This slow cooker meatballs and marinara recipe is a great dinner than requires little prep time. If you’re looking for a delicious “set it and forget it” meal to throw in your crockpot, look no further! This slow cooker meatballs recipe is one of my husband’s absolute favorites.
A few years ago while channel surfing I landed upon PBS, a station that up until that moment I only associated with shows from my youth such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company. That day I watched in awe as Julia Child and Jacques Pepin worked their magic with eggs.
An entire show that was dedicated to the simple beauty of eggs. I was enthralled. I think I lost the entire day as I watched shows hosted by Eric Ripert, Ming Tsai and Lidia Bastianich. At that very moment I became hooked on PBS, the other food network.
PBS has a lineup full of fantastic chefs demonstrating the kind of techniques I often find lacking on cooking shows. And it was while watching PBS that I first discovered America’s Test Kitchen.
It’s not just a clever name; America’s Test Kitchen is an actual 2500 square foot test kitchen with more than three dozen full-time cooks and product testers. Each recipe is tested countless times until the best, foolproof results are created.
Their methods really do work. When I want a dependable fail-safe recipe I now turn to the experts who are also responsible for Cook’s Country and my favorite magazine, Cook’s Illustrated.
America’s Test Kitchen was kind enough to send me two of their cookbooks to review, The Complete Cook’s Country TV Show Cookbook and The America’s Test Kitchen DIY Cookbook. I am so in awe of these books and all of the wonderful recipes.
The Complete Cook’s Country TV Show Cookbook is full of mouth-watering classic recipes and lovely photos. It was hard to pick just one recipe to start with but I settled on slow cooker meatballs and marinara.
Mr. Savory loves meatloaf and I’ve been eager to break out the slow cooker so it seemed like the right combination. How were they? We’re both still daydreaming about these meatballs.
They’re delicate, moist and the Italian sausage really gives them an intense flavor. And the sauce? It’s my new go-to marinara recipe. Easy to make and perfectly awesome with pasta.
For this recipe I also made homemade mozzarella from The America’s Test Kitchen DIY Cookbook. You can find that recipe along with step-by-step photo instructions here. If that sounds daunting, let me reassure you: it’s surprisingly simple and fun to make homemade cheese.
The DIY Cookbook also has recipes for goat cheese, feta, ricotta, paneer and about a bazillion other things. It’s certainly not limited to cheese; there are also sections with step-by-step instructions for pantry stapes, preserves, pickled foods, cured meats, beverages, desserts and snacks.
I know you’ll enjoy this recipe as much as I did. After the recipe you’ll find details about how to win copies of these fantastic cookbooks!
Slow Cooker Meatballs and Marinara
Ingredients
Onion mixture:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 medium onions, chopped fine
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 6 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Marinara:
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
Meatballs:
- 4 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (1/2 cup)
- 1 ounce parmesan cheese, grated (1/2 cup)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/4 pounds 85 percent lean ground beef
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 ounce parmesan cheese, grated (1/2 cup)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
- kosher salt
Instructions
For the onion mixture:
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, pepper flakes, and salt and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer half of the onion mixture to a large bowl and set aside.
For the marinara:
- Add wine to the remaining onion mixture in pot and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, then transfer to a slow cooker.
For the meatballs:
- Add sausage, mozzarella, parmesan, eggs, garlic and salt to bowl with reserved onion mixture. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Add beef and cream to bowl and knead with hands until well combined. Lightly shape mixture into 2-inch round meatballs (about 12 total). Microwave meatballs on large plate until fat renders and meatballs are firm, 4 to 7 minutes. Nestle meatballs into slow cooker, discarding rendered fat. Cover and cook until meatballs are tender and sauce is slightly thickened, 4 to 5 hours on low. Let meatballs and sauce settle for 5 minutes, then skim fat from surface and stir in Parmesan and basil. Season with salt to taste. Serve.
Notes
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)
Erin@LawStudentsWife says
These look FABULOUS! I’m snowed into today and could go for a big plate for…breakfast? Yes, yes I could. I also didn’t know America’s Test Kitchen was the force behind Cook’s Illustrated. Awesome!
Stephanie@PlainChicken.com says
YUM! It looks delicious! Pinning it now.
Alice says
I have been wanting to make mozzarella for some time now!! what a neat recipe!
Judy @Savoring Today says
ATK is always a reliable resource, one of my favorites. Your photos are fabulous, they make me want to grab a fork and dig-in–it’s that the point?! Great review, thanks.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
My kiddos love meatballs so much more than spaghetti. It’s such a fan dish. I have to try making them in a slowcooker. Your pictures are stunning, as always!
Michelle says
Sounds like a wonderful winer dinner. Headed to the grocery store for ingredients now.
Bev @ Bev Cooks says
PBS is my liiiiiiiiiiiiiife. And ATK is so so so my jam! I love Chris’s bowtie. A little too much.
Olivia @ Liv Lives Life says
Beautiful photos and meal! I love slow cooker recipes.
Topper says
The meatballs look divine! Thanks for the recipe AND the giveaway. Merry Christmas!
Lacey says
This looks really good. I’m eager to try it.
Andrea F says
I love America’s Test Kitchen.
Matt Zimmermann says
I love the ATK Slow-Cooker Revolution book. I’ll have to try this version of the meatballs. Great contest. Good luck to all who enter.
ATL says
ATK has a great podcast, too.
Elin says
I love everything America’s Test Kitchen does! This is a great giveaway!
Mad Dog says
I wouldn’t microwave the meatballs, but otherwise great recipe ;-)
Jennifer Farley says
You really have to in order to render the fat. SO much fat came off in the microwave, you wouldn’t want that swimming in the slow cooker.
Mad Dog says
I’d fry them and remove the fat.
Jennifer Farley says
You can certainly try that, just make sure not to overcook them! You want them barely cooked when the go in the slow cooker.