Slow Cooker Meatball Recipe

I've played with this recipe a few times now but seemed to have got it just right (well I think it's pretty good) and wanted to share it with you. This is perfect to pop in the slow cooker on a Sunday morning and let simmer away whilst you go about your day. I usually get at least four portions out of it so it's great to share with friends and family or pop into tupperware ready for the week ahead. You can freeze them too for another time. 

If you don't have a slow cooker you can use the same recipe but using a deep frying pan or saucepan. I'd suggest browning the meatballs in a frying pan before adding them to sauce to speed up the cooking slightly.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Ingredients

1lb lean beef mince
1/4 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 slice brown bread
1 carton tomato passata
1 carrot
5-8 medium mushrooms
2 beef oxo cubes
1 vegetable oxo cube
Worcester sauce
1/2 tsp mixed herbs
Salt and pepper for seasoning
Wholemeal spaghetti or pasta
Parmesan to serve

Method

1. Chop the onion into very small pieces, add to a bowl with the mince
2. Crush 1 garlic clove, add to the mince
3. Make breadcrumbs from the slice of bread and add to the bowl. You can either use a food processor or crumble it with your hands
4. Season the mince with salt and pepper and mixed herbs
5. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together so the onions and breadcrumbs are evenly distributed throughout the mince
6. Shape the mixture into small balls, around the size of a ping pong. You should get between 10-14 depending on how generous you are.
7. Place the balls on a plate and pop in the fridge whilst you make the sauce.
8. Add the tomato passata and a good sprinkling of worcester sauce to the slow cooker
9. Crush the second garlic clove and add to the sauce
10. Peel and chop the carrot into small slices, add to the sauce
11. Slice the mushrooms and add to the mixture
12. Crumble in the oxo cubes and stir well
13. Carefully place the meatballs into the sauce and cook on a low heat for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally
14. Serve on a bed of wholemeal spaghetti or pasta and top with a sprinkling of parmesan
15. Enjoy!