by Holly
Crockpot Meatballs are an effortless way to prepare tender and delicious meatballs!
No need to pre brown these meatballs, they cook perfectly tender and juicy right in the slow cooker. Sauced up with a rich and chunky tomato sauce and you have an authentic Italian style meal, easy as pie!
Crockpot Meatballs
Crockpot Meatballs are really easy to make, simply mix the meatballs and let the slow cooker do all of the work. While I often make homemade meatballs or All Purpose Turkey Meatballs, I love putting them into the slow cooker and coming home to a meal ready to serve!
Using simple ingredients like Italian breadcrumbs and seasonings, onion and parmesan cheese, these meatballs are packed with flavor. Smothered in pasta sauce, diced and crushed tomatoes, garlic and even more Italian seasoning, these easy crock pot meatballs really satisfy.
Once sauced up, these homemade meatballs in the crockpot cook slowly and evenly, keeping all the juices and flavors tucked neatly inside every savory little meatball.
How to Make Meatballs in a Crockpot?
Once you try this crockpot meatballs recipe you it will become your go-to recipe! They’re so easy to make and no frying or baking (which means no extra dishes to wash).
- Combine the ground beef, seasonings, breadcrumbs and egg together.
- Form meatballs and place raw meatballs in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Top with sauce. Cover and let the slow cooker do the work!
Do you have to cook meatballs before putting them in a crockpot?
No you do not have to cook meatballs before they go into the Crockpot! If I am using ground beef in the slow cooker (when I’m making Crock Pot Chili or Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese) I pre-cook the beef. For this recipe and slow cooker spaghetti and meatballs, there is no pre-cooking required, just mix, form into balls and place in the bottom of the crockpot.
I use lean beef in this slow cooker Italian meatball recipe, the juices from the meatballs add amazing flavor to the sauce!
What Should I Serve with Meatballs?
Crockpot meatballs can be served as an appetizer or made into a whole meal!
- Serve it over your favorite pasta like spaghetti or penne.
- Turn it into a meatball sub by serving it over a toasted hoagie, top it with mozzarella cheese and broil!
- Mashed potatoes go with anything, why not meatballs!
- Create a meatball casserole by adding fusilli, cover with mozzarella and parmesan cheese and bake at 375˚F for 20 min!
While this homemade crockpot meatball recipe calls for a tomato based sauce, you can always change it up! Try it with BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, mushroom sauce or a honey garlic sauce! The meatball recipe itself is just so versatile and is delicious with any sauce!
The meatballs can be prepared the night before and refrigerated. In the morning, simply add to the slow cooker, pour the sauce on and let the crockpot do the work!
Take it from me, once you prepare meatballs using this crockpot method, you will never return to your old ways!
Other Great Beef Recipes You’ll Love
- The Best Meatloaf Recipe
- Easy Meat Sauce
- Stuffed Peppers
- Beef Taco Pasta Skillet
- Taco Soup
- Porcupine Meatballs – Kids will love these!
Crockpot Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup onion finely diced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup parsley fresh, chopped
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Sauce
- 24 oz pasta sauce
- 2 cloves garlic
- 14 oz crushed tomatoes canned
- 28 oz diced tomatoes canned, undrained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Combine all meatball ingredients in a a bowl. Using a tablespoon, form 24 meatballs. Place uncooked meatballs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a large bowl. Pour over meatballs and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Serve over pasta.
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
REPIN this Easy Meatball Recipe
These are amazing! I’m NOT a great cook, so I was looking for a super easy, FAST, no-fail recipe– and this was perfect! My two little girls raved over them. This was also my first time using a crock pot. I took them off heat after 3 hours and 15 minutes. I used 85%/15% beef. -Also added in turkey kielbasa. Thank you for a TRULY easy recipe!
I am so glad your family enjoyed the meatballs Alexia!
Unfortunately my meatballs came out dry as a bone… followed the recipe to the tee. Next time I will try cooking on low vs high.
So sorry to hear that Erin :( We have always had great success with this recipe.
Can I do it on low instead? Like for 6-8 hrs?
Hi Madeline, I haven’t tried it on low but I think it would work. You’ll want to ensure your meatballs reach 165°F.
These meatballs are the bomb ! Easy, saves time & dishes. Only change I made is that I grated the onion and made a double batch. The meatballs came out tender, moist and flavorful.
Thank you this recipe is a keeper for sure.
Great additions Lydia! Definitely have to make a double batch with how delicious these are.
if you make a double batch do you have to cook it longer?
Thanks
It may take slightly longer to come up to temperature. You’ll want to ensure your meatballs reach 165°F. Enjoy Robin!
I decided to try the crock pot meatball recipe I appreciate it because it saves me time from browning the meat over the stove I’m hoping for the best.
I hope you enjoyed the meatballs Lisa!
Hi, would it be fine to place the all purpose meatballs in the slow cooker? Or do they need to bake first for this recipe?
I think that would work just fine.
Do you know if this recipe can be modified to cook on low longer instead of just high?
Thank you!
Shelly
I haven’t tried it on low but I think it would work. You’ll want to ensure your meatballs reach 165°F.
Hi there! Can I cook these on low? Really excited to try this recipe, meatballs are one thing I have a hard time with!
I haven’t tried it on low but I think it would work. You’ll want to ensure your meatballs reach 165°F. Let us know how it goes!
I’m very excited to make this recipe. If I make a BIG batch can the meatballs cook as they should in the crockpot if stacked up a couple of layers? This would be perfect for the group I need to feed. : ) …. love your recipes, btw.
Thank you Chey! These should cook fine in a couple of layers, it just may take longer to heat up.
Why is there liquid in some of your meatball recipes, and not others.Does the crockpot change the consistency.
When cooking in a slow cooker, the steam doesn’t evaporate as it does in the oven or on the stove top.
Delicious and super easy. I prefer to use a mixture of meats in my meatballs so for these I used ground pork and ground veal. I also threw in some Italian sausage that I had on hand. I served them as-is as a party food. They were delicious! I will be using this recipe again.
The mixture you added sounds delish!!
Yesterday I made one recipe of the crockpot meatballs. They were super.So great. That today I made a double batch in my bigger crockpot. I put the first layer of meatballs on the bottom- then put some sauce on top & then another layer of meatballs & sauce. Thank you!!! I packaged them up.Now i have them ready for a super quick meatball sub sandwich or spaghetti. I am so glad I found your blog
I’m so glad you loved these Stephanie! :)
These look delish!!! And super easy. Thank you. Do you think I could double the recipe? Or do the meatballs need to be single layer?
I haven’t tried doubling this but I’m certain it would work just fine! Please let us know how it goes if you try it!