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Dried herbs in the crock are the secret to the rich flavor and perfect texture of these slow cooker meatballs. And it's also the easiest, most convenient meal you'll make all week!
Table of Contents
- Why I love these slow cooker meatballs
- My history with the slow cooker
- Choosing the right meat for your meatballs
- Notes on slow cooker meatballs cooking time
- How to serve these slow cooker meatballs
- Storing leftover meatballs
- Crockpot meatballs ingredients and substitutions
- FAQs
- Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe
Why I love these slow cooker meatballs
What makes these slow cooker meatballs even better than conventional meatballs is the flavor, but (believe it or not) it's also the texture!
The meat slowly absorbs all the flavor not only of the ingredients you add to the meatballs themselves, but of the simple tomato sauce they are nestled into for all those hours.
And since they do sit in the sauce for all that time while it very gently bubbles away, they don't need a lot of moisture themselves, so they stay together beautifully—but are still moist and tender when you serve them.
If you're a slow cooker lover, but you've taken the plunge and decided to experiment with an Instant Pot electronic pressure cooker, try our Instant pot spaghetti and meatballs. That post has tons of tips on getting started with that appliance. I learned the hard way, so you don't have to! If you'd rather make your meatballs in the oven, try our classic oven-baked gluten free meatballs recipe.
My history with the slow cooker
Something like 80% of Americans own a slow cooker. For many years, I was not among them. But since upwards of 250 million people can't be dead wrong, I finally went for it.
I cooked and cooked from it when I first got it, to give it a fair shake. Soups, chilis, stews, oatmeal and unforgiving cuts of meat. My kids thought that I had fallen in love with my slow cooker, and looking back that was probably a reasonable assumption at the time.
But I think that was the problem—I was trying to fall in love with it, and that was unreasonable. So I decided to relax a bit. And then … I finally hit the slow cooker jackpot: slow cooker meatballs. Ridiculously easy in both preparation and cleanup, and quite possibly the best meatballs I've ever had.
Slow cooker cooking really is different from conventional cooking, isn't it? You probably knew that already (you well-schooled 80%), but I didn't!
You really do need recipes that are at least reformulated, if not originally created, specifically for a slow cooker. You want to use dried herbs, not fresh ones for sure for sure. And go a bit easy on the salt, as the crock tends to intensify the flavor of salt.
Choosing the right meat for your meatballs
This meatball recipe calls for 1 pound of pork and 1 pound of ground beef. Together, they make really tender, flavorful meatballs with the ideal texture and taste.
The fat in the pork adds buttery flavor and texture to the meatballs, and the beef adds the savory “meaty” or umami flavor. The combination is perfect, without the ground veal that you sometimes find in meatball or meatloaf mixtures.
Cooking your meatballs in the crockpot is ideal for ensuring that they're never dried out, since the crock keeps all the moisture sealed in for hours. If your meat is too lean, there won't be enough moisture to start, so be sure to use ground beef that's no more than 85% lean.
Notes on slow cooker meatballs cooking time
I've made these meatballs on both the high setting (for 4 hours), and the low setting (for 8). I've served them right after they're done cooking, and after they've sat on “warm” for an hour and a half. After sitting on warm, they definitely absorb more of the sauce and
After sitting on warm, they definitely absorb more of the sauce and look like they might taste dry, but they're still moist and tender.
And although you might think of slow cookers are only for wintertime, consider this: They do not heat up your kitchen at all.
So stay cool in the summer with these perfect slow cooker meatballs. Let them make dinner for you tonight!
How to serve these slow cooker meatballs
I often serve these meatballs in sauce the traditional way: over boiled pasta. Everyone loves spaghetti and meatballs, right?
But meatballs can be served a few other ways, just to mix things up and make them more versatile. Here are a few meatball serving ideas:
- Spaghetti and meatballs (with extra sauce)
- Meatball subs, with a batch of our quick-rising French bread
- Make them smaller by half, and serve them as appetizer meatballs
- Serve them over warm, freshly made or even slice-and-serve polenta, and top with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano
Storing leftover meatballs
If you have any leftover meatballs from this recipe, you can store them in a sealed container with some extra sauce for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
For longer storage, freeze them in a freezer-safe container. Defrost them in the refrigerator, not at room temperature which isn't safe food handling.
Reheat the meatballs in more sauce in a pan on the stovetop over very low heat. You can also cover them in sauce and put them back in the crockpot on “warm.”
Crockpot meatballs ingredients and substitutions
Dairy free slow cooker meatballs
The only dairy in these meatballs is the ground Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. It can easily be substituted with 1 ounce of nutritional yeast flakes.
Egg free slow cooker meatballs
There's only 1 egg in this recipe, so you should be able to replace it with a “chia egg.” Place 1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds in a small bowl, mix it with 1 tablespoon lukewarm water and allow it to sit until it gels.
Vegetarian slow cooker meatballs
You might be able to take our recipe for lentil meatballs and cook them in sauce in the crockpot. They'll almost certainly be done cooking sooner than 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
Alternative sauces for meatballs
Leave out the dried basil and oregano, and try cooking our Swedish meatballs in their sauce in the crockpot instead.
Again, leave out the dried basil and oregano, and cook these meatballs in our gluten free BBQ sauce. That sounds amazing, doesn't it? I'd serve that over egg noodles for the ideal meal.
FAQs
Yes! You can shape the raw meatballs as instructed, and store them in the refrigerator for as long as the meat you're using is good. Then, set them to cook in the crockpot 4 or 8 hours before you're going to be ready to eat.
If you'll be ready to eat more than 8 hours after cooking the meatballs on the “low” setting, your crock should switch to the “warm” setting automatically after the cooking cycle is finished. It can stay on warm for up to 1½ hours.
Yes! Try replacing the bread crumbs with quick-cooking oats, like we do in our recipe for gluten free meatloaf. You can make your meatballs entirely without breadcrumbs using our recipe for Paleo meatballs. Since dried herbs and aromatics are best for the slow cooker, replace the minced onion with dried minced onion and the mustard with mustard powder.
Yes! I think you should be able to replace the ground beef with ground turkey (not lean!) to make gluten free turkey meatballs. I wouldn't use all turkey to replace the beef and the pork, because ground turkey is just too soft to hold its shape during 4 or 8 hours of cooking.
These meatballs can stay in the crockpot on warm for up to 1½ hours after they're done cooking. To stretch out the amount of time to the fullest, cook the meatballs for 8 hours on the “low” setting first. Most slow cooker will switch to the “warm” setting immediately after the cooking timer runs out. You don't want to keep the crock on “low” after the meatballs are done cooking, though, or they edges may burn.
Slow Cooker Meatballs
Equipment
- Slow cooker/crockpot
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) coarsely ground bread crumbs, (gluten free if necessary)
- ½ cup (4 fluid ounces) red table wine, See Recipe Notes
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg, any size, beaten
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano, crushed to release oils
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely grated (See Recipe Notes)
- Fresh basil leaves for serving optional
For the tomato sauce
- 1 28- ounce can tomato puree, or 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, pureed with their juices until smooth
- 3 ounces tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano, crushed to release oils
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
- ½ teaspoon chili powder, optional
Instructions
First, begin the meatballs.
- In a small bowl, place the breadcrumbs and red wine (or stock mixture), and mix to combine. Allow the breadcrumbs to sit in the wine (or stock mixture) while you prepare the tomato sauce.
- Prepare the sauce.
- In the liner of a 6-quart slow cooker, place all of the tomato sauce ingredients and whisk to combine well. Set the liner aside and return your attention to the meatballs.
Form the meatballs.
- In a large bowl, place the ground pork and ground beef, and break up the meat gently with your fingers. Add the remaining meatball ingredients in the order listed, mixing gently to combine with your fingers. Do not overwork the meat or the meatballs will be tough.
- Add the breadcrumb mixture, and again mix until just combined with your fingers.
- Divide the meatball mixture into 12 to 14 pieces and roll each gently into a ball. Do not compress or pack the mixture.
Cook the meatballs.
- Nestle each meatball into the tomato sauce in a single layer in the slow cooker liner. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours or until the meatballs are cooked through. They should reach or exceed 165°F in the center on an instant-read thermometer.
- The cooked meatballs can remain on your slow cooker’s “warm” setting for up to 1 1/2 hours. Turn the cooked meatballs over in the sauce to coat completely before serving.
Video
Notes
Be sure to use a wine that you would like to drink with red meat, and make sure but that it doesn’t have an overly fruity taste. Cooking with wine, particularly in a slow cooker, tends to intensify its flavor, and you don’t want it to overpower the dish. For an alcohol-free version, use an equal amount of beef stock + 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar. In place of the grated cheese in the meatballs, use 1 ounce nutritional yeast flakes for a dairy-free version.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is not a comment about the meatballs per se (although they do sound awesome and I’m planning on making these soon!) but just a heartfelt thank you for making celiac disease bearable! Your recipes are amazing and inspiring and allow me to still enjoy the foods I grew up loving and can now eat without suffering! Thank you for sharing!
That’s the very best type of comment, Judy! I’m so thrilled to be able to help, and hope you feel a true sense of possibility about what you can continue to enjoy, even with celiac disease. (P.S.—it’s everything! you can have everything)
Yum! My parents sent me home with some beef from my cousin’s steer and i was planning on making bierocks with it, but thanks to this post now i want meatballs :) I love that the raw balls go directly into the cooker. No pre-pan frying needed. Perfect! That extra step in most other cooker meatballs was always a deal breaker for me.
Like you, i dont use my slow cooker often. Mostly for pulled pork (BBQ or carnitas style, depending) and homemade chile. It just makes SO MUCH! And the pot is a bit unwieldy while washing. Thank you!
Me too, anna, no pan frying meatballs before slow cooking them for me. I’m still in search of a few more good slow cooker recipes that don’t make, well, mush. :)
Here’s what I love about this recipe – that you’re actually cooking the meatballs in the slow cooker. I like my slow cooker for certain things, but when I see a recipe calling for using it basically to reheat something that I had to cook using another method already, I don’t see the point of dirtying another dish. These look awesome!
I don’t suppose you’d have a crack at a Paleo version?? ;)
Donia, I make meatloaf and meatballs using spinach instead of bread crumbs if I don’t have any gf bread crumbs on hand. I cannot give you measurements though because I do it by feel.
I hear you on the extra steps. I try to be judicious about the extra steps required, although I will gladly sauté onions before using them in a slow cooker recipe. It does make a difference. But pan frying meatballs before slow cooking them? No thanks!
Funny you should mention Paleo, as the one thing I do think needs to be done is some sort of easy Paleo coarse bread crumb—something that doesn’t require a spendy and time-intensive loaf of Paleo bread first. Will get on it. :)
Yes, that sounds great! Maybe an almond flour and tapioca starch crumble, toasted a bit in the oven? It would be very nice not to have to make a loaf of bread, just to destroy it. ;)
If I don’t have breadcrumbs available, I have used instant potato flakes. About 1/3 cup in 2# meat.
Donia, There is a recipe for *really* yummy slow cooker meatballs in the Everyday Paleo cookbook by Sarah Fragoso. The binder is almond meal and eggs. I’m sure Nicole wouldn’t want me to post it here, so you can contact me by clicking my user name and I’ll be happy to give it to you. (Comment back here if that doesn’t work and we’ll figure it out!) :)
Love love love the new site! And these meatballs look pretty good too!
Hey, thanks, Jennifer!
Ooh, love this idea. I have a slow cooker but I mostly use it to make yoghurt, so I’ll have to plan things for when the cooker’s not otherwise in use. (Oh, and I have all three recipe books and the new one on pre-order. :-) )
Homemade yogurt is definitely a treat, Adrianne. Hope the meatballs get some cooker time soon. :)
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who is less in love with the slow cooker. I just haven’t quite figured it all out. Meatballs and sauce mmmmmmmm.
You’re not alone, Lauren! I think there are many of us out there, hiding in plain sight. :)
My favorite way to use my slow cooker is your English Muffin bread, but you already know that! My second favorite way is our corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day. I do not use it a lot. I am old school and like cooking in oven or on stove top. I will love to try your meatball recipe, but I will add a 3rd meat – ground veal. Did you know some of the chefs out there soak bread in milk for their meatballs?
Most of the other meatball recipes I have made in my life, I have soaked the bread crumbs in milk, but soaking them in wine (or a stock/vinegar mixture) makes the meatballs so much more flavorful!
I never soaked them at all. Interesting. I will try it.
Thanks for this recipe! I needed a gluten-free meatball recipe as I can’t find frozen ones without gluten in them! Great timing as I need meatballs for one of this weeks recipes!
Oh my goodness these look so good. I love meatballs and there are so many things you can do with them. Meatball sub, meatball pizza, meatball calzone…all with your recipes of course :) I love my crock-pot. You do know they have liners you can buy? They are just under $2 at my Wally World. Hope it’s OK to post a picture. I love them. All you do is take out the liner and your mostly done with clean up. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
So funny you should mention those liners, Linda! I’ve seen those in the grocery store so many times, and have been tempted since I do loathe the liner cleanup (!) but I have been reluctant to use more plastic. I should buy them for an occasional cleanup treat. :)
I love them. It’s so easy. I know it’s just more money from our budget but it’s just so easy with them. The best is when I make my gluten free cheese dip. That’s a bugger to try to wash even in the dishwasher.
Have you ever tried a light spray of olive oil or cooking spray before filling. Makes cleanup easy and eliminates most of those white marks.
Good tip, Sandi!
These look delicious!