Italian Meatballs and Sauce
Indulge in the delicious flavors of homemade Italian meatballs in the crockpot. This recipe combines tender, flavorful meatballs with a rich, homemade tomato sauce simmered to perfection. Serve these slow cooker Italian meatballs over pasta, nestled in a warm, crusty roll for a sandwich, or as a delectable potluck appetizer.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Cups/Spoons
- Large Saute Pan
- Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker w/ Slow Cooker Feature
Ingredients
Italian Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- ½ Medium Yellow Onion diced
- 2 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 ½ Tbsp Italian Herb Seasoning
- 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 4 oz Tomato Paste
- 1 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 28oz can San Marzano Peeled Tomatoes
- 1 15oz can Tomato Sauce or Puree
- 1 14.5oz can Diced Tomatoes
- 2 Bay Leaves
- ½ Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Butter
Meatballs
- 2 lbs Ground Beef (85-90%)
- 2 Large Eggs lightly beaten
- ¼ Medium Yellow Onion grated
- 2 Garlic Cloves minced
- ½ Cup Grated Parmesan
- 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ¾ Cup Plain Breadcrumbs
- ¼ Cup Milk, preferably Whole or 2%
- ¼ Cup Flour
- 2 Tbso Olive Oil
- 2 Oz Pancetta optional
Instructions
Italian Sauce
- Add oil to a large saute pan over medium-low and heat until shimmering. Add onions and garlic, sauteing and stirring occasionally for 4-5 minutes until softened but not browned. Add herbs and salt, continuously stirring and cooking for up to 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and sugar, cooking for 1 minute. Pour the contents of the pan into the crock of a slow cooker.
- Crush the peeled tomatoes with your hands or cut them using a pair of kitchen shears. Pour the contents with sauce into the slow cooker. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (with juices), and bay leaves to the slow cooker. Stir the ingredients together and cook on low heat for 2 hours before adding the meatballs. If only making the sauce, skip the next section.
Meatballs
- Add ground beef, eggs, onion, garlic, parmesan, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Stir the milk into the breadcrumbs in a small bowl and add to the large mixing bowl. Using two large forks, mix the ingredients until combined.
- Using a 1 or 2-tbsp cookie scoop, scoop the meatball mixture to your desired size and gently roll it between the palms of your hands to form a ball. Do not apply too much pressure in the process, which can result in a tough meatball. Repeat until all meatballs are rolled out. Place the flour in a shallow dish, and roll each meatball in the flour until lightly coated.
- Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. If using pancetta, add to the oil right before adding the meatballs. Working in batches to prevent overcrowding, cook meatballs until golden brown on each side (about 2 minutes on the first side, 1 minute on the second side). Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce in the slow cooker and stir to combine. Continue cooking over low heat for 5 hours.
Finishing the Meatballs/Sauce
- Once the meatballs have cooked for 5 hours on low heat (7 hours total for the sauce at this point), stir in the black pepper and butter until melted. Taste the sauce and add any seasonings based on your preferences, if needed. Serve the meatballs at a potluck or over spaghetti (or farfalle, my favorite).
If using store-bought sauce...
- Make the meatballs according to the recipe instructions. Combine 2-3 jars of your favorite Italian sauce with the meatballs in a slow cooker. Cook for 5 hours on low heat. Stir in 2 tbsp of butter and add any seasonings to taste, if desired.
Video
Notes
Please Note: Nutrition Facts are estimates only. These figures are calculated via a third-party application using a generic likeness of each ingredient. Nutritional content will vary based on actual brands and weights used for each ingredient and portion size.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Meatball covered w/ SauceCalories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 8gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 278mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 119IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @mainely_flour or use #mainelyflour.