Who doesn’t love pasta, right? My kids would eat it everyday of the week if they could. If you haven’t tried making spaghetti and meatballs in the crock-pot we suggest you give it a try. We have a recipe you will for sure love for spaghetti and meatballs! This is especially great for when your day is jam packed with work, kids, or errands, and you just want dinner ready at dinner time without the hard work of making it.
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Here's what's in this spaghetti.
- Marinara Sauce: We like to use a store brand marinara sauce. You can always use any homemade spaghetti sauce but make sure you have enough to equal a jar of sauce.
- Spaghetti Noodles: We are always trying out different varieties of noodles. Regular, thin, and gluten free spaghetti noodles taste great in this recipe. If you use a whole box of noodles you can feed 6-8 people. A 1/2 box will feed 4 people and the noodles will not be as dry.
- Meatballs: Frozen meatballs work best for this crock pot recipe. Costco’s Kirkland Italian Frozen Meatballs give you the most bang for your buck. They are also already seasoned with delicious flavor.
- Seasonings: You are welcome to experiment with the amounts and which seasonings you want to use. We prefer basil and Italian seasoning and not too much of it because my kids aren’t big on spices.
- Cheese: Everyone has a favorite cheese topping for spaghetti but we have found American Sliced Cheese is our favorite. The kids love how it melts in chunks over the noodles. When you get a chunk of the cheesy noodles it is heaven.
How to Make Spaghetti and Meatballs
Do not cook the noodles first. The water and sauce you add in the crock pot will cook them for you.
Coat the noodles. One of the worst things about spaghetti is when the noodles stick together. To prevent this, use a baking dish coated with a thin layer of olive oil, break the noodles in half and then roll the noodles back and forth into the oil. Make sure all the noodles are coated.
Stir 1/2 way thru. Make sure to check on the noodles 1/2 way through cooking making sure that all noodles are pushed down under the sauce and water mixture. Not doing so will cause some noodles to be left uncooked.
Add cheese after plating. If you add the cheese on top of the noodles while still in the crock pot, it will melt too fast and too much and it will not taste as good. Adding cheese on the spaghetti after it is on your plate will make the cheese melt just enough to leave it thick enough for a smooth and gooey taste.
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Storage and Reheating
Storing: Make sure any left over spaghetti is stored in an air tight container and put in the refrigerator. This recipe makes enough for 4 people for at least 3 nights (depending on your serving size of course).
Reheating: Reheat this dish in the microwave till it’s desired temperature. Add a slice of cheese to the top and microwave for 16-20 seconds. Tastes just as great on day 2 and 3!
Skip the Parmesan!
I’ve always loved the taste of American sliced cheese on top of pasta. Sure, the usual cheese preference would be grated parmesan cheese or shredded mozzarella, but the taste of the American cheese just tops them. Maybe it is because it reminds me of my favorite grilled cheese sandwiches. Usually 3-4 slices of cheese will be enough to cover the top of the pot. Trust us, the melted gooeyness that sinks in between the pasta noodles is so worth it.
Spaghetti and Meatballs : Crock Pot Recipe
Cuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy10
servings14
minutes2
hours30
minutes1
hour10
minutesA quick and easy spaghetti and meatball recipe you can set and forget.
Ingredients
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 box spaghetti noodles
1 dash of Italian seasoning
1 dash of Basil
2 tbsp olive oil
12-15 frozen meatballs (we recommend Costco's Kirkland brand)
4 cups of water
4 slices of cheese (we like American cheese)
Directions
- Line Crock Pot with a Crock Pot liner (optional).
- Pour 1/4 of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the crock pot.
- Add frozen meatballs on top of the sauce.
- Add the rest of the spaghetti sauce on top of the meatballs.
- Sprinkle spices on top of sauce. Do not mix.
- Add water. Do not mix.
- In a baking dish, add olive oil.
- Break spaghetti noodles in half and roll them around in olive oil. Cover noodles completely so they do not stick together during cooking.
- Add noodles to crock pot and press them down into water so they are lightly but fully covered by the liquid.
- Cover and cook for 2.5 hours, stirring 1/2 way through. Noodles will be done when they are tender and liquid has been absorbed.
- Plate your spaghetti and top with slices of cheese. If it doesn't melt right away, you can put it in the microwave for 16-20 seconds to melt it.
Make sure to tag us @jewelsandheart on Instagram if you make this Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatball recipe. We love seeing you all make these recipes! Pin this recipe and save it for later! Use the button on the recipe card to pin it!
