• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×

Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker Recipes

Easy Crockpot Meatballs

Published: Jan 7, 2023 Last Updated: Jan 7, 2023 by Marye 1571 words. | About 8 minutes to read this article.

Easy crockpot meatballs are melt in your mouth tender and juicy with big Italian flavor. There's no need to precook them before dropping in the slow cooker, either. And, they freeze like a charm, cooked or uncooked.
Total time 6 hours 5 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Meatballs in marinara on a plate with spaghetti. Text overlay for Pinterest.

This recipe is so easy it's almost effortless!

Don't want to scroll through the page to get to the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on the section you want to go to.

Finished meatballs on a plate.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
  • 📞 The last word
  • Easy Crockpot Meatballs
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

In the past when I put the meatballs in a crockpot uncooked they'd fall apart but if I put them in cooked they'd just get dry.

UGH! What's a mom to do?

Well this mom decided to figure out how to make it work.

It's the balance of ingredients and the amount of sauce that you cook them in. I came up with these easy crockpot meatballs that are tender, juicy, and don't fall apart.

They work in everything but I especially like them in Italian meatball sandwiches with a thick layer of melty, gooey cheese on top.

The combination of sourdough bread with a crispy, flaky crust and those buttery tender meatballs oozing in marinara that's soaking into the bread, and then the melty-gooey-stringy-when-you-bite-into-it cheese on the top?

It's decadent. Luxurious. Oh so delicious!

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Ingredients for this recipe

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images showing how to make these crockpot meatballs.
  1. Add the seasonings to the meat.
  2. Add in the breadcrumbs.
  3. Next add the Parmesan.
  4. Beat the eggs and add them to the meat mixture.
  5. Blend with your hands to get all of the ingredients completely mixed in.
  6. Gently form meatballs - if you use a kitchen scale it will be easier to make them uniform in size.
  7. Pour a layer of marinara in the bottom of a slow cooker.
  8. Add the meatballs and cover with remaining marinara.
  9. Cook on low for 6 hours or so and enjoy!

🥫 Storage

Let leftover meatballs cool a bit then put them in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 or 4 days.

This recipe also freezes well. Here's how:

Uncooked

To freeze meatballs uncooked just make the meat mixture and form it into balls then flash freeze them (uncooked) on a baking sheet. Once the meatballs are frozen put them in a freezer container or bag.

You don't even really need to thaw them when you're ready to cook. Just dump the amount that you need into the sauce and slow cook for 8 to 10 hours from frozen. If you've thawed them then 4 to 6 hours is about right. Just poke one of them with an insta-read thermometer and make sure they're 165F in the center.

Cooked

Once the meatballs are cooked according to the instructions in the recipe let them come to room temperature. Seal them in meal sized or individual sized portions in freezer bags or vacuum sealed bags.

To heat up you can drop them in simmering marinara sauce, bake, or microwave. If you've vacuum sealed them in individual sized portions you can drop the sealed bag into boiling water and heat them that way.

So simple! Quick and easy crockpot meatballs recipe! From RestlessChipotle.com

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Use very lean ground beef for this recipe - 90/10 or better. The more fat that's in the beef the more fat will be in your sauce and the meatballs will be more likely to fall apart. Plus there will be a thick layer of grease at the top of your sauce and it's kind of gross.

  • Cook on low never on high. The meatballs are likely to fall apart on high.
  • You can substitute all Parmesan for the breadcrumbs if you want to - just make sure you're using the shelf stable Parmesan on the shelf not the fresh kind from the deli.
  • Don't add onion or vegetables to the meatballs. Too much moisture. Use onion powder and garlic powder.
  • Don't add too much sauce - you can always add more before serving.
  • For sandwiches be sure to heat the bread up to get the crust nice and crispy.
  • This quick homemade baguette makes great hoagie rolls!

👩‍🍳 FAQs

How long to cook meatballs in the crockpot?

I like to simmer these on low for about 6 hours but they could go 8 if you needed them to.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

Absolutely! Ground turkey, chicken, venison...any lean, ground meat will work in this recipe. You can even combine different types of ground meat for a richer flavor.

Can I freeze these meatballs?

You can freeze these meatballs cooked or uncooked - it works equally well.

How long should I cook frozen meatballs?

If you've frozen the uncooked meatballs and want to just put them in the crockpot frozen then you'll want to set it on low for about 10 hours. If they are thawed 6 hours is about right.

📚 Related recipes

Much as I wish we could, we do not live on Italian meatballs alone. Here are some other family favorites.

  • Garlic Glazed Meatballs are so good with a sticky sweet - savory glaze. They take just under 30 minutes and make great appetizers.
  • Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Cheese Grits is pure goodness! It's comfort food that makes everyone happy.
  • Slow Cooker Swiss Steak is another family favorite that works better in a slow cooker than it does the traditional method.
  • Braised Pork and Red Cabbage is a hearty meal for the cooler months but honestly I get hungry for it in the summer, too.
  • Crockpot Swiss Steak
  • Crock Pot French Onion Soup
  • Crock Pot Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
  • Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles

How do I make meatball subs?

This recipe is perfect for homemade meatball subs! Since the meatballs simmer in the sauce for so long they are infused with the flavor of the marinara.

Just warm some sub rolls from the store or a baguette sliced in about 4 pieces. Slit the top open almost to the bottom but not through the bottom and spoon your meatballs and sauce in there.

Sprinkle with Mozzarella and put them under the broiler until the cheese melts.

🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

If you need a slow cooker this is a great one. It's BPA free and 3 ½ quart which is a good size for smaller families. If you want something bigger take a look at this 6 quart crockpot. It's the one I get for my kids when they move out.

📞 The last word

I love this easy, timesaving recipe! I can make a double or triple batch, freeze, and just use as needed - it's great!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Closeup of meatballs on top of a pile of spaghetti.
4.28 from 11 votes

Easy Crockpot Meatballs

Print Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
Prevent your screen from going dark
Easy crockpot meatballs are melt in your mouth tender and juicy with big Italian flavor. There's no need to precook them before dropping in the slow cooker, either. And, they freeze like a charm, cooked or uncooked.
Course Dinner (quick and easy)
Cuisine American,Slow Cooker
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings:8 servings
Calories:304
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef, 90% lean 98% lean is better
  • ¾ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated (the kind on the shelf, not fresh)
  • 1 -½ teaspoons garlic powder, optional - depending on the marinara you use
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, or chipotle
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 cups marinara, or favorite pasta sauce

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients except the marinara together in a large bowl with your hands to be sure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
  • Form into 16 to 24 meatballs.
  • You may stop and freeze at this point.
  • When ready to cook add the marinara to a slow cooker.
  • Add the meatballs and spoon some of the marinara over the top.
  • Cook on low 6 hours if thawed, 8 - 10 hours from frozen.

Notes

Storage:
Place leftover cooked meatballs in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
These freeze well cooked or uncooked. See the storage section in the post for details.
Tips:
  • Cook on low never on high. The meatballs are likely to fall apart on high.
  • You can substitute all Parmesan for the breadcrumbs if you want to - just make sure you're using the shelf stable Parmesan on the shelf not the fresh kind from the deli.
  • Use a VERY lean ground beef. If there's a secret to making these that's it. The more fat that's in the beef the more fat will be in your sauce and the meatballs will be more likely to fall apart. Plus there will be a thick layer of grease at the top of your sauce and it's kind of gross.
  • Don't add onion or vegetables to the meatballs. Too much moisture. Use onion powder and garlic powder.
  • Don't add too much sauce - you can always add more before serving.
  • Freeze raw meatballs on a baking sheet and put them in freezer containers when frozen.
  • To freeze cooked meatballs let them cool to room temperature, seal in a freezer safe container, and freeze for up to 6 months.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 707mg | Potassium: 465mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 4.3mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 2.9mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.

    What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness!  Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

    First published December 1, 2019. Last updated January 7, 2023 for editorial improvements.

    More Easy Slow Cooker Meals

    • 4 Ingredient Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
    • Creamy Ranch Chicken
    • Perfect Pot Roast: Easy Family Favorite
    • Creamy Crockpot Ranch Chicken
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Blossom Smith

      July 31, 2019 at 5:36 am

      These are absolutely delicious! So good that my husband requests them for his lunch everyday. I make a batch on Sunday, package them up in 5 containers and he is one happy guy. Love all of your recipes!

      Reply
      • Marye

        July 31, 2019 at 4:57 pm

        So glad he likes them!

    2. mikha angela

      July 12, 2017 at 10:14 pm

      4 stars
      Rounded meatballs are perfect, love it!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        July 13, 2017 at 11:15 am

        thanks

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies.

    More about me →

    🐰 Easter

    • Easy Easter Rolls
    • Nutter Butter Easter Chicks
    • Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe
    • Banana Pudding Recipe from Scratch

    👑 Reader Favorites

    • Strawberry Pound Cake Recipe
    • Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • English Muffin Bread Recipe
    • No Fail Amish White Bread

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured in:

    Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

    Contact Marye

    • Contact

    My new blog for bread bakers:

    Love baking bread? Click here to check out my new blog!

    Logo for breadcrumbs in the butter blog.
    Check out my new blog!

    Copyright ©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC