Feel like pro in the kitchen with these yummy Homemade Meatball Subs from Gooseberry Patch’s Everyday Slow Cooker! Delicious and easy to make!
Aunt Lou here.
I have only made my own meatballs one other time. but that gave me the confidence that I could try this recipe out. You not only make your own meatballs but your own sauce too! (Psst, you can do this too…then you can brag to everyone that you made your own sauce and meatballs!)
Homemade Meatball Subs
So I have a friend who learned to cook from her Italian mother. I was over at her house recently, and she had made her own alfredo sauce. I was amazed. So I can’t wait to tell her that I made not only my own meatballs but the sauce too!
The best part is that it wasn’t hard at all! I even had trouble finding tomato puree, so I took a 28 oz can of whole tomatoes in their juice and put it in my food processor. I pureed it right up! So if you are like me and live in a place that doesn’t sell it, you can still make these yummy Homemade Meatball Subs! Woohoo!
- 28 oz can tomato puree
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
- 2- 1 1/2 oz spaghetti sauce mix packets
- salt and pepper to taste
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Pour all your ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently
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Turn your heat down and simmer until it is completely blended, continue stirring frequently
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 c Italian-flavored dry bread crumbs
- 1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 T fresh parsley minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 c milk
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 t pepper
- 8 hoagie or hot dog buns split
- slices Garnish: grated Parmesan cheese mozzarella cheese
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Spray your crock pot with cooking spray
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In a large bowl, mix together all of your ingredients except for your buns and garnish
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Make 2-inch balls and place them in your crock pot
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Pour your sauce over all of your meatballs
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Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours
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Serve on buns with sauce, Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese as possible garnish
Slow Cooker Recommendation
For these delizioso Homemade Meatball Subs, I used Cera (aka my 6 Quart Crock Pot with Ceramic Coated Pot). You need some room for all your meatballs, so a 5-6 quart crock pot works well, and Cera has that awesome ceramic coating that makes clean up a snap!
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You don’t have to cook the meatballs before you put them in the crock pot??
Hi Kelly!
Nope! They cook up during the time in the crock pot! Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
That looks so good! Thanks!
Thanks Michelle! They were so good! Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
Looks delicious! I’m thinking about trying this as a make ahead freezer meal. Any ideas or tips on that?
Hi Stephanie!
I haven’t ever made it this way, but if I were to try it as a freezer meal, I would flash freeze my meatballs before putting them in a bag with the sauce.
Let us know how it turns out!
Aunt Lou
what is a spaghetti sauce mix packet?
Hi Becky!
It is a packet that would be with other mix packets (i.e. grown gravy mix, chili mix, etc). Here is a referral link to one that is similar: http://amzn.to/2hkVGMV. Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
Has any one made meatballs in the oven in a time crunch?
Hi Taylor!
Here is our oven recipe that we freeze ahead:
https://www.recipesthatcrock.com/homemade-frozen-meatballs/
Hope that helps!
I made these and found the sauce to be WAY too salty, probably because of the sodium bomb that is those two spaghetti sauce packets.
I’ve since made the meatballs and just used Costco Victoria sauce (40oz jar) and it’s awesome. And much less sodium than the packets, and all of the tomatoes (and easier)! 🙂
Hi Jenn!
I’m sorry you didn’t like it the way we did, but so glad to hear you figured out a way for your family to enjoy this recipe!
Aunt Lou