The next time you pick up that tempting bag of frozen meatballs at Costco or the grocery store, you'll have plenty of options for yummy meals because we have fast and easy slow-cooker meatball recipes your whole family will love. Plus, we have a few recipes for when you're in the mood for homemade meatballs, too. So dust off your slow cooker and get ready to feed the family with our delicious crockpot meatball recipes.
Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Frozen Meatballs
We love frozen meatballs — they make everything so, so, so easy. And this quick dump-it-and-go recipe means you don't have to spend much time at all, but you'll have yummy appetizers or a meal for your family (we like them in hoagie rolls topped with slaw for a quick sammie). Serves 6-8.
Ingredients
- 1 (40-ounce) package frozen meatballs
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 (16-ounce) jar of your favorite BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
Related: The Best Coleslaw Recipe
Crockpot Mushroom Frozen Meatballs
These creamy meatballs are super tasty. Spoon them on top of egg noodles or steamed rice for a delicious meal. This serves 6 to 8.
Ingredients
- 1 (40-ounce) package frozen meatballs
- 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 (32-ounce) container cream of mushroom soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water or milk
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for four hours.
- Uncover and turn the heat to high.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water or milk to form a slurry.
- Stir into the meatballs. Allow to simmer, uncovered, on high, until the gravy thickens, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes more.
Frozen Southwestern Meatballs
If it's Tex-Mex you're craving, these easy southwestern meatballs will be ready in a snap. Serve them alongside all your favorite fixings — tortillas, chopped cilantro, sliced avocado, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese — for a new take on Taco Tuesday.
Ingredients
- 1 (40-ounce) package meatballs
- 1 (15-ounce) can enchilada sauce
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced chiles, undrained
- 1 onion, chopped
Instructions
- Stir all ingredients together in a slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
Spicy Asian-Inspired Pork Meatballs
When you have a little more time, making the meatballs yourself is fun and super yummy. I love to do homemade meatballs because you can add any flavorings you want as seasonings into the meat mixture. For example, these pork meatballs are bursting with Asian-inspired flavors through and through. This makes 6 to 8 servings.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground pork
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Chinese hot mustard
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha, divided
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 egg, beaten
- 4 garlic cloves, minced, divided
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger root, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground pork, breadcrumbs, Chinese hot mustard, 1 tablespoon of the Sriracha, the cilantro, egg, two garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of the ginger root, scallions, and the salt.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them in the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, remaining two garlic cloves, remaining Sriracha, remaining tablespoon of ginger root, and the cornstarch.
- Pour over the meatballs. Cover and cook on low for eight hours or on high for four hours.
Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs
These meatballs have spicy Mediterranean flavors that make them really delicious. They are denser than other meatballs because they don't have breadcrumbs or eggs in them, but they are still packed with flavor. This makes eight appetizer servings or four main course servings.
Ingredients
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 10 garlic cloves, minced, divided
- 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh marjoram, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1½ pounds ground lamb
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- In a food processor, process the onion for one minute or until it is completely chopped.
- Wrap the onion in a tea towel and squeeze out all excess liquid. Return the onion to the food processor.
- Add eight of the garlic cloves, rosemary, marjoram, cumin, salt, pepper, and red pepper. Process until the herbs are finely chopped, about 30 seconds.
- Add the lamb. Process until the meat, herbs, and onion form a paste, one to two minutes.
- Roll the lamb mixture into 1-inch balls and place them in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for eight hours or on high for four.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, and remaining two cloves of minced garlic.
- Serve as a side sauce for the meatballs after plating them.
Saucy Italian Meatballs
Serve these on top of a bed of spaghetti for a traditional pasta dinner or use them as the filling in a meatball sub. The recipe serves six.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, divided
- 8 minced garlic cloves, divided
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt, divided
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 2 (14-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and the milk. Set aside for five minutes. This is called a panade, and it makes the meatballs moist.
- In a large bowl, combine the Italian sausage, ground beef, panade, Parmesan cheese, egg, 1 tablespoon of the Italian seasoning, four of the garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon of the sea salt, and the red pepper flakes. Mix well.
- Roll into 1-inch meatballs. Put them in the slow cooker.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, onion powder, remaining ½ teaspoon of salt, remaining tablespoon of Italian seasoning, and the remaining four garlic cloves.
- Cover and cook on low for eight hours.
- Stir in the chopped basil just before serving.
6 Reasons to Slow Cook Your Meatballs
We love how easy it is to make meatballs in the crockpot. And even though they take a few hours to cook, just think about how good your house is going to smell as they do.
