Description
These Easy Slow Cooker Beef Meatballs in Marinara are tender, juicy, and full of Italian flavor. Made without pre-cooking or browning, the meatballs simmer slowly in a rich marinara sauce, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Perfect for a comforting dinner served with pasta or a side of fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 small yellow onion (ends removed and peeled)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ⅓ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ½ pounds 90% lean ground beef
Sauce & Garnish
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese (for serving)
- Chopped basil (for serving)
Instructions
- Grate the Onion: Place a box grater into a large bowl and grate the peeled onion using the largest holes. This will create a fine texture that mixes well with the other ingredients.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Add the egg to the grated onion and whisk until combined. Then stir in the minced garlic, Italian breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and black pepper, mixing well to form a uniform mixture.
- Incorporate the Beef: Add the ground beef to the onion and cheese mixture. Gently mix everything together, being careful not to over-mix, to keep the meatballs tender. Form the mixture into 24 meatballs, each about 1 ½ ounces.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Pour half of the marinara sauce (1 ½ cups) into the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Carefully place the meatballs into the sauce in a single layer to prevent breaking, then pour the remaining sauce evenly over the top without stirring.
- Cook the Meatballs: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. This slow simmering method allows the meatballs to become tender and soak in the marinara flavors.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the meatballs hot, garnished with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped basil, if desired. They pair beautifully with spaghetti or crusty bread.
Notes
- These meatballs require no pre-cooking or browning, making preparation simple and less time-consuming.
- Cooking low and slow in the slow cooker ensures the meatballs remain tender and juicy.
- Use 90% lean ground beef for the best balance of flavor and fat content.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute Italian breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Serve over your favorite pasta or enjoy with a fresh salad for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (4 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 424 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 633 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 116 mg
