This is basically the very same tried and true meatball recipe that I make the conventional way (over and over again…my people will tell me if they ever tire of it, I’m sure!). I usually start them in the oven and then finish them in the sauce on the stove. But now, here we go; they are adapted for the slow cooker. Because, yay, slow cookers.

As the meatballs cook in the slow cooker, you don’t have to worry about any hands-on tasks, and none of your pots and pans are being used, meaning there are endless possibilities of dishes to serve with these Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs. Try serving them with Garlicky Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan, Creamed Peas and Pearl Onions, or Zucchini Fritti.

Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs: A perfect classic meatball recipe, adapted for the slow cooker. 

Italian Meatballs in the Slow Cooker

The beauty of the slow cooker is, of course, the proverbial set it and forget it appeal. Instead of monitoring them in the oven and then in the sauce, you plunk them into the sauce in the slow cooker and just stroll away for 4 up to 6 hours.

Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Ingredients

• 1 slice plain bread – Using bread soaked in milk helps bind the meatball together.
• Whole milk – To soak the bread and maximize moisture.
• Large egg – To bind everything together.
• Ground beef and ground pork – I found that a combination of beef and pork offers an unbeatable flavor.
• Parmesan cheese – For a depth of flavor and subtle nuttiness.
• Parsley – Fresh!
• Garlic clove – For that signature fragrant depth of flavor.
• Salt and pepper – To enhance all the flavors.
• Tomato sauce – Store-bought or homemade sauce will work well.

What Pasta to Serve with Meatballs:

There are really no rules to this. Any long skinny noodle is nice to twirl with meatballs, such as linguine, fettuccine, and thin spaghetti. My family even likes angel hair, though I usually pair that delicate noodle with smaller meatballs. You can also serve these with stubbier cuts of pasta like ziti, penne, cavatappi, and rigatoni.

How to Cook Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs

1. Make the meatballs: Tear the bread into small pieces and mix with milk to make a paste. Mix in the egg followed by the beef and pork, half the Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Use your hands to combine the mixture, then form it into balls.
2. Combine and cook: In the slow cooker, place Tomato Sauce and tuck the meatballs into the sauce. Set the slow cooker for 4-6 hours on low.
3. Serve: Serve with your pasta of choice and parmesan.

How to Shape Meatballs

When shaping meatballs, keep your hands slightly wet with frequent rinses under cold water as you go. This prevents the mixture from sticking to your hands and allows you to get a smoother round shape. You can also lightly oil your hands with olive or another cooking oil.

Handle the meatball mixture as lightly and swiftly as you can and roll the ball in between two cupped hands.

What Size Should Meatballs Be?

In this recipe (and in these photos), you will see 1 1/2-inch size meatballs, which, in the words of Goldilocks, we find not too big and not too small. You can make bigger or smaller meatballs as you like, and the cooking time will be pretty much the same, perhaps a little longer for meatballs 2 inches or larger.

This works best if you have a large slow cooker with a lot of surface area on the bottom. A larger appliance prevents them from squishing a bit as they cook, but you can stack a light second layer on the bottom layer if you need to.

What the Kids Can Do

Tear the bread into pieces, combine it with the milk and egg, and form the meatballs (wash hands very thoroughly with warm, soapy water before and after!). Pull the parsley from the stem and chop it with an age-appropriate knife. 

Storage

Store these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. If you want to get a jump start on this recipe, you can freeze the meatballs before cooking, and they’ll be ready to pop into the slow cooker with your sauce.

What to Serve With Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs

Best Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli

Escarole Salad

Green Beans and Mushrooms with Shallots

More Slow Cooker Comfort Food Recipes

• Slow Cooker Fall Apart Pork Butt with Brown Sugar, Garlic and Herbs
• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Beef Chili
• Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork Loin