These healthy Slow Cooker meatballs are veggie-packed and great for an easy, kid-friendly dinner. You can also make them in the Instant Pot! Serve them over noodles, on a sub bun or enjoy them plain!
*Post originally published September 2014. Photos & text updated Jan 2018*
Hi Friends!
I originally shared this recipe right before Squish was born, after I did a little reader survey and you guys asked for more slow cooker recipes. Fast forward three years, I did another survey and guess what? I still make these every few weeks and you guys are still asking for more slow cooker recipes. So I’m resharing this recipe with a few updates (ie adding more veggies) and I also tested them in the Instant Pot so I could give you guys directions for that as well.
Slow Cooker Meatballs
There is nothing super fancy about this recipe. It’s basically just meatballs, except they’re cooked in the crockpot so it’s hands off once you get them in there. I also added some extra veggies because that’s never a bad idea! Once they’re cooked you can serve them over spaghetti, on a bun for a meatball sub, or eat them with just the sauce!
Here’s how you make them:
PrintCrockpot Meatballs
These Crockpot meatballs can be made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot for an easy, healthy dinner. Serve them over noodles, on a sub bun or enjoy them plain!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (or turkey)
- 2/3 cup breadcrumbs (i use panko)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup finely diced mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds or chia seeds, optional
- 2–3 large carrots, peeled and shredded
- 1 red pepper (finely diced or shredded)
- 1 (24 oz) jar tomato sauce
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except carrots, peppers and tomato sauce in a large bowl.
Mix well and form into balls.
In a hot, well-oiled pan on the stove (or using the saute function on the Instant Pot- make sure you have a thin layer of oil covering the bottom of the IP & be sure to leave the lid off), brown the meatballs on all sides. You may need to do this in batches.
If using the crockpot, add browned meatballs, plus shredded carrots and peppers and sauce to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low 4-6 hours.
If using the Instant Pot, remove all the browned meatballs, add a tiny bit of water or broth and scrape up any large brown bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan. Add sauce and shredded veggies, then add meatballs and stir to combine. Use the manual (or pressure cook) button and cook for 10 minutes. Use the quick release and check to make sure internal temp of meatballs is 165 degrees F.
Notes
Always add about 1/4 cup water to the jar of sauce, put the lid on, shake and then add to ensure you get all the sauce out of the jar!
Easy enough, right? The hemp or seeds are optional but add a nice little nutritional boost and you can’t taste them. The carrots and peppers should get nice and sauce and pretty much blend into the sauce. Neither of my kids notice the mushrooms in these.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Enjoy veggie-packed meatballs in the slow cooker or instant pot for a simple, healthy dinner.” quote=”Enjoy veggie-packed meatballs in the slow cooker or instant pot for a simple, healthy dinner.”]
I make 12-16 meatballs but you can make yours whatever size you want. Just keep in mind that smaller will cook faster and you want them all to be similarly sized so they cook evenly.
If you like meatballs like we do, be sure to also check out these Paleo Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs and these Thai Chicken Meatballs.
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
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YES. Pinning and making them. I love recipes with ground beef!
you and hubby both!
Can you use almond meal in place of the bread crumbs? If no, is there a different substitute?
yep!
Yum this does look super easy! I love crockpot meals! I bet you could use Italian style breadcrumbs and not add the spices, but it probably has more salt that way, right?
i bet the salt would be about the same. would depend on the breadcrumbs…some can be loaded with sodium.
I remember making something like this for a work get together. I love how easy, most crockpot recipes are. Thanks for sharing this Lindsay!
Pinned this one Lindsay! The hemp seeds will have to be optional for me – I think they are still illegal in Australia…
Thanks Nina! I think they’ll be good either way 🙂
Every mom loves a good crockpot recipe. Anything to make dinner easier. 🙂 I’ve never tried meatballs in the crockpot–that totally needs to change.
definitely try it out!
I’m always looking for a good crockpot meal. Yum!
Yay, and just in time for meatball season! Love this warm and wonderful idea – pinning for some crockpot deliciousness!
Thanks Kate!
These look delicious!! I can’t wait to try them
LOVE the hemp seeds added into these! I make a lot of turkey balls – but NEVER ever thought of adding hemp seeds to them – what an awesome nutritional boost!
yes! and so easy to toss in there!
Yayy! 😀 Crockpot recipes + protein! Probably my favorite combination, hehehe.
double win!
I love crockpot recipes, and I have a feeling once the babies arrive, my crockpot will be on overdrive! 😉 These meatballs sound great! Do you think they would work well with ground turkey meat instead of beef?
yep i think it should work just fine
I love meatballs and I love crock pot recipes. Done and done!
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It’s a cool morning here in Omaha, and these sound awesome! 🙂
Crock pot recipes are genius – LOVE any way to save time, haha!
me too 🙂 love mine so much!
Maybe I can sneak some hemp into my kids food this way 🙂
woohoo!
I so need a crock pot!!! Love the recipe!
definitely one of my favorite kitchen appliances!
Hey Lindsay! Thanks for the recipe!
I’ve been wanting to use crock pot more…but recently am trying out the meatless ways…oh dear haha. Thanks for caring what we want to read!
lots of great meatless crockpot recipes out there too!
Meatballs are weirdly one of my favorite foods. I can’t wait to make these! I’ve been relying more on the crockpot lately since I’m out 9 am to 10 pm on a lot of days of the week this month.
it can be a lifesaver!
Looks great! Thanks for the recipe!
Yep, definitely making these. If I’m subbing gluten free breadcrumbs do you think gf panko would be okay or should I find another gf breadcrumb option?
i think panko should be ok. or you could try ground up gluten-free oats
this is a great recipe i will sub beef with turkey though.
hope they turn out great!
I love sneaking hempseeds into meals…what a great idea!
thanks! i’m getting better at adding them to more things!
I still haven’t started using the crockpot in my apartment yet! This looks like the perfect recipe to break it in!
YES to crockpots and YES to meatballs.
#agreed 🙂
Why have I never thought to make meatballs in the crockpot!?! Genius!
Hope you give them a try!
I just pinned these… I try so hard at making meatballs and usually fail!
Hope these work out for you!
woohoo! enjoy!
Hi Lindsay, Thanks for sharing such a simple and tasty recipe. It’s funny how so many of us have a crockpot, but it always seems so hard to find a good recipe for it. This recipe is a chance for my crockpot to get out of the shelf. haha 😀
Hope you love them!
Finally made these’ and were awesome, got the 3 year old seal of approval. The meatballs were almost eaten in one night! Cooked some lentils in th extra sauce to make it stretch!
Thank you!
so glad to hear that!
Can I used fresh tomatoes? How many?
Also what do you do with the carrots? I don’t see them in the instructions.
I would not sub fresh tomatoes by themselves. You could sub a sauce made with fresh tomatoes. Carrots should be stirred in with the sauce.