SLOW COOKER MEATBALLS

These slow cooker meatballs are Italian style and made with ground beef, parmesan cheese, herbs and spices. They’re slow simmered to tender perfection in the crock pot and are perfect served over spaghetti or as a hearty appetizer. Cook Time4 hours 10 minutes Total Time4 hours 25 minutes Servings 6 Calories 364kcal Author: Sara Welch INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pounds ground beef I use 90% lean 3/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley plus more for serving 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 cup minced onion 1 egg 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for serving 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper cooking spray 28 ounce jar marinara sauce 16 ounce can crushed tomatoes 15 ounce can tomato sauce INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the broiler. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the ground beef, breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, onion, egg, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined. If it’s hard to get everything to mix together, add a little water, a teaspoon at a time until a smooth mixture forms. Shape the meat into 1 inch meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Broil the meatballs until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Place the meatballs in the slow cooker. Add the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce and stir gently to combine. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. Top the meatballs with a sprinkling of parsley and parmesan cheese, then serve. NUTRITION Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 622mg | Potassium: 1309mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1160IU | Vitamin C: 21.6mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 6.5mg