Description
A comforting and easy-to-make crockpot spaghetti and meatballs recipe that combines frozen meatballs, spaghetti, Italian diced tomatoes, and your favorite pasta sauce, all slow-cooked to perfection for a hearty, flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs and Broth
- 20 oz package frozen meatballs
- 3 cups beef broth
Pasta and Sauce
- 16 oz dry spaghetti
- 28 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce
- 1 can Italian style diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray to make clean-up easier and prevent sticking.
- Add Meatballs and Broth: Place the frozen meatballs at the bottom of the slow cooker, then pour the beef broth over them, ensuring they are partially submerged.
- Layer Spaghetti: Break the dry spaghetti into smaller pieces if needed and arrange them in a crisscross pattern on top of the meatballs. This helps prevent the pasta from clumping together while cooking.
- Add Tomatoes and Sauce: Pour the Italian style diced tomatoes and your favorite pasta sauce evenly over the spaghetti layer. Stir gently if needed to ensure the pasta is fully covered by the liquid and sauce mixture.
- Cook: Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. After cooking, stir the pasta and meatballs together to evenly combine all ingredients.
- Rest and Serve: Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow any excess liquid to be absorbed. Serve garnished with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Breaking the spaghetti in a crisscross pattern prevents it from sticking together during slow cooking.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, let the crockpot sit uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking to reduce excess liquid.
- You can substitute beef broth with vegetable broth if desired.
- Frozen meatballs do not need to be thawed before adding to the slow cooker.
- For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the sauce before cooking.
- This dish pairs well with a side salad or garlic bread.
