Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs & Marinara
Delicious Italian meatballs are slow cooked in a homemade marinara sauce with pasta for a scrumptious dinner that can easily feed the whole family!
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- ½ cup diced onions
- 1 lb Italian Sausage
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Marinara Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 oz diced tomatoes
- 23 oz tomato sauce, 1 (8 oz) can and 1 (15 oz) can
- 6 oz tomato paste
- ½ cup red wine
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Pasta
- 1 lb uncooked mini ravioli or other dry pasta
Instructions
Meatballs
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a large skillet, cook the diced onions 3-5 minutes.
- Combine the cooked onions, Italian sausage, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg yolk, parsley, oregano, basil, salt and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Use your hands to roll the mixture into approximately 24 mini meatballs.
- In the same skillet you cooked the diced onions, add an additional tablespoon of olive oil, bring to medium-high heat and place the meatballs in the skillet, brown on all sides, 3-5 minutes.
- Add the meatballs to a slow cooker.
Marinara Sauce
- In the same skillet, use a paper towel to whip up any grease left behind from the meatballs, then add the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the garlic, saute 1 minute, then add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, parsley, oregano, basil, salt and black pepper.
- Mix everything together and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the sauce to the slow cooker with the meatballs.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours.
Pasta
- Approximately 20 minutes before serving the meatballs and marinara, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente.
- Add to the slow cooker and toss with the meatballs and sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Serving 4gCalories 708kcal (35%)Carbohydrates 54g (18%)Protein 27g (54%)Fat 41g (63%)Saturated Fat 13g (65%)Cholesterol 131mg (44%)Sodium 2276mg (95%)Potassium 1148mg (33%)Fiber 6g (24%)Sugar 13g (14%)Vitamin A 1185mg (24%)Vitamin C 29.4mg (36%)Calcium 138mg (14%)Iron 12.6mg (70%)
Did you make this recipe?Tag @WhitneyBond on Instagram and hashtag it #WBRecipes!