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Photo Credit: Elizabeth Newman

Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

15 MINPrep Time
330 MINCook Time
25Servings
(4)
by Giada De Laurentiis
Beginner
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Newman
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What makes this recipe extra easy (and mess-free) is that there's no browning the meatballs required. Once you have your meatball mixture ready, simply drop the formed balls into the sauce and let the slow cooker do its thing.

Not only do the turkey meatballs get incredibly flavorful and tender from bubbling away in the slow cooker, but the homemade sauce gets tastier and tastier by the hour. With delicious Italian ingredients like dried oregano, fresh garlic and the essential Parm rind, the low-and-slow simmering sauce becomes seriously sweet, aromatic and flavorful.

You can fully prepare this the night before - sauce, meatballs and all - then stick it in the fridge overnight. Turn the slow cooker on in the morning while you go about your day, and you'll have some perfectly tender and delicious meatballs awaiting you! Serve them with crusty bread, tossed with pasta, with roasted vegetables or even an arugula salad.
Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs
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Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

Servings

25

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

330 minutes

Image of Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. For the Sauce: In a 4 quart slow cooker, add the cans of tomato, dried oregano, salt, pepper and garlic cloves. Stir to combine and set aside.
  2. For the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, pepper, egg, and garlic. Using a wooden spoon, stir to blend. Add the ground turkey and sausage meat. Using your fingers, gently mix all the ingredients until thoroughly combined. Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop or a small ice cream scoop, form the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls (24 to 26 meatballs).
  3. Add the meatballs to the slow cooker with the tomato mixture. If you need to make a second layer of meatballs, gently press on the first layer to submerge and add the next layer on top. It's okay if they aren't fully covered in sauce.
  4. Nestle the parmesan rind into the sauce. Cover and cook for 5 hours on high. After the 5 hours, remove the cover and cook an additional 30 minutes on high to reduce the sauce slightly. Serve with freshly grated parmesan.

Nutrition

Nutrition

Nutrition Serving Size
25
per serving
Calories
98
Amount/Serving % Daily Value
Carbs
7 grams
Protein
11 grams
Fat
3 grams
Saturated Fat
1 grams
Cholestrol
36 milligrams
Sodium
314 milligrams
Fiber
1 grams
Sugar
3 grams
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6 comments

  • Author's avatar image
    SLScott - Nov 20
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    Makes an incredible sauce to go with these awesome meatballs. Hard to find turkey sausage so a few times i have used chicken sausage which absolutely works.

  • Author's avatar image
    kim meyer - Jun 09
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    Amazing and delicious, best meatballs I have ever made! I did use lean ground turkey instead of dark meat, delicious and healthy! I can't wait to share this recipe and to make it again, thank you Giada 💗

  • Author's avatar image
    SHIRLEY KANNO - Jun 09
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    For Sauce: Added some dried Basil along with Oregano, about same amount. Started sauce in slow cooker on HIGH to give it a head start, then worked on meatballs. For Meatballs: I used 2 large eggs for the amount of meat. I added 1/2 CUP of finely chopped fresh parsley. Meatballs were placed on parchment lined baking sheet as they were for,Ed and went into freezer for about 20 mins to firm up as I worried they would disintegrate in the sauce. Meatballs cooked in sauce on HIGH FOR 30 mins, then turned to LOW and cooked for about 4.5 hours. Perfectly tender, not dried out! Was a big hit all! If I wasn’t going to be present to turn down to LOW, I would start them at LOW after adding to sauce.

  • Author's avatar image
    Benay Krissel - Jun 09
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    What a crowd pleaser. I've shared this recipe with half a dozen people because everyone loves it.

  • Author's avatar image
    Aimee Davis - Jun 09

    Where can I find spicy Italian turkey sausage? Any subs? This looks amazing and I know my family would love it!

  • Author's avatar image
    Teresa Taylor - Jun 09

    Hands down one of my family's favorite slow cooker recipes — so easy and quick to make and such a delicious, warm meal to come home too.

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