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You are here: Home / Make Food / Snacks and Appetizers / Grandma’s Italian Style Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe

Snacks and Appetizers

Grandma’s Italian Style Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe

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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.

Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe

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.

 Slow Cooker Meatballs Ingredients

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

Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe | Feather Pixels Blog

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.

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Cuisine: Italian / Category: Snacks and Appetizers

Slow Cooker Meatballs Directions

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

Slow Cooker Meatballs

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?


About Jennifer

Jennifer is the founder of A Magical Mess. She is married to a wonderful man, and together they live with their three rescue dogs. Jen is an entrepreneur at heart. Hobbies and interests include working, reading, playing word games, and learning new things.

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Comments

  1. diane says

    September 11, 2014 at 9:26 am

    I love homemade meatballs but I have never tried making them in the slow cooker! Thanks for the idea!

  2. Sarah L says

    September 11, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    Slow cookers rule! Great recipe, thanks.

  3. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    September 12, 2014 at 10:00 am

    Nom nom nom! I am from a big Italian family, so meatballs are a MUST in our house.

  4. Deborah A. says

    September 12, 2014 at 11:30 am

    I love that you mix half sausage, half ground beef. What a great idea! And crock pot meals are always amazing. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Stefany says

    September 12, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    I have not made meatballs in years but never in the slow cooker. I am going to have to try though because those look amazing!

  6. MommaDJane says

    September 12, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    I am always looking for new ways to use the slow cooker. I love this idea. Every member of our family loves meatballs.

  7. Mama to 5 BLessings says

    September 12, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    Those look great! I so have to try making meatballs in my crockpot!

  8. Pam says

    September 12, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    There’s nothing like some great homemade meatballs. I have never tried making them in the slow cooker before.

  9. Shauna says

    September 12, 2014 at 8:34 pm

    Oh I can smell the deliciousness already… Love that you threw them in the slow cooker… very cool

  10. Aimee Smith says

    September 12, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    I love anything that I can make in the slow cooker! These look so yummy!

  11. Liz Mays says

    September 12, 2014 at 9:42 pm

    I usually do them in the oven or stovetop, but the slow cooker is even easier. They look so good!

  12. Dawn says

    September 12, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    This sounds really good. I love anything I can put in a slow cooker! You know how I roll!

  13. Ben @ Cheap is the New Classy says

    September 12, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    Delicious? Check. Easy? Check. Looks like we have a winner!

  14. Stacey - Seattle Mom Blog says

    September 12, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    These look really good. Delicious and easy to make is always a winner for me.

  15. Ben for Two Little Cavaliers says

    September 12, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    This looks really good. I’ll have to make this this weekend. I’ve been living off of PB&J for too long…

  16. Marina says

    September 12, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    This looks super tasty and super easy. I’ll be making this soon!

  17. Lisa says

    September 12, 2014 at 11:23 pm

    This looks so good! I haven tried meatballs in the slow cooker but am thinking I need to soon!

  18. Stacie says

    September 13, 2014 at 6:22 am

    Oh I love that you put sausage in these! Now that’s a meatball!

  19. Jenn says

    September 13, 2014 at 6:23 am

    I make a similar recipe! We eat the for game day parties all the time! Super yummy!

  20. Carlee C says

    September 13, 2014 at 7:03 am

    Italian, meatballs, and a slow cooker, I am sold on this recipe. It looks delicious.

  21. Mary Larsen says

    September 13, 2014 at 9:47 am

    You can never have too many meatballs! I have to try to find a way to make them paleo – but these look delicious!

  22. candice says

    September 13, 2014 at 1:25 pm

    slow cooker and meatballs! this is something i make for almost every event. the food stays warm, i put out a big basket of fresh buns and everyone is happy.

  23. Krista says

    September 13, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    Such a great dinner idea! Thank you for the recipe

  24. Tiffany (Fabulous Mom Blog) says

    September 15, 2014 at 8:26 am

    Those look really delicious. My oldest has been asking me to make meatballs for a while now. Maybe I’ll make her some tonight? The entire family would actually be happy I did. These don’t seem like that much work to whip up.

  25. Birdiebee says

    September 15, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    What an awesome recipe. I know my family will love these. Pinned this for the future making.

  26. Debi - Travel Blogger says

    September 16, 2014 at 9:09 am

    This looks really tasty and really easy. Those are my two main needs when I’m cooking. You can’t beat a good crock pot recipe.

  27. Crissa Robertson says

    October 9, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    looks yummy! can’t wait to make them!

  28. Rennie says

    October 11, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    this sounds so delicious!!! can not wait to try these!!

  29. Kimberly says

    October 17, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    I just got a slow cooker and can’t wait to try this. They sound and look delicious.

  30. mila furman says

    December 12, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Love LOVE LOVE this!!! I make mine in a slow cooker in the winter months as well!!! This looks really terrific!! Thanks so much for linking these with us at #foodiefridays!!!! Have a terrific weekend!

  31. Antionette Blake says

    December 12, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    I am adding this to my “must make” recipe list – great share. #WWDParty

  32. Jenny @ Honey and Birch says

    December 13, 2014 at 9:02 am

    I love slow cookers, and the Bears! Too bad they aren’t doing so well this season…. as a Cubs fan, I’m used to saying there is always next year, but I never wanted to say it about the Bears. Oh well!! Anyway, adding this to my to-make list and sharing! Thank you for sharing this at #FoodieFridays! DA BEARS!

  33. Susan says

    December 13, 2014 at 10:29 am

    I am always looking for slow cooker recipes and this one looks delish. Thank you!

    Big Texas Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

  34. Tamra Phelps says

    December 18, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    Oh, those look so good! I love Italian food. Definitely pinning this!

  35. Joy @ Joy Love Food says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:09 am

    Yum! These look wonderful, I love making meatballs in the slow cooker. Visiting from Say G’Day Saturday 🙂

  36. MaryJo Tsitouris says

    December 23, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    This looks super yummy, and easy too! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

  37. Lily Kwan says

    December 28, 2014 at 6:37 am

    This recipe looks very tasty. Thanks for sharing!

  38. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says

    January 23, 2015 at 9:04 am

    Yum! This looks so good and pretty too! 🙂 Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN! 🙂

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

  39. Suzy Myers says

    February 1, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    What a great idea! I’m always looking for good slow cooker meals! Thank you for sharing!

    suzy

  40. Deb @ Cooking on the Front Burner says

    February 13, 2015 at 10:05 am

    Thanks for sharing at Best of the Weekend – being featured tonight!

  41. Juliana says

    April 24, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    I would love to try this recipe.

  42. Fee Roberts says

    April 29, 2015 at 10:32 am

    These look good. I make mine a sweet and sour flavor, but I’ll give these a shot.

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