Best Crockpot Meatballs

Here’s a  super tasty Crockpot Meatballs recipe that’s easy to follow and perfect for any occasion—whether as an appetizer, main dish, or party snack.

Best Crockpot Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

• 2 pounds ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork for extra flavor)

• 1 cup breadcrumbs (Italian style or plain)

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 large eggs

• 1/4 cup milk

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 small onion, finely chopped or grated

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried parsley)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)

For the Sauce:

• 1 bottle (24 oz) marinara or spaghetti sauce (store-bought or homemade)

• 1/2 cup water or beef broth (optional, to thin sauce if needed)

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, for depth)

• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, if you like heat)

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional, to boost flavor)

Instructions

1. Make the Meatballs:

   • In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, eggs, milk, minced garlic, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

   • Mix gently but thoroughly using your hands or a spoon until all ingredients are evenly combined. Avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.

2. Form the Meatballs:

   • Using your hands or a small ice cream scoop, form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs. You should get about 25-30 meatballs.

3. Optional Browning (for extra flavor):

   • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

   • Brown meatballs in batches for about 2 minutes per side until golden. They don’t need to be fully cooked since they’ll finish in the crockpot, but browning adds flavor.

   • Transfer browned meatballs to the crockpot. If skipping browning, place raw meatballs directly in the crockpot.

4. Add the Sauce:

   • Pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs.

   • Add water or beef broth if the sauce seems too thick.

   • Stir in Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder if using.

5. Cook:

   • Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours.

   • The meatballs should be fully cooked and tender.

6. Serve:

   • Serve over spaghetti, on sub rolls for meatball subs, or as party appetizers with toothpicks.

   • Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.

Tips & Variations

• Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs.

• For turkey meatballs: Use ground turkey but add a bit more oil or moisture (like a splash of olive oil or extra milk) as turkey is leaner.

• Spicy kick: Add more red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce.

• Cheesy surprise: Place a small cube of mozzarella inside each meatball before cooking.