A delicious meal made entirely in the crock pot! These Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs are perfect for family dinners.
Everything is cooked right in the crock pot, including the pasta!
Slow cooker dinner
Dinner has never been easier! Using your crockpot or slow cooker makes a delicious meal with very little effort.
Everything is cooked right in your slow cooker, even the pasta! And you can make this with convenience foods, like frozen meatballs and purchased marinara sauce or your can use your own homemade meatballs and your own sauce. The choice is all yours!
You simply layer in the cooked, frozen meatballs, add the sauce and some extra liquid and let it cook away.
In the last 30 minutes, you add the pasta. It cooks right in the sauce. No extra pots are needed.
If you're looking for another easy pasta dinner, try this Meatball Pasta Casserole!
Key ingredients
- Meatballs - frozen Italian-style meatballs. Use your own homemade meatballs or purchase a bag from the store.
- Marinara Sauce - or spaghetti sauce. Use your favorite brand or use a homemade recipe.
- Broth - beef broth or chicken broth. You could also use water or vegetable broth. The broth is needed to add additional flavor and to provide enough liquid for the pasta to cook.
- Pasta - Use a thick or regular spaghetti noodle. Don't use think or angel hair pasta. It won't hold up to this cooking process.
- Seasoning - Just a bit of Italian seasoning and garlic powder to amp up the flavor
Step by step directions
- Lightly spray the inside of your crock pot with a nonstick spray
- Place a layer of frozen meatballs in the bottom
- Pour marinara sauce over meatballs
- Add broth and sprinkle on seasoning
- Heat on low for 3-4 hours until everything is hot and the mixture is bubbling
- Bread spaghetti in half and add to mixture. Try to add the pasta in a crisscross pattern and not all in one direction. Give a brief stir and place the lid back on the crock pot.
- Cook for 15 minutes and give a brief stir
- Continue cooking for another 15 minutes. Taste to see if your pasta is done. If needed, let it cook for another 5-10 minutes
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of parmesan and freshly chopped basil
Recipe tips
- Feel free to adjust the number of meatballs. They come in a variety of sizes, so select the amount you need.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the type of crock pot you have
- Taste the pasta to determine when it's done. If you cook it too long, the pasta will become very soft.
- Different shapes of pasta can be used, but the cooking time will vary
Frequently asked questions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat single portions in the microwave until heated through.
Leftovers should be used within 3-4 days.
Yes, as long as your slow cooker can accommodate everything.
Serving suggestions
- Breadsticks
- Caesar salad
- Green salad with lemon vinaigrette
More crock pot recipes
- BBQ pulled pork
- Italian beef sandwiches
- Shredded Mexican chicken
- Chicken tortilla soup
- Refried beans
- Teriyaki Chicken
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my delicious main dish recipes!
Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 18 frozen meatballs (Italian style)
- 1 jar marinara sauce (approx 24 ounces)
- 2 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles (thick or regular)
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese (optional)
- ½ teaspoon fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
- Lightly spray the inside of your crock pot with a nonstick spray
- Place a layer of frozen meatballs in the bottom18 frozen meatballs
- Pour marinara sauce over meatballs1 jar marinara sauce
- Add broth and sprinkle on seasoning2 cups beef broth, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Heat on low for 3-4 hours until everything is hot and the mixture is bubbling
- Break spaghetti in half and add to mixture. Try to add pasta in a crisscross pattern and not all in one direction. Give a brief stir and place lid back on crock pot.8 ounces spaghetti noodles
- Cook for 15 minutes and give a brief stir
- Continue cooking for another 15 minutes. Taste to see if you pasta is done. If needed, let it cook for another 5-10 minutes
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of parmesan and freshly chopped basil1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon fresh basil
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the amount of meatballs. They come in a variety of sizes, so select the amount you need.
- Use regular spaghetti noodles, not thin or angel hair pasta
- Cooking time will vary depending on the type of crock pot you have
- Taste the pasta to determine when it's done. If you cook it too long, the pasta will become very soft.
- Different shapes of pasta can be used, but the cooking time will vary
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Don says
If I 3x the recipe, will it fit in an 8qt crock pot?
Kathy says
I'm afraid that might be too much for a crockpot of that size.
David @ Spiced says
Well now this is a great idea, Kathy! I love spaghetti and meatballs - you can't get much more classic comfort food that that. But then you add in the fact that it's a slow cooker meal? I'm sold! I want this for dinner tonight now!
Kathy says
Pasta is one of my favorites and this makes getting dinner on the table even easier! Enjoy 🙂
Michelle says
What a fantastic and efficient way to cook spaghetti and meatballs!
Kathy says
Thanks! It really makes a wonderful dinner!