino/Romano Cheese (Plus More for Serving)
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Ground Pepper
1 tsp Dried Oregano
2 Jars of Marinara Sauce
Directions
- In a mixing bowl, pour in the breadcrumbs and milk. Stir until all the breadcrumbs have absorbed the milk.
- Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, parsley, garlic, onion, egg, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and oregano to the bowl and mix until well combined.
- Preheat your oven’s broiler.
- Shape the meatballs using an ice cream scoop or big spoon into about 1-inch balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Broil the meatballs for about 8 minutes.
- Place the meatballs in your Crockpot. Add the marinara sauce on top.
- Cover the Crockpot and cook on high for 3-4 hours (recommended) or on low for 6-8 hours.
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