Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs is an all-in-one meal! Perfect for a buffet-style meal or potluck! So easy and only 5 ingredients!
EASY CROCK POT SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS
For the longest time, I have been trying to figure out the best way to make spaghetti in a slow cooker. It took me a few tries and some were successful and others, not so much. It’s all about layering it the right way and making sure the noodles don’t come out in one big clump.
WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF CROCK POT TO USE FOR THIS RECIPE?
I definitely recommend an oval slow cooker. The deep round ones don’t allow you to spread everything out which is necessary for this recipe. A 4-6 quart oval slow cooker works great here. Want to make this in your Instant Pot? Try my INSTANT POT SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS recipe!
spaghetti sauce
water
spaghetti noodles
frozen meatballs
olive oil
Italian seasoning
minced garlic
dried basil (or fresh)
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS:
Updated to add: This recipe seems to have caused quite a lot of differing comments about the time it took to cook. After consulting with a number of recipe reviewers, we decided that the time was affected by the type of crock pot. Some crock pots heat up very quickly while others are very slow to heat. This can greatly affect the cooking time for this. So, unfortunately, I can only provide a range of cooking times for this particular recipe. It should take anywhere from 2-5 hours, depending on your slow cooker. You’ll have to use your best judgement on the time based on your particular slow cooker.
CROCK POT SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS
Print Pin RateIngredients
- 1 (24 oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 4 cups water (vegetable or beef broth can also be used)
- 1 (16 oz) (1 lb) box spaghetti
- 1 (26 oz) bag frozen meatballs (24 count)
- olive oil
Optional sauce ingredients:
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 tsp dried basil (or 2-3 leaves, fresh basil, torn)
Instructions
- In a 6 quart slow cooker, pour in jarred spaghetti sauce.
- Then add 4 cups of water. I just use the spaghetti jar and fill it up about one and half times to get 4 cups. Instead of water, try using vegetable broth or beef broth for a kick of flavor.
- Add in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and basil.
- Break the spaghetti noodles in half and put in a large ziploc bag. Coat the spaghetti noodles with a drizzle of olive oil. Close the bag and gently move the noodles around until they are all coated. Then remove noodles from bag and put noodles on top of sauce mixture and gently push them down so they are slightly in the sauce. Then top with frozen meatballs. No need to stir these in. Just put them right on top.
- Cover and cook on low for about 2-5 hours (until noodles are soft and meatballs are heated through). Then give it all a gentle stir to combine and serve!
Nutrition
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Phyllis Abramson says
Made this, turned out great! I definitely recommend making sure the noodles are spread out so enough of the sauce gets between so they don’t stick together. Grandkids loved it!
Josie Gavieres says
I can’t believe it worked but it did! My noodles broke up a bit but that was fine, Still tasted great!
Monica says
To make sure the noodles were well coated, I broke the dried noodles and half, put them in a Ziploc bag and poured oil in it. Mash the bag up until noodles are well coated.
Super easy, nice time saving recipe!
Monica says
Silly auto correct. It should say “broke the uncooked noodles in half”, and “zip the bag shut, mix the noodles around until well coated”.
Sara says
I made this for tonights dinner and my picky eater loved it. Thank you!
Jeremy says
Important tidbit don’t use angelhair pasta it will turn into mush. I did all of the instructions and cooked for two hours on low to the minute. And the angel hair turned into a mush on top… still edible but not nice to look at
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Thanks for letting us know Jeremy! I’ve had some folks telling me their are buying that quick-cook spaghetti. I think it’s called “Pronto” and are adding it about 45 minutes or so before serving.
FamilyChef says
Would this cook on low for 2 hours in a regular crockpot as well?
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Yes! 🙂
Dave says
I’m not quite sure of the time. Is it 2 hrs or 4hrs I’m confused. Trying this tonight, please reply.?
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hi Dave it’s 2 hours! 🙂
Karissa says
Yea I just put mine in and was reading the comments saying 5 hrs but the recipe says 2… also very confused…
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
It’s 2 hours. The post was updated after a few folks felt it was too long. I think that is mainly because some slow cookers can run very hot while others don’t. Start with 2 hours and go from there. Hope that helps!
Melissa says
2 hours on high or low?
Tori says
I did 2 hours and it was definitely not long enough and the sauce is pretty much water…going to let it cook a little longer and turned it up to high….disappointed so far as this sounded really good but keeping my hopes up
Amanda says
I was a dumbdumb and used angel hair pasta. Maybe you should make a note for those of us that prefer that type of noodle that it is NOT suitable for this recipe. Tasted okay, but I have a crock pot full of mush that neither of us will eat, lol.
Jennifer says
This may be a dumb question but do you mix the sauce and water? Sorry if you said it and I missed it.
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hi Jennifer! Not a dumb question at all. You are correct – mix them. 🙂
Lorraine says
Will be making this soon and sharing with my neighbors.
Judith wood says
I’m cooking now
So fingers crossed added tin tomato s with less water will check after 2/3 hours on high ..sounds good and my favourite!!
Carolyn says
Made it! It was pretty good, a little too starchy for me, only bcs you don’t get to drain the noodle water.
Hubby & 🐕 loved it though! 😋
Mandy @ South Your Mouth says
I had ZERO clues you could pasta in a crock pot like this! I am SO making this!
D. Harris says
Thank you for posting the Spaghetti recipe. And the folks who replied with results and suggestions. Added two cans of beef broth-no water, and the extra seasoning on rhe recipe to the pasta sauce. Set the Slow cooker on low for two hours. Needed about 40 min. on high setting additionally for the pasta to absorb the liquid. Gently mix and let sit for 10 min. Very tasty with Garlc Bread.
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
I appreciate your tips and tricks!!
Gwen says
Your ingredients are like mine. I use hamburger meat, cook it in the crockpot first with some water, then when it’s almost done, I separate it with a spoon or fork then add sauce and water then spaghetti broken in half then water to cover, spices, stir. I use high from start to finish, takes about 1& 1/2 hrs total. I have a fast/hot crock pot. Thanks!!
Connie says
I want to cook this for dinner tonight but not sure it will turn out right after reading all the comments. I can’t afford to waste food.
Terry says
Making this now. I have the timer set for 2 hours to check it. I added the extra ingredients and the sauce smelled fantastic even before cooking. I hope it turns out well or my sarcastic wife will give me heck If it is a bit watery at 2 hours I will heat more sauce on the stove to add..
Pamela says
Made this tonight and my family loved it. I added the extra seasoning and used beef broth + the extra 1/2 cup of liquid because it would be in for 5 hours. Turned out fine. I also used thick spaghetti (it said that on box). We will be making it again. It was so easy!
Kristine says
Making now!! So excited about this recipe!! Thank you!!!
ELIZABETH RANDALL says
This recipe turned out absolutely perfect, I set it to high for about two hours, then just warm until almost dinner. Super fast to put together!!
El says
Where has this recipe been all my life?! Sooo easy! I’m never making spaghetti & meatballs the traditional way ever again! What could be easier? All in one pot & go about your day and come back a few hours later to a nice big batch of comforting spaghetti & meatballs! I made mine with fresh turkey meatballs and also added a small can of tomato paste. I doctored up the sauce with all the spices me and my family like. And I also made sure to stir the spaghetti in the sauce to further prevent clumping before putting the meatballs on top. 3.25 hours later, Voila!!! The easiest spaghetti & meatballs I ever made in my life! Thank you for posting this recipe. Any recipe that makes life a little less time consuming is more time for the family!
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Love, love, love your tips. So helpful!! Thank you!
Loretta says
HI ,i would like to add a 8 oz pkg of sliced mushrooms and some sweet onion ,would I need to add more sauce ,water or broth ??
Tabitha Kirk says
Does anyone know if u absolutley have to put oil with noodles. Im living in hotel and wanting spaghetti however decided to use penne noodle but dont have the oil. How could i cook this so noodles get cooked n not nasty?
Yvette says
I was wondering could I cook at night and then warm it up for lunch tomorrow by turning on the crock pot on warm
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hi Yvette, that’s a good question. Spaghetti can get really goopy on you if it sits too long. You may want to use a different kind of pasta – like penne or elbow macaroni. Those tend to hold up a lot better than the spaghetti noodle. Hope that helps. 🙂
Darlene says
I will be making homemade meatballs…should I cook them first or put them into the crockpot raw?
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hi Darlene! Yes, I would cook them to almost all the way done before adding them to the crock pot. Mainly because you don’t want this dish to turn greasy.