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Crockpot Italian Meatballs | Perfect For Dinner or Game Day!

September 21, 2017 by Mindi Cherry

Crockpot Italian Meatballs

Meatballs are always a big hit in my house and I am constantly trying to come up with new ways to make them. My absolute favorite recipe is my Healthy Turkey Meatballs, but my husband and boys prefer beef and aren't crazy about my adding oats instead of bread crumbs in that recipe.

Likewise, I never really like using bread crumbs when I am making beef meatballs because I feel like the bread crumbs dry them out too much. I have a few friends who suggested that I try using milk-soaked bread as my “binder” (which is what the oats/bread crumbs do) and the result were these delicious and oh-so-moist meatballs!

These would be great served over some pasta for dinner, with some provolone cheese on a long roll as a sandwich (try them on game day – and if you have a bunch of people over and have a second slow cooker, serve them right alongside my Crockpot Chicken Tacos or even my Crockpot Cheese Steak Recipe!)

Making them is really easy!

You will need:

  • 3 lb Ground Beef
  • 8 slices White Bread
  • 1/3 cup Milk
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 medium Onion Finely Diced
  • 1 tbsp minced Garlic
  • 1/3 cup Grated Parmesan
  • 2 tsp Oregano
  • 4 tsp Basil
  • 1 Egg
  • 48 oz Spaghetti Sauce (homemade or jar)

Crockpot Italian Meatballs - Bread

First you are going to shred up 8 or 9 slices of white bread (you can also use wheat bread if you like – I even like using potato bread). Place the bread in a bowl and add about 1/3 cup of milk. Toss the milk with the bread and just let that sit there for a few minutes until most of the milk is absorbed.

Crockpot Italian Meatballs - Milk Bread Mix

Drain the excess milk (but don't squeeze any of the milk out of the bread). Give the egg a quick wisk and add it to the bread along with the onion, garlic, oregano basil and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine well.

Crockpot Italian Meatballs - forming

This is where you are going to get a little messy. Crumble the beef in to the milk/bread mixture and use your hands to work everything together. Form in to 2″ meatballs.

Crockpot Italian Meatballs - Frying

Heat some olive oil in a skillet on high and, in small batches (about 5 at a time) brown the meatballs on all sides.

Crockpot Italian Meatballs - cooking

Transfer the browned meatballs to your slow cooker, add the sauce and cook on High for 4 hours or on Low for 8 hours!

Enjoy!

Scroll down for the complete directions!

Crockpot Italian Meatballs Square

Crockpot Italian Meatballs | Perfect For Dinner or Game Day!
 
Save Print
Prep time
20 mins
Cook time
4 hours
Total time
4 hours 20 mins
 
These Crockpot Italian Meatballs take just a little bit of prep work to get them ready to throw in your slow cooker. Serve them over pasta, on a long roll as a sandwich or just all by themselves!
Author: Mindi
Ingredients
  • 3 lb Ground Beef (you can also substitute turkey)
  • 8 slices White Bread
  • ⅓ cup Milk
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 medium Onion Finely Diced
  • 1 tbsp minced Garlic
  • ⅓ cup Grated Parmesan
  • 2 tsp Oregano
  • 4 tsp Basil
  • 1 Egg
  • 48 oz Spaghetti Sauce (use your favorite homemade or store-bought sauce )
Instructions
  1. Tear bread into small pieces and place in a large bowl.
  2. Add milk and toss to absorb milk, let soak for 5 minutes.
  3. Drain any excess milk.
  4. Whisk egg and add to bread.
  5. Add onion, garlic, oregano, basil and parmesan and mix well.
  6. Crumble ground beef into mixture.
  7. Mix with your hands to endure everything is well blended and form into 2″ meatballs.
  8. Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown meatballs on all sides 5 at a time.
  9. Transfer browned meatballs to slow cooker.
  10. Add sauce and cook on High for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
3.4.3177

 

Related

Filed Under: Appetizers, Crockpot Cooking, Main Meals, Moms Need To Cook

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Comments

  1. Joy @ Yesterfood says

    December 11, 2014 at 8:37 am

    Absolutely beautiful, and I know that they must be delicious. I like that they simmer in the crock pot- frees my stove up for other things. Thank you for sharing this with us at Treasure Box Tuesday- pinned! 🙂

  2. Joanne T Ferguson says

    December 13, 2014 at 4:11 am

    G’day Thx for stopping by and sharing this at our #SayGdayParty Pinned
    Please make sure to return if you haven’t already to G’day to the hosts and someone at the party! Cheers!
    Joanne @ What’s On The List

  3. JessicaJ says

    December 13, 2014 at 8:36 am

    Man, I wish I could get my husband to eat meatballs, these look so good! Maybe I’ll have to make a batch just for me! 🙂

  4. Chelsey says

    December 13, 2014 at 8:40 am

    Crock pot meatballs are the best! Your recipe sounds like it would make some nice, soft, moist meatballs, too. Definitely pinning this for Christmas Eve!

    Found you on Say G’Day. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Christie Campbell says

    December 16, 2014 at 6:47 pm

    Mmmmmm Meatballs. I’ve never made them in my slow cooker. Which is strange because I use it for everything. I think I need to try this slow cooker recipe because it looks fabulous!! Pinning Thank you for linking up with #FoodieFridays this week.

  6. Ashley says

    November 8, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    Yum! This looks great and now I want spaghetti and meatballs! Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday link party. I hope you’ll join us again next week. Sharing your post on Twitter!

  7. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says

    October 6, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    Hey, Mindi! Just wanted to let you know that we loved your Crockpot Italian Meatballs so much when you shared it at the #HomeMattersParty last week, we’ve FEATURED it THIS WEEK! Hope you can check it out when you get a sec. Happy Friday!!!
    https://lifewithlorelai.com/2017/10/05/home-matters-linky-party-156/

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai / Home Matters Linky Party

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Thanks for stopping by! As a busy mom. I just want to put healthy and flavorful meals on the table quickly without having to rely on processed foods, while still trying to maintain a household. Read More…

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