Wonderfully old-fashioned comfort food made in your slow cooker. Serves the whole family!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Author Adapted by YummyEats.com from the cookbook "Crockery Favorites" by Mable Hoffman
Ingredients
SAUCE
1mediumOnion, chopped
1largeCarrot, peeled and diced
1stalkCelery, diced
3Garlic Cloves, minced
18-ounce canTomato Sauce
214.5-ounce cans"Italian-Style" Diced Tomatoes, with juice
1/4cupdry Red Wine
1tablespoonchopped fresh Basil
1teaspoonfresh Thyme leaves(removed from stems and finely chopped)
1teaspoondried Oregano
1teaspoonWorcestershire Sauce
1/2teaspoonSalt
1/8teaspoonGround Black Pepper(or freshly ground Pepper)
MEATBALLS
1poundlean Ground Beef
1/2poundmild Italian Sausage
1/2cupseasoned dry Breadcrumbs (Italian Style)
1Egg, slightly beaten
1/4cupwhole Milk
PLUS (needed to complete your Spaghetti dish):
1pounddry Spaghetti Noodles
Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
Add all the sauce ingredients into your slow cooker and stir together well.
Place all meatball ingredients (beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, egg, milk) in a large bowl and combine together well, using your hands.
Form meatballs (about 20 to 22 of them) by rolling meat mixture between the palms of your hands to create 1-½ inch balls.
In your slow cooker, carefully place all the meatballs on top of your sauce - in a single layer to cover the top, if you can. (NOTE: I have a 5-quart Rival Crock-Pot, and the meatballs all fit in one layer if placed closely together).
Cover and cook on LOW setting for about 7 to 8 hours.
Cook spaghetti noodles and place in large pasta dish/platter. Spoon sauce and meatballs, as desired, over your cooked noodles.
Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve.
Notes
If your Italian Sausage is in a casing, remove the casing and just use the meat inside.
Cook the amount of Spaghetti noodles you need for serving - or, just make the whole package and have some leftovers.
For best flavor, be sure to use fresh Parmesan Cheese, grated directly from the block of cheese over your Spaghetti and Meatballs dish. Yay!