Slow Cooker Meatball and Tomato Sauce Sliders
I’m excited to have partnered with Tomato Wellness to share this amazing recipe. Whether you need a drool-worthy appetizer for your party or a delicious main for dinner, these Slow Cooker Meatball and Tomato Sauce Sliders are the perfect solution to your heart’s desire. They only take 15 minutes to prep and the meatballs are so easy to round up. The best part is the smell that wafts through the house as the tomato sauce and meatballs are cooking in the crock pot.
The warmth and love that comes out gets everyone excited for the feast. After the meatballs and tomato sauce are done cooking, add them to your favorite dinner roll, Hawaiian roll, or slider-type roll. I’ve used many different rolls and they are all crowd-pleasing. Another bonus is that you can use the Meatball and Tomato Sauce recipe and top it over pasta or rice or even a baked potato. It is really versatile and stands out on its own. Enjoy this 5-star recipe!
*I love using my 6-quart Stainless Steel Slow Cooker. It’s convenient, efficient, and easy-to-clean.
Check out this YouTube video on how to easily make Slow Cooker Meatball and Tomato Sauce Sliders:
- Tomato Sauce:
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 medium onion, peeled and diced
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with Italian seasoning
- 1 12-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp thyme
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt to taste
- Meatballs:
- 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 Tbsp Italian flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 large egg
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- 16 slider buns or dinner rolls
- 8 provolone cheese slices, halved
- Toppings (optional):
- Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Make the sauce. Spray a small saucepan over medium heat with the olive oil cooking spray. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- In a slow cooker, add the onion, garlic, and all other ingredients for the sauce.
- Make the meatballs. In a large mixing bowl, add the beef, panko, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, egg, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
- Gently form the meat mixture into 2-inch meatballs. Submerge them into the tomato sauce in the slow cooker in a single layer.
- Cook on High for 3.5 to 4 hours or Low for 7 to 8 hours.
- Preheat a broiler. Once the meatballs and sauce are ready, cut the buns in half but not all the way through. On a baking sheet, place 1 meatball with the sauce in the buns and top with the cheese. Broil in the oven for 2 minutes. Top with extra cheese, parsley, and red pepper flake as desired.
By: Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, NBC-HWC
For more incredible recipes using Tomato Products, check out Tomato Wellness. You can find a fabulous recipe for any occasion.
There are also a lot more recipes using Tomato Products on my site, like this Chipotle Shrimp recipe, so check them out.
**There are affiliate links in this post and I will be compensated if you buy the products using these links BUT there is no extra charge to you!
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