Here’s a simple, hands-off Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe—perfect for dinner, party appetizers, or meal prep. You can make them classic Italian-style, in a tangy tomato sauce, or even with a sweet-and-savory glaze.
Slow Cooker Meatballs
Ingredients (6–8 servings / ~24–30 meatballs)
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef (or mix beef + pork)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp onion powder
For the Sauce (Classic Tomato)
- 24 oz marinara sauce (or tomato sauce + Italian seasoning)
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Make the meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients.
- Mix gently until just combined.
- Form into 1–1½ inch meatballs.
- Prepare the slow cooker
- Pour half the sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place meatballs on top, then cover with remaining sauce.
- Cook
- LOW: 6–7 hours
- HIGH: 3–4 hours
Meatballs should be cooked through and tender.
- Serve
- Over pasta, rice, or in hoagie rolls for meatball subs.
- Garnish with extra Parmesan and parsley.
Tips & Variations
- Cranberry or BBQ glaze: Swap sauce for sweet-and-savory variations for parties.
- Frozen meatballs: Can cook from frozen—add 1–2 hours on LOW.
- Cheesy meatballs: Add 1 tsp shredded mozzarella to the center of each meatball.
- Make-ahead: Mix meatballs, freeze raw in sauce, then dump into slow cooker later.
If you want, I can give you a creamy Swedish-style slow cooker meatballs version or a low-carb / keto meatballs in creamy sauce recipe.
Do you want me to do that?
