Description
Savory Crockpot Meatballs dance with robust Italian flavors, promising comfort in every tender bite. Slow-simmered perfection awaits as succulent meat mingles with rich marinara, delivering a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Binding and Flavoring Agents:
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Sauce and Garnish:
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- Green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Blend ground beef with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning in a large mixing bowl, thoroughly incorporating all ingredients by hand until evenly combined.
- Form uniform meatballs approximately 1-1.5 inches in diameter, carefully rolling them between palms to create smooth, compact spheres. Arrange shaped meatballs on a clean surface.
- Whisk barbecue sauce and water together directly inside the crockpot, creating a smooth, consistent liquid base for cooking.
- Gently transfer meatballs into sauce, ensuring each piece is lightly coated and submerged without breaking their delicate structure.
- Cover crockpot and cook on low temperature for 6-8 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and meat to become tender and juicy.
- After cooking, carefully stir meatballs to redistribute sauce, maintaining their structural integrity.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and serve warm, either as appetizers on toothpicks or as a main course over rice or pasta, presenting a hearty and flavorful dish.
Notes
- Meat Selection Matters: Choose ground beef with 80/20 fat content for juicier, more flavorful meatballs that won’t dry out during slow cooking.
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overworking the meat mixture to prevent tough, dense meatballs by using light, careful mixing with fingers or fork.
- Sauce Customization: Swap barbecue sauce with marinara, sweet and sour sauce, or honey garlic sauce to create different flavor profiles and keep the recipe exciting.
- Diet-Friendly Modifications: Use ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for lower-fat or vegetarian versions, ensuring similar texture and cooking methods.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-8 hours
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg