Tiffany Haney
Slow-cooked meatballs are a convenient, tasty, and healthy meal option. Crockpot meatballs can be made with various sauces and served in different ways, making them a versatile dish. The slow-cooking method allows the meatballs to absorb the rich flavours of the sauce, resulting in tender and juicy meatballs. This set-it-and-forget-it meal is perfect for busy individuals and families, as it requires minimal preparation and can be left to cook throughout the day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Lean beef, ground beef, turkey, or meat alternatives |
| Seasonings | Salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, caraway seeds |
| Binding agents | Eggs, breadcrumbs, milk |
| Cheese | Parmesan, mozzarella |
| Sauce | Tomato-based, BBQ, sweet and sour, mushroom, honey garlic |
| Cooking time | 2-2.5 hours on high, 5-6 hours on low |
| Serving suggestions | Pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, zucchini noodles, hoagie roll |
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What You'll Learn
Meatball ingredients and preparation
Meatballs are a great option for a tasty, hearty meal. They can be made with a variety of ingredients and are a good source of protein. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing crockpot meatballs:
Firstly, gather your ingredients. For the meatballs, you will need ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasonings. The seasonings can include salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes. You might also want to add onion and milk to the mixture.
Secondly, prepare the meatball mixture. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients: breadcrumbs, cheese, pepper, and salt. Then, stir in the beaten eggs. Add the ground beef last and mix until everything is well combined. Be careful not to overwork the meat, just gently combine the ingredients.
Thirdly, form the meatballs. With wet hands, shape the mixture into balls. They can be around 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Place the formed meatballs on a plate or baking sheet.
At this stage, you can choose to brown the meatballs in a pan or put them directly into the crockpot. If you wish to brown them first, heat a pan to medium-high heat and cook the meatballs in batches until they are golden brown on the outside. Drain the excess fat, and then proceed to the next step.
Finally, prepare the crockpot. Spray the bottom of the crockpot with cooking spray or grease lightly. Place the meatballs in a single layer at the bottom of the crockpot. If browning the meatballs first, you can skip this step and go straight to adding the sauce.
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Crock pot setup
To cook meatballs in a crock pot, you'll first want to prepare your crock pot by spraying the bottom with a nonstick cooking spray. This will help prevent your meatballs from sticking to the pot.
Next, you'll want to prepare your meatball mixture. In a large bowl, combine your meat of choice (typically ground beef or turkey) with your desired seasonings and binders. Common seasonings include garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, salt, and pepper. For binders, you can use eggs and breadcrumbs. You may also add cheese, milk, or onion to your mixture for additional flavor and moisture.
Once your meatball mixture is ready, use a tablespoon or your hands to form the mixture into meatballs of your desired size. Aim for a consistent size so that your meatballs cook evenly. Place the uncooked meatballs in a single layer on the bottom of the crock pot.
Now, it's time to add your sauce. You can use a jarred pasta sauce or make your own by combining ingredients like tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and additional seasonings. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, ensuring they are well-coated.
Finally, cover the crock pot and set it to cook. The cooking time and temperature will depend on your crock pot's settings and the size of your meatballs. For high heat, cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. For low heat, cook for 5 to 6 hours or until the meatballs are cooked through.
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Sauce preparation
To prepare the sauce for crockpot meatballs, you can either use a jarred sauce or make your own.
If you're short on time, a jarred pasta sauce will do the trick. A tomato-based sauce is the classic choice, but you can also experiment with BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, mushroom sauce, or honey garlic sauce.
If you want to make your own sauce, combine chopped onion, green pepper, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste in a bowl. Stir in minced garlic, bay leaves, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to taste. You can also add cheese, Worcestershire sauce, milk, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder to enhance the flavor.
The sauce should be poured over the meatballs in the crockpot, and the slow cooker will do the rest of the work.
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Cooking the meatballs
Slow cooking is an ideal method for cooking meatballs as it makes the meat tender and tasty. You can use a Crock-Pot® style slow cooker to make delicious meatballs. Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking meatballs in a Crock-Pot:
Preparing the Meatballs
Firstly, you need to prepare the meat mixture. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, cheese, pepper, salt, and eggs. You can also add other ingredients like milk, parsley, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes to enhance the flavour. Stir the ingredients together until they are evenly combined.
Shaping the Meatballs
Once the meat mixture is ready, it's time to shape it into meatballs. Use a tablespoon to form meatballs of your desired size. Be careful not to compact the meat too much when shaping them. You can place the shaped meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate them overnight or freeze them for later use.
Lightly grease the bottom of your Crock-Pot or slow cooker with nonstick spray. Place the raw meatballs in a single layer in the bottom of the Crock-Pot. You can also brown the meatballs in a frying pan before adding them to the Crock-Pot, but this step is optional.
Adding the Sauce
Pour your choice of sauce over the meatballs. You can use a traditional tomato-based sauce, or get creative with BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, mushroom sauce, or honey garlic sauce. The sauce will add flavour to the meatballs as they cook.
Slow Cooking
Cover the Crock-Pot and cook the meatballs on high for 2 to 3 hours. The slow cooking process will allow the meatballs to absorb the flavours of the sauce, resulting in tender and juicy meatballs.
Serving
Once the meatballs are cooked, you can serve them in various ways. Enjoy them with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or zucchini noodles. You can also make a meatball sub by serving them on a toasted hoagie roll with mozzarella cheese.
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Serving suggestions
Crockpot meatballs can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions:
With Pasta
Crockpot meatballs go well with pasta. You can serve them with cooked spaghetti noodles or penne. They can also be used as a topping for zucchini pasta. To make it even more delicious, top the meatballs with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Meatball Sub
You can also serve crockpot meatballs as a sandwich by putting them in a hoagie roll or sub. For an extra indulgent touch, add some mozzarella or provolone cheese and broil.
Rice or Mashed Potatoes
Crockpot meatballs can be served over rice or mashed potatoes. They add a hearty and savory element to these dishes.
Appetizer
The meatballs can be served as an appetizer or starter. They can be skewered with toothpicks for easy serving. You can also serve them with a side of eggplant Parmesan or grilled eggplant for a more substantial starter.
Customise with Sauces and Spices
You can customise your crockpot meatballs by adding different sauces and spices. Some popular options include grape jelly, BBQ sauce, cranberry sauce, apple jelly, or elderberry jelly. For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes or chilli sauce.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to cook meatballs in the crockpot on HIGH for 2 to 2 and a half hours. However, some recipes suggest cooking on high for 3 to 4 hours, while others suggest cooking on low for 5 to 6 hours.
No, you do not need to brown or pre-cook the meatballs before putting them in the crockpot. However, some recipes suggest browning the meatballs in a frying pan first for added flavour.
You will need ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, pepper, salt, milk, parsley, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce. Some recipes also include onion, garlic, and various spices.
It is recommended to use lean ground beef with a little bit of fat for moisture and flavour.
Yes, you can use ground turkey or any other type of ground meat.
