Italian Slow Cooker Meatballs and Gravy
These Italian slow cooker meatballs and gravy are a quick and easy take on a classic recipe that easily feeds a crowd. Serve them with spaghetti or in a sub for a delicious meal!
Equipment
- Cookie scoop optional
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup onion minced
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- Salt & pepper
Sauce
- 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 6 ounces canned tomato paste
- 1½ cups water
- 1 tablespoon onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Shape meat into 16 equal-sized meatballs.
- Place meatballs in a single layer along the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Next, combine all sauce ingredients in a blender. Blend for 15 to 30 seconds or until consistency is smooth.
- Add sauce to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
- Serve hot as an appetizer, over spaghetti, or in meatball sandwiches!
Notes
Mixing the meatballs: We find it easiest to mix the meat by hand. Pro tip: lightly grease your hands with cooking spray before mixing (or wear some disposable gloves - you'll want to spray these too).
Shaping the meatballs: We use this handy cookie scoop for making perfectly shaped, equally sized meatballs. Lightly grease it with some cooking spray before scooping so the meatballs come right out!
Scaling: You can easily double the amount of meatballs in this recipe without necessarily doubling the sauce. This still fits well in our 4-quart slow cooker, and it makes the perfect ratio of sauce and meatballs for sandwiches or sliders! If you plan to make spaghetti and meatballs, you'll want to double the sauce too.
Nutrition
Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 232mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg
