Crockpot Marinara Alfredo Meatballs
Crockpot Marinara Alfredo Meatballs come together with just four ingredients and almost no hands-on time, the slow cooker does all the work. Serve the saucy meatballs over a big bowl of spaghetti for an easy hands-off dinner the whole family will eat.
Quick Look: Crockpot Marinara Alfredo Meatballs
Ready In: 4 hours
Serves: 6
Calories: 613 Calories
Main Ingredients: frozen meatballs, marinara, Alfredo sauce
Why You'll Love It: Crockpot Marinara Alfredo Meatballs has only 4 ingredients, is so easy to make, and is a dish the entire family will love!
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This recipe is about as low-effort as weeknight dinner gets: everything goes into the crockpot at once, and a few hours later you've got tender meatballs sitting in a rich, creamy tomato sauce. It's the same dump-and-go approach I use for my Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Meatball Subs, just with a saucier, pasta-night spin instead of a sandwich.
The marinara and Alfredo combine into a sauce that's rich without being heavy, similar to what you get in my No Boil Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta. If your family loves meatballs as much as mine does, you'll also want to check out my Slow Cooker Meatball Tortellini Soup for another easy slow cooker meatball dinner.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Only 4 ingredients - No chopping, no browning, no fuss.
- Truly hands-off - Everything goes into the crockpot at once and cooks itself.
- Great for busy nights - Start it in the morning and dinner is ready when you are.
Key Ingredients
Meatballs - the base of the recipe. Use your favorite pre-made meatballs for the easiest version of this dish.
Marinara Sauce - brings the classic tomato base and Italian flavor.
Alfredo Sauce - adds richness and creaminess that mellows out the acidity of the marinara.
Italian Seasoning - rounds everything out with a hit of dried herbs.
Please refer to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients.
Substitutions and Variations
Meatball swap - chicken or turkey meatballs both work well here if you want something lighter.
Add veggies - stir in fresh spinach during the last 30 minutes, or sautéed mushrooms before serving.
Extra cheese - top with shredded mozzarella or parmesan right before serving.
Pasta swap - serve over penne, rigatoni, or rotini instead of spaghetti.
Spice it up - a pinch of red pepper flakes adds some heat if your family likes it.
How to Make Crockpot Marinara Alfredo Meatballs
Step 1.
Add the meatballs, marinara, alfredo, and Italian seasoning to a large slow cooker.
Step 2.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve over pasta. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Stir - Give the sauce a stir partway through cooking so the marinara and Alfredo blend evenly.
Timing - Cook your pasta right before serving so it doesn't sit and get mushy while the crockpot finishes.
Slow Cooker Size - Use a 6-quart or larger crockpot so the meatballs have room to cook evenly in the sauce instead of piling up.
Quality Sauces - Pick jarred sauces you actually like on their own. With only 4 ingredients, there's nowhere for the flavor to hide.
Sauce Consistency - If the sauce is thicker than you'd like once it's done, stir in a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
Crockpot Marinara Alfredo Meatballs Recipe FAQs
You can. I would recommend cooking them fully before adding them to the slow cooker, or at least browning them on each side so they don't fall apart or become mushy.
No, this recipe is dump-and-go. Everything goes into the crockpot together.
Yes, it reheats well. Store leftovers in the fridge for a few days and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Other Cozy Crockpot Recipes to Consider
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Crockpot Marinara Alfredo Meatballs
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs meatballs
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 22 oz Alfredo sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Cooked spaghetti for serving
Instructions
- Combine the meatballs, marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, and Italian seasoning in the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Serve over cooked spaghetti.
