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Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce with Meatballs

Slow Cooker Tomato sauce with meatballs cooked low and slow and served over pasta for dinner any night of the week.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 20 minutes
Course: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Meatballs, Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 163kcal
Author: Lois

Equipment

Ingredients

Ingredients for the Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ cups breadcrumbs
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • ½ cup white onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon parsley dried
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ milk

Ingredients for the Homeamde Tomato Sauce

  • 28 ounce can tomato puree
  • 28 ounce can whole peeled plum tomatoes
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tablespoon basil
  • 2 tablespoons parsley
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • ½ cup water

Instructions

For the Meatballs

  • In a bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley and milk together in a large bowl.
  • Shape into meatballs.
  • After they have been formed, refrigerate them for 15 minutes to firm up before browning them in the frying pan.
  • Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a heavy frying pan. Allow the oil to heat up and then add the meatballs.
  • Brown the meatballs on all sides.
  • Remove from the pan and allow to drain on paper towels for a few minutes while you prepare the tomato sauce.

For the Tomato Sauce

  • Add the ingredients for the tomato sauce to the slow cooker.
  • Use the back of a spoon or the meat chopped to break up the whole tomatoes.
  • Add the meatballs.
  • Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or until the meatballs are cooked through.
  • Serve over cooked spaghetti.

Video

Notes

  • For a Smoother Sauce – Blend the plum tomatoes before adding them to the slow cooker to achieve your preferred consistency.
  • Keep It Chunky – If you like a heartier texture, use a kitchen tool like the Mix ‘n Chop to break up the tomatoes directly in the slow cooker.
  • Boost the Flavor – Add a small wedge of Parmesan cheese while the sauce simmers for a rich, savory depth of flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 275mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 528IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 3mg