These Crockpot Italian Sausage Meatballs are a delicious homemade meal that goes great with spaghetti. Cook them in the crock pot and go about your day, until you’re ready to enjoy an easy dinner.
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Tips for Cooking Meat in a Crock Pot
When you use a crock pot, make sure not to overfill it. It’s best to have your crock pot three-fourths full so it doesn’t bubble over. Even though it’s tempting to check on your meal, you also don’t want to open the lid of your crock pot while it’s cooking, as this will allow heat to escape. A meat thermometer will allow you to tell if it’s cooking at the right temperature.
Why This Italian Sausage Meatball Recipe is a Keeper
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for homemade meatballs can likely be found in your kitchen or local grocery store. Remove casing from sausage if necessary.
- Family Friendly: Your family is sure to love spaghetti and meatballs using this easy recipe.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Meatballs are great for dinner or as an appetizer. Leftover meatballs are delicious in a sub or hoagie, with gnocchi or pasta, or on their own.
Why are my Meatballs Tough?
Lifting the lid of the crock pot or overcooking the meatballs may cause them to become tough. While these delicious sausage meatballs may take a while to make, you’ll have to be patient to make sure they come out perfect. Making a panade will also help.
Ingredient Notes for Easy Crock Pot Meatballs
- Ground Sausage: Make this recipe for Italian sausage meatballs with sweet Italian sausage. You can use spicy Italian pork sausage if you want. Combine them with ground beef and pork rinds to make the meatballs.
- Italian Seasoning: To season the meatballs, check out our Italian seasoning recipe.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Grate fresh parmesan cheese from a block for best taste.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions and Ways to Cook Easy Italian Sausage Meatballs
- Tomato Sauce: Instead of the tomato sauce recipe provided with these crock pot meatballs, try using our marinara sauce recipe.
- Baked Meatballs in the Oven: If you don’t have a crock pot, you can make meatballs in the oven to bake with a sheet pan and parchment paper, or make them on the stovetop.
- Different Meats: The best meatballs are so versatile and can be made with different kinds of ground meat. I have used hot Italian sausage, pork meatballs, lean ground beef, or use sweet Italian sausage.
Special Equipment Needed for Sausage Recipe Made in the Crock Pot
- Crockpot: Use a crockpot for making Italian sausage meatballs. You can also use an instant pot, slow cooker, or Dutch oven.
How to Make Crockpot Italian Sausage Meatballs
These are the basic steps for making crockpot Italian ground sausage meatballs. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions and follow me on Pinterest for more. We love reader interaction. Leave us your thoughts below.
Step 1: Shape the Meatballs
Add the meat together to a mixing bowl, and knead until well combined. Form the sausage mixture into evenly sized 2-3 inch round meatballs on a baking sheet.
Step 2: Sear
Heat the two tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sear the meatballs on all sides, and place into the bottom of the crockpot.
Step 3: Sautee Onions and Cook
Melt the butter in another skillet, and sauté the onions until softened. Add the finely chopped onion and remaining sauce ingredients to a bowl, and spoon over the meatballs in the crock pot. Place the lid on the crock pot and cook on high for 3 hours. Cover in your favorite sauce and serve, or cover them in a flavorful basil pesto.
Homemade Italian Meatball FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Crock Pot Pork Meatballs
- Jar Sauce: Short on time? Tomato sauce from a jar works fine.
- Different Seasonings: Try using different seasonings for your meatballs, such as garlic salt or red pepper flakes. Or whatever your personal taste.
- Different Cheese: Instead of parmesan cheese, you can use Romano or Pecorino for the Italian sausage meatballs.
- Sausage: Try this recipe with different varieties of sausage meat. You can use sweet sausage, hot Italian sausage, or mild Italian sausage. Additionally, you can make ground turkey or pork sausage meatballs.
- Cocktail Size: If you have a party coming up, you can make these into cocktail meatballs by making them smaller.
- Breadcrumbs: Try covering these delicious meatballs in panko bread crumbs for a different texture to the Italian sausage meatballs.
- Parsley: Garnish these tender meatballs with fresh parsley, or use oregano instead of parsley if you don’t have any.
What to Serve with Italian Pork Sausage Meatballs
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Crockpot Italian Sausage Meatballs
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Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 ½ pounds Italian Sausage, Natural Ground
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 Large Egg
- ½ cup Pork Rinds, Crushed
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- ½ teaspoon Basil
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ¼ teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
Sauce
- 15 ounces Crushed Tomatoes, no added sugar
- ½ cup Broth
- ½ teaspoon Basil
- ½ teaspoon Oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Rosemary
- 2 teaspoons Confectioners sugar
- 2 teaspoon Garlic, minced
- ½ Onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoon Butter
Instructions
- Add the meatball ingredients to a bowl, and knead until well combined.
- Form the meat mixture into evenly sized 2-3 inch round meatballs.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Sear the meatballs on all sides, and place into the bottom of the crock pot.
- Melt the butter in another skillet, and saute the onions until softened.
- Add the onions and remaining sauce ingredients to a bowl, and spoon over the meatballs in the crock pot.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours.
Christina’s Notes
- Jar Sauce: Short on time? Tomato sauce from a jar works fine.
- Different Seasonings: Try using different seasonings for your meatballs, such as garlic salt or red pepper flakes. Or whatever your personal taste.
- Different Cheese: Instead of parmesan cheese, you can use Romano or Pecorino.
- Sausage: Try this recipe with different varieties of sausage meat. You can use sweet sausage, hot Italian sausage, or mild Italian sausage. Additionally, you can make ground turkey or pork sausage meatballs.
- Cocktail Size: If you have a party coming up, you can make these into cocktail meatballs by making them smaller.
- Breadcrumbs: Try covering these delicious meatballs in panko bread crumbs for a different texture.
- Parsley: Garnish these tender meatballs with fresh parsley, or use oregano instead of parsley if you don’t have any.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.