Slow cooker meatballs in tomato sauce
Soft beef meatballs that simmer in a garlicky tomato sauce all afternoon. Serve with spaghetti or mash.
- Time6 hrs 30
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.17 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the mince, breadcrumbs, egg, half the garlic, oregano and salt in a bowl with your hands. Shape into 24 balls.
- 2
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and brown the meatballs in two batches for 4 minutes until golden. Do not worry if they are not cooked through.
8 min - 3
Put the tomatoes, tomato purée, onion, remaining garlic and basil in the slow cooker with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Stir.
- 4
Lower the meatballs gently into the sauce.
- 5
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thick.
360 min - 6
Cook the spaghetti following the packet instructions, drain and serve topped with the meatballs and sauce.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.