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Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
5 from 66 votes

Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs

Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs features ground beef and Italian sausage meatballs cooked in a tomato-based sauce with herbs and aromatics. Spaghetti is added near the end of cooking to soak up flavors and finish tender. This set-it-and-forget-it dish delivers a hearty, saucy pasta meal with long-simmered depth and tender meatballs, ideal for an easy dinner prepared ahead.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs 45 mins
Total Time
9 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • ½ onion diced, medium sweet
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • salt to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • black pepper to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • 8 ounces spaghetti broken in half
  • ⅓ cup basil chopped, fresh leaves
For the meatballs
  • 1 pound ground beef lean
  • ½ pound Italian sausage casing removed
  • ½ cup panko
  • ¼ cup milk whole
  • 1 egg lightly beaten, large
  • 3 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
  • 3 tablespoons parsley chopped fresh leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • salt to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • black pepper to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, sausage, Panko, milk, egg, Parmesan, parsley and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 3/4-to-1-inch meatballs, forming about 32-35 meatballs.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
  3. Place crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef stock, onion, garlic and sugar into a 6-qt slow cooker. Stir in meatballs until well combined; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  4. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
  5. Stir in pasta; cover and cook on low heat for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until pasta is tender, stirring once. Stir in basil.
  6. Serve immediately.