Description
This Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe combines ground beef and Italian sausage with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese to create flavorful, tender meatballs. Browned in olive oil for extra richness and then slow-cooked in a classic marinara sauce, these meatballs are perfect served over pasta or in sandwiches for a comforting, hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb. Ground Beef (80% lean)
- 1 lb. Ground Italian Sausage
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 cup Bread Crumbs (such as panko)
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Basil (chopped)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil (for cooking)
Marinara Sauce
- Follow the recipe from: https://www.modernhoney.com/classic-italian-tomato-sauce/
Instructions
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground Italian sausage, eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, fresh basil, Italian parsley, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use clean hands to mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated. Form the mixture into meatballs of your desired size.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides for 3-5 minutes per side. This step adds flavor and helps them hold together. Once browned, transfer the meatballs to the slow cooker. Repeat until all meatballs are browned and in the slow cooker.
- Prepare Marinara Sauce: Prepare the classic Italian marinara sauce according to the linked recipe (https://www.modernhoney.com/classic-italian-tomato-sauce/). Alternatively, use your favorite homemade or store-bought marinara sauce.
- Cook Meatballs in Sauce: Pour the marinara sauce evenly over the browned meatballs in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours until meatballs are fully cooked and tender.
- Serve: Serve the slow-cooked meatballs topped with marinara sauce alongside fresh pasta, or as a filling in meatball sandwiches for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Brown the meatballs before slow cooking to enhance flavor and texture.
- You can prepare the marinara sauce ahead of time to save cooking time.
- Serve meatballs over spaghetti, or on hoagie rolls for meatball subs.
- To make smaller meatballs, adjust cooking time slightly, ensuring they are fully cooked.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
