Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Stew
This healthy and easy Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Stew will please every member of your family!
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Keyword italian meatballs, slow cooker italian meatball stew, slow cooker meatballs
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings
6
cups
Calories 206 kcal
Author Blair
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
list of 8 items
1 lb. extra lean ground beef (use at least 96% lean meat, since you will not drain the fat once it's cooked)
1/3 cup Italian style seasoned breadcrumbs
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon pepper
list end
For the Stew:
list of 10 items
2 carrots, peeled and sliced into bite-sized rounds
6 ounces tomato paste
2 cups beef broth, plus additional (to thin to desired consistency, as needed)
½ cup marinara sauce
1 teaspoon seasoned salt such as Lawry’s
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon basil
1 (10.8 ounce) package frozen Italian-style vegetables (I used Birds Eye Steamfresh Italian Blend)
Optional, for serving: cooked pasta or rice
Optional garnish: fresh parsley; fresh basil
list end
Instructions
list of 6 items
1. Place carrots in bottom of slow cooker.
2. In a large bowl, use hands or a fork to gently combine meatball ingredients. Form meat mixture into 1-inch balls.
3. Place meatballs on top of carrots in the slow cooker.
4. In a separate bowl, combine tomato paste, broth, marinara, seasoned salt, oregano, and basil. Pour over meatballs.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours or on HIGH for about 2 hours. For a thinner soup rather than a stew, add extra broth until it reaches desired
consistency.
6. Steam vegetables in microwave just until crisp-tender (about 3-4 minutes). Stir vegetables into stew and serve over pasta or rice, if desired. Garnish
with fresh parsley or fresh basil.
list end
Recipe Notes
COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:
list of 7 items
• This recipe yields 6 cups of stew, which serves 3-4 people. If you're feeding a larger family, I recommend doubling all of the ingredients. The cooking
instructions remain the same.
• I used the Italian vegetables here, which include broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots and red bell pepper. You can substitute with an equal amount
of any frozen vegetables that you prefer!
• I steam the vegetables in the microwave before adding them to the meatball stew. This allows me to control the tenderness of the vegetables and prevents
overcooked, mushy veggies.
• You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken in place of the beef. Just make sure that whatever meat you use is at least 96% lean, since you will
not be draining the meat after it's cooked. You don't want any extra grease in your stew.
• Use your hands or a fork to gently combine the beef mixture, being careful not to over-mix (that will result in a tough, dry meatball).
• This is a thick stew with minimal broth. If you want a thinner consistency so that it's more like a soup, just add extra beef broth at the end.
• I serve my kids' stew over pasta or rice, which they love.
list end
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Stew
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 206 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 75mg 25%
Sodium 1318mg 55%
Potassium 1032mg 29%
Total Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 6g
Protein 23g 46%
Vitamin A 86%
Vitamin C 65.9%
Calcium 9.3%
Iron 20.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
From the seasoned mom
_._,_._,_
This healthy and easy Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Stew will please every member of your family!
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Keyword italian meatballs, slow cooker italian meatball stew, slow cooker meatballs
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings
6
cups
Calories 206 kcal
Author Blair
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
list of 8 items
1 lb. extra lean ground beef (use at least 96% lean meat, since you will not drain the fat once it's cooked)
1/3 cup Italian style seasoned breadcrumbs
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon pepper
list end
For the Stew:
list of 10 items
2 carrots, peeled and sliced into bite-sized rounds
6 ounces tomato paste
2 cups beef broth, plus additional (to thin to desired consistency, as needed)
½ cup marinara sauce
1 teaspoon seasoned salt such as Lawry’s
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon basil
1 (10.8 ounce) package frozen Italian-style vegetables (I used Birds Eye Steamfresh Italian Blend)
Optional, for serving: cooked pasta or rice
Optional garnish: fresh parsley; fresh basil
list end
Instructions
list of 6 items
1. Place carrots in bottom of slow cooker.
2. In a large bowl, use hands or a fork to gently combine meatball ingredients. Form meat mixture into 1-inch balls.
3. Place meatballs on top of carrots in the slow cooker.
4. In a separate bowl, combine tomato paste, broth, marinara, seasoned salt, oregano, and basil. Pour over meatballs.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours or on HIGH for about 2 hours. For a thinner soup rather than a stew, add extra broth until it reaches desired
consistency.
6. Steam vegetables in microwave just until crisp-tender (about 3-4 minutes). Stir vegetables into stew and serve over pasta or rice, if desired. Garnish
with fresh parsley or fresh basil.
list end
Recipe Notes
COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:
list of 7 items
• This recipe yields 6 cups of stew, which serves 3-4 people. If you're feeding a larger family, I recommend doubling all of the ingredients. The cooking
instructions remain the same.
• I used the Italian vegetables here, which include broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots and red bell pepper. You can substitute with an equal amount
of any frozen vegetables that you prefer!
• I steam the vegetables in the microwave before adding them to the meatball stew. This allows me to control the tenderness of the vegetables and prevents
overcooked, mushy veggies.
• You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken in place of the beef. Just make sure that whatever meat you use is at least 96% lean, since you will
not be draining the meat after it's cooked. You don't want any extra grease in your stew.
• Use your hands or a fork to gently combine the beef mixture, being careful not to over-mix (that will result in a tough, dry meatball).
• This is a thick stew with minimal broth. If you want a thinner consistency so that it's more like a soup, just add extra beef broth at the end.
• I serve my kids' stew over pasta or rice, which they love.
list end
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Stew
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 206 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 75mg 25%
Sodium 1318mg 55%
Potassium 1032mg 29%
Total Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 6g
Protein 23g 46%
Vitamin A 86%
Vitamin C 65.9%
Calcium 9.3%
Iron 20.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
From the seasoned mom
_._,_._,_
