Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

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These meatballs are served in a bowl, but they are equally delicious with spaghetti or on a hoagie roll. Slideshow:  More Italian-American Classics 

By Melissa Rubel Jacobson
September 2012

Gallery

Credit: © Fredrika Stjärne

Recipe Summary

active:
25 mins
total:
4 hrs 15 mins
Yield:
6
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Using your hands, crush the tomatoes into a slow cooker and add their juices. Add the olive oil, tomato paste, basil sprig, crushed red pepper and half of the garlic. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours, until the tomato sauce is very flavorful.

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  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the ground chuck with the remaining garlic and the bread crumbs, egg, 3 tablespoons of Parmigiano-Reggiano, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Roll the mixture into 18 meatballs, being careful not to pack them too firmly.

  • Add the meatballs to the sauce. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour longer, until no trace of pink remains in the center of the meatballs. Discard the basil sprig. Add 1 tablespoon of the sliced basil to the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the meatballs into bowls, sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sliced basil and serve, passing grated cheese at the table.

Make Ahead

The cooked meatballs can be refrigerated in the sauce for up to 2 days before serving.

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