Go Back
Print

Classic Italian Meatballs

Classic 80/20, melt in your mouth Italian meatballs.
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Beef, Creamy Pasta, Meatballs
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings 5 people

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 1/2 lb ground beef 80/20
  • 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs unseasoned
  • 2/3 cup ricotta whole milk
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 4 cloves garlic grated or minced finely
  • 1 medium onion grated then chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 3 tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 1 tsp salt kosher
  • 1/4 tsp chili flakes

Sauce

  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 small yellow onion or 1/2 medium, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt kosher

Instructions

  • In a bowl combine all the meatball ingredients. Mix with your hand until combined. Do not over mix!
  • Roll out into 10-12 equally sized balls.
  • In the slow cooker combine the sauce ingredients (crushed tomatoes, garlic, yellow onion, fresh basil, and salt). Mix.
  • Lay the meatballs in the sauce (preferably in a single layer), close the lid and turn the slow cooker on low. Cook for 4 hours.