Searching for the best Italian Meatballs Recipe ever? You just found it! Seasoned to perfection, drenched in marinara, and topped with piles of mozzarella, these tender meatballs are smothered with magnificent flavor! Just toss everything in your crock pot… and walk away! Serve with spaghetti or on hoagie rolls for an outrageous sub sandwich!
Italian Meatballs Recipe
You really need to try these delightfully flavorful and savory Crock Pot Italian Meatballs made with frozen meatballs!
Kimberly writes: "Made these and put on hoagie rolls with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top. Whole family, including picky kids, loved it!"
I love how you can serve up this Easy Slow Cooker Recipe so many different ways. It’s really versatile, and that makes it so easy to tweak and to personalize it based on what you’re in the mood for.
Want a meatball sub?
Want a pasta dinner with meatballs?
Craving Italian food like you can’t believe? Things are about to get really tasty!
These perfectly seasoned slow cooked Italian meatballs are so tantalizingly tender… and the rich tomato sauce is absolutely divine. I’m confident your whole family is going to love them.
My family sure did!
Just like when I made them this Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken!
So go grab your Crock Pot and let’s get the easiest dinner you’ll make all week started.
Preparing frozen meatballs in the crockpot with spaghetti sauce is as easy as it gets…
Ingredients
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make this easy Italian meatballs recipe right in your slow cooker!
Check your cupboards or pantry, or add the following to your next grocery list to make sure you’ve got everything on hand…
- Frozen Cooked Meatballs (or these Easy Homemade Meatballs)
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Tomato Pasta Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Dried Rosemary (How to Dry Rosemary)
- Dried Oregano (How to Dry Oregano)
- Dried Basil (How to Dry Basil)
That’t it. Just need 8 easy ingredients to make these tasty tender meatballs.
Like with most of my Easy Crockpot Recipes, you’ll also need a 5 – 6 quart Crock Pot to get the job done.
How Long Do I Cook Frozen Meatballs In A Crock Pot In Sauce?
For this simple meatball recipe there’s no need to thaw or pre-cook your meatballs.
Simply add the meatballs and sauce to your 5 – 6 quart Crock Pot.
Stir well, set your desired cooking temp, place the lid on top… and walk away!
If you cook on High heat, the meatballs will be done in 2 hours. If you cook on Low heat, the meatballs will be done in 4 hours.
Easy peasy!!
How to Make Italian Meatballs
It’s actually SO easy to prepare the BEST Italian meatballs recipe in your slow cooker!
Here’s what you’ll do…
1. Mix your sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Then add the meatballs and sauce mixture to crockpot, and stir well.
3. Cook the meatballs covered in crockpot per the instructions in the recipe card below.
4. When almost done, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese for the final few minutes of cooking.
5. Once done, serve them up and ENJOY!
That’s it. So easy!!
Scroll down for the printable recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Italian Meatballs Variations
No slow cooker? No problem! You can make these in your instant pot instead!
Instant Pot Italian Meatballs
1. Prepare sauce per instructions in recipe card below.
2. Add 1 cup of your sauce to Instant Pot.
3. Combine meatballs with remaining sauce in bowl and stir well.
4. Transfer saucy meatballs to instant pot, making sure to pull meatballs away from edges of Instant Pot to avoid burning.
5. Cook on ‘Manual’, ‘Low Pressure’ setting for 12 minutes.
6. Once done, naturally release pressure before removing lid.
7. Serve and ENJOY!
How To Serve Italian Meatballs
To start, try serving them on hoagie buns as Italian Meatballs Subs, or over your favorite cooked pasta.
Then.. serve your meatballs alongside some of these delicious side dish recipes to create the ultimate Italian dinner feast!
- Easy Garlic Bread and Butter Recipe
- Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread
- Homemade Bread with a side of Restaurant Style Bread Dipping Oil
- Easy Garlic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Crock Pot Easy Cheesy Cauliflower
- Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon
- Fresh Green Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing
Italian Meatball Reviews
Here’s what your frugal friends are saying about this easy Crock Pot Italian Meatballs Recipe…
Kimberly writes: “Made these and put on hoagie rolls with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top. Whole family, including picky kids, loved it!”
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Did You Enjoy This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a comment & review below!
Italian Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 26 oz. Frozen Cooked Meatballs , (use store bought or Homemade Cooked Frozen Meatballs)
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 24 oz. Classico Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce (1 jar)
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Rosemary
- 1 tsp. Oregano
- 1 tsp. Basil
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients.
- In a medium bowl, mix Classico Pasta Sauce, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano, Basil, and Rosemary.
- Add Meatballs and Sauce mixture to Crock Pot, stir well, and cook on HIGH for 2 hours, or LOW for 4 hours, covered.
- Sprinkle Mozzarella Cheese over top for final 15 – 20 minutes.
- Serve on Hoagie buns or over cooked Pasta. Enjoy!
Notes
- Prepare sauce per instructions.
- Add 1 cup of your sauce to instant pot.
- Combine meatballs with remaining sauce in bowl and stir well.
- Transfer saucy meatballs to instant pot, making sure to pull meatballs away from edges of instant pot to avoid burning.
- Cook on 'Manual', 'Low Pressure' setting for 12 minutes.
- Once done, naturally release pressure before removing lid.
- Serve and ENJOY!
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So have you tried this recipe for Crock Pot Italian Meatballs yet?
Share with us in the comments below!
I made this recipe last week for my family, and am making is again tomorrow with thawed frozen Italian meatballs. This recipe was delicious, and tasted homemade, unlike most pre-bought frozen meatballs!
I was going to make this tonight, but wanted to cook them on low from frozen, but it wouldn’t get done until after 9:30 pm and I’m out of freezer space! Should I still slow cook them on low for 4 hours thawed?
Hi Kristin ~ I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the Italian Meatballs! If cooking the pre-cooked meatballs from a thawed state, you can definitely shorten the cook time. Hope that helps!
Do you have to thaw the frozen meatballs before putting them in the crockpot?
Hi Jenna ~ no thawing is necessary… you can put them in frozen. 🙂
Your dish’s color looks so amazing! Cooking this dish on low won’t make any change in texture and flavor, will it? How long will it take to finish the dish when it’s cooked on low?
Thank you, Lita! The dishes are Fiestaware. 😉
You can definitely cook the meatballs on the LOW setting. Cook for 4 hours on LOW, then the additional 15 – 20 minutes to let the cheese melt. Enjoy!!