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Italian Meatballs
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Italian Meatballs

Italian Meatballs are packed with traditional Italian flavors and slow-cooked to perfection. Serve in a sandwich or with your favorite pasta.
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword meatballs
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 25 minutes
Servings 12 sandwiches
Calories 371kcal

Equipment

  • slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 pound Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 3 eggs slightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons minced onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper
  • 48 ounces marinara sauce 2 jars

Serving Option

12 sub sandwich rolls, sliced

2 cups shredded mozzarella

Instructions

Meatballs

  • Prepare a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, work the ground beef and Italian sausage together with your hands until combined.
  • Add the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, eggs, minced onion, garlic, parsley, and seasonings. Mix until completely combined.
  • Shape the meat into 36 meatballs.
  • Pour a small amount of the marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Add a layer of uncooked meatballs and then pour more marinara sauce over the meatballs.
  • Then add the remaining meatballs and top with the remaining marinara sauce.
  • Place the lid on and cook low for 6 to 8 hours.

SERVE

  • Scoop three meatballs into each sub roll and top with mozzarella cheese.
  • If desired, place the sandwiches into a casserole dish and broil in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
  • Serve with the marinara sauce.

FREEZE

  • Mix the meatballs as directed and freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, they can be transferred to a zip-top bag for space-saving.
  • Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before placing them in the slow cooker with the marinara sauce as instructed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 1270mg | Potassium: 778mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 4mg | Net Carbohydrates: 15g