Grandma’s Italian Style Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe

I turned my grandma’s original into these awesome Slow Cooker Meatballs. Italian style slow cooker meatballs make a great appetizer, main course, or go along with spaghetti or other Italian dishes. Be sure to pin this meatball recipe and add it to your list of party foods on game day.

Italian Style Slow Cooker Meatballs

Are you ready for some foooooootball?? I am. Da Bears, baby! Which means friends and fam piling in, yelling at the TV, good eats, fun drinks. And, if you’re not, that’s totes OK too. You can still make my meatballs. These Slow Cooker Meatballs make Uh.Maze.Ing appetizers or are perfect over pasta. Maybe even a great sub sandwich! Just a bit of prep work, then set it and forget it. Personally, I ate four out of the pot before they even hit the table. Don’t tell.

More game day appetizers to make:

• Sausage bites appetizer
• Pesto chicken sliders
• Pull apart cheese bread

Continue to Content

Yield: 50 meatballs

Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe

Print

Make slow cooker meatballs as an appetizer, for meatball sandwiches, or to serve over pasta. 

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef, I used 90/10
• 12 oz Italian sausage, buy bulk or remove from casing -spicy, mild, pick your favorite!
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/2 tsp garlic, super fine fresh mince or powder
• 2 tsp salt, or adjust to taste
• 2 tsp pepper, to taste
• 48 oz marinara sauce, 2 jars

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to *425.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, sausage, eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
3. Now, I take off my rings and really get in there good and mix with my hands. It's how grandma did it, so it's how I do it. Don't worry, there's plenty of soap and water to wash up!
4. This makes 45-50 meatballs so you'll want to lightly spray 2 baking sheets. To form meatballs you can either eyeball and roll the size of golf balls or use a small ice cream scoop. Either way, you want them all to be the same size.
5. Drop on baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
6. Place on top rack of oven.
7. Bake for 10 minutes, flipping each over 1/2 way through. You just want to make sure the outsides are browned. They will finish cooking in slow cooker.
8. Go ahead and set the slow cooker on low. When meatballs are browned, place them in your slow cooker and cover completely with sauce.
9. Cover and let those babies cook for 4 hours.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

50

Serving Size:

1 meatball
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 114Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 353mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 8g

Nutrition facts are an estimate only.

Did you make this recipe?

I'd love to see your recreation. Tag me in your photos!

These meatballs will fill your house with a wonderful aroma while cooking in the slow cooker!

These are great for any party appetizer. Just poke each with a fancy, schmancy toothpick and your guests are set.

To serve as a main dish, plop a few on some pasta or make some awesome meatballs subs. We make a whole batch and freeze about 1/2 of them prior to cooking and come out with 2 great family meals. ENJOY!

Next time you’re watching the Bears, think of me. I’ll be popping a few in my mouth right along with ya!

Be sure to share this recipe with friends and family. Subscribe to the blog for more recipes like this one.

Have you ever made Slow Cooker Meatballs?