This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see the disclosure for more information.
We spent a week in a condo on fabulous Tybee Island, Georgia not long ago. I wanted to maximize our time on the beach, which meant that I wanted meals that I could prepare with minimal effort and time. Slow cooker spaghetti and meatballs was the perfect choice. And it was mighty tasty too. Yummy meatballs in a flavorful sauce, with the pasta already mixed in. It really doesn’t get any easier.
Add Some Kick If You Want
I always like a little kick in my pasta dishes, whether they’re from the slow cooker or not, so I added a bit of red pepper flakes. You can leave them out if you like. I don’t go crazy with it. But I just want that little ‘something’ that wakes things up a bit.
You can make this dish as cheap or as expensive as you want. No-name meatballs and store-brand sauce are fine. Or use the ‘good stuff’. Totally up to you. Use what you like or what works for you.
Don’t Ask About My Cheese
Ok, I was on an island trip. And I admit it, I packed quick. And cheap. And that meant I grabbed a can of that Parmesan cheese. Oh you know the one. Some folks poo-poo them. But I will argue they more than have a place. And one of those places is on vacation, on an island, wanting to maximum my time on the beach. Not maximize my time grating a big block of Parmesan cheese I had to make sure I kept cold in my cooler on the 6 hour drive. And you know what? The dish came out great.
You can use fresh or ‘that can’. I sure as heck ain’t gonna tell you otherwise!
- Generous Capacity: 7-quart slow cooker that…
- Cooking Flexibility: High or low slow cooking…
The perfect side dish for this dish? My gotta-have-it garlic bread. And ya gotta also try my slow cooker ravioli lasagna and my baked spaghetti and meatballs. My stuffed pasta shells ain’t nothin’ to shake a stick at either!
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 24 ounce frozen meatballs
- 1 24 ounce spaghetti sauce
- 1 48 ounce beef broth
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried red pepper flake
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese plus more for serving, freshly grated
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta broken into 1 1/2″ pieces
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for the pasta into a slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 4 hours, stirring every hour or so.
- Add the broken pasta, stir, and cook another 20 minutes.
- Serve with additional Parmesan cheese for topping.
Notes
Nutrition
- Package Includes: Six (6) Reynolds Kitchens Slow…
- Easy Cleanup: These strong, reliable slow cooker…
Can you double this recipe in one crockpot
You can but as its written it totally fills up our crockpot which is a 5-quart. Just eyeballing the ingredients there’s at least 12 cups plus the pasta and it and the meatballs will expand. You’d want to make sure yours can handle at least twice that before committing. I’m not sure they even make crockpots that big. In a pinch you could cut back on the broth to make less.
Hope that helps. Regards,
Mike