Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

FAQs

Why do my meatballs fall apart in the slow cooker? ›

One disadvantage to the slow cooker is that meatballs may fall apart if you put them in the pot raw. By partially cooking the meatballs before you put them in the slow cooker, you can ensure your meatballs do not fall apart.

Simmering: You don't have to brown meatballs before adding them to a sauce, particularly if you're cooking them in a slow cooker like these Slow-Cooker Italian Meatballs.

If you cook your spaghetti sauce in the crock pot and it isn't very thick, the best option is to use the Cornstarch Slurry option. You will whisk together equal parts of cornstarch with equal amount of liquid (water) and add it to the sauce. Then you will continue cooking while your sauce thickens.

Some people like to drop the raw meatballs directly in a pot of Italian tomato sauce and let them simmer. Some people like to cook the meatballs in the oven first and then put the browned meatballs in the tomato sauce.

You want the oil to be about half a fingernail deep in the pan. Usually, I'm making meatballs with Sunday sauce. I simmer them in the sauce for 2-3 hours. The longer you simmer them, the softer they will be.

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

⏱️ Cooking raw meatballs in spaghetti sauce takes about 20-30 minutes. 🍝 Simmer them in the sauce until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). 🔥 This ensures they're thoroughly cooked and infused with delicious flavors.

Broth-based slow cooker dinners need their dry pasta added at just the right moment — add the pasta too early and your noodles will be mushy before they get to the table. Adding dry pasta 30 to 4o minutes before serving means you'll have perfectly cooked pasta in your soup.

We've been there, too, and have just the answer you've been looking for. These slow cooker dinners come together with just two ingredients — a protein and a jar of store-bought sauce — and rely on the slow cooker to do all the heavy lifting. Just drop everything in and let the slow cooker do the rest.

What is the best thickener for spaghetti sauce? ›

Add Tomato Paste

Stirring in thick, dense tomato paste is a tried-and-true way to add body to a marinara or tomato sauce. Tomato paste is concentrated tomato, sometimes with small amounts of other ingredients like salt or stabilizers, and its texture is so stiff that a spoon will stand up in it.

But too much bread crumbs make them too loose, and not enough bread crumbs won't help them hold together either. Similar issues can be caused by eggs: Too many eggs, and the meatballs will be too soggy.

Give each meatball a final roll and add them to the pot. Brown them in batches, for a few minutes on each side. They won't be cooked all the way through. Remove and set aside until the sauce is prepared, then simmer them in the sauce for 45 minutes.

Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart. Try soaking your breadcrumbs in milk for extra moisture and fluffiness.

Home Cook World notes that if your non-meat ingredients are too large, they will keep the ground meat from binding together, and your meatball will fall apart.

Use a few sheets of foil to form a divider, and place inside your slow cooker. Next, anchor one Slow Cooker Liner on each side of the divider and pour dips inside for a no-mess way to satisfy every guest at your tailgate.

If you're putting lean cuts in, you're going to get sawdust out. I can put a chuck roast in my slow cooker with nothing but aromatics and a splash of broth and after at least eight hours on low it's falling apart.