Description
This Easy Crock Pot Spaghetti Recipe is a convenient and delicious way to enjoy classic spaghetti and meatballs with minimal prep. Simply combine sauce, frozen meatballs, water, olive oil, spaghetti noodles, and fresh herbs in your slow cooker, and let it cook for a few hours. The slow cooker ensures the noodles cook perfectly in the sauce while infusing with rich flavors, making for a comforting, hands-off meal that is perfect for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Meatballs
- 32 ounces spaghetti sauce (1 jar)
- 24 ounces frozen meatballs (do not thaw)
Other Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 ounces (1/2 package) spaghetti noodles
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped herbs (basil, oregano, and parsley)
Instructions
- Add Sauce: Pour the jar of spaghetti sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker and spread evenly to create a base layer.
- Add Meatballs: Nestle the frozen meatballs down into the spaghetti sauce, distributing them evenly. There’s no need to thaw the meatballs beforehand.
- Add Water and Olive Oil: Pour 3 cups of water over the meatballs and sauce. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the water, letting it coat the surface which helps prevent the noodles from sticking.
- Submerge Noodles: Submerge the spaghetti noodles into the water, ensuring they go through the olive oil layer and are completely under the liquid to aid even cooking and prevent sticking.
- Add Herbs: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped herbs (or 1 tablespoon dried herbs) evenly over the top of the contents.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker with a lid and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally to make sure the noodles remain separated and fully submerged.
- Final Absorption: When the noodles are al dente and excess water is mostly absorbed, optionally turn the slow cooker to HIGH for 15-20 minutes to speed up water absorption and evaporation.
- Serve: Stir everything together well and serve immediately for a comforting, hearty meal.
Notes
- Crock Pot Spaghetti is the ultimate comfort food that requires minimal prep but delivers fantastic flavor.
- Stirring occasionally during cooking prevents noodles from clumping.
- You can substitute dried herbs if fresh herbs are not available, using about half the quantity.
- Using frozen meatballs directly saves time and helps keep the dish easy and quick to prepare.
- If you prefer, increase olive oil slightly to ensure noodles don’t stick, especially if using lower-fat sauces.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 564 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1179 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 122 mg
