Hey, friends!
This is the first post in a new series I’m running, called “Sunday Dinner”. Every week I’ll be sharing ideas for your family’s big meal. Of course it doesn’t have to be served on Sunday…but you get the idea!
I don’t know about you, but when I think “family meal”, my immediate reaction is “pasta”. And then I get all happy and giddy and maybe a little too excited since, after all, it’s just food we’re talking about here. But sitting down to a bowl of spaghetti and a glass of wine…it warms my soul.
I stay busy on the weekend, as I’m sure most of you do as well. It’s all fine and wonderful to imagine a lazy Sunday full of pancakes and jammies all day and reading the comics (does anyone do that anymore?). The reality can be the total opposite – errands, sports, chores…life never stops.
This is why your crock pot doesn’t have to be put away on the weekend! That lifesaving appliance which works magic during the week when you’re just.too.busy. to stand over the stove can be your best friend on a crazy Sunday as well.
I shared this recipe for meatballs a while back. Normally I’ll pop the raw meat in the oven and let them cook for around a half hour, then drop them into the sauce to simmer for a while on the stove. Lately I’ve wondered if the meatballs would cook just as well in the crock pot. So I gave it a try.
And I’m soooo glad I did! This hands-off method was a dream. Just cover the meat with your favorite sauce (and, if you’re anything like me, your favorite herbs because you just can’t leave well enough alone). Then set the cook time – I went with 4 hours on “high”, then 4 on “low” to keep them simmering, but 8 on “low” would work just as well.
The meat broke down a little bit on the outside and thickened up the sauce beautifully. The meatballs were tender and had soaked up the flavor of the sauce. And all I had to do was skim the fat off the top every once in a while. I admit, I was worried that the lack of browning would result in mushy meatballs, but my fears were completely unfounded.
This method was just perfect since I was having my family over for dinner that evening and I needed time to clean the place up a bit beforehand. Then I had the time to sit and relax for a while – which is a miracle in and of itself.
I served my meatballs with spaghetti, salad and bread. Of course I poured myself a glass of wine as well. Obviously.
And then I froze the rest in batches because…did you see how many I made in that crock? Um, a lot! They come in handy on weeknights when I just can’t be bothered to do much more than nuke something.
What’s YOUR idea of Sunday Dinner?
Sharing with CraftOManic, It’s So Very Cheri, Making The World Cuter, C.R.A.F.T., The Girl Creative, Add a Pinch, Mrs. Happy Homemaker, Home Savvy A to Z, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Everything Under the Moon, The Southern Institute, A Southern Fairytale, Mad in Crafts, Skip To My Lou, Delightfully Dowling, Lines Across My Face, Ladybug Blessings, Tip Junkie, Home Stories A to Z, Giggles, Glitz & Glam, Raising 4 Princesses, All The Small Stuff, Sugar Bee Crafts, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Chef in Training, I’m Topsy Turvy, Not Just a Housewife, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Hope Studios, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Funky Polkadot Giraffe, 33 Shades of Green, The Shady Porch, Lady Behind The Curtain, Sugar and Dots, Trendy Treehouse, Newlyweds, This Chick Cooks, Junk In Their Trunk, A Turtle’s Life For Me, Bear Rabbit Bear, Delightful Order, A Little Nosh, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Somewhat Simple, Rattlebridge Farm, 504 Main, Simply Sweet Home, Tidy Mom, One Artsy Mama, Jennifer Cooks, Whipper Berry, Dwell On Joy, The Country Cook, Tatertots and Jello
This looks delicious!! You should join my friend Erica’s new Sunday link up called what’s Cooking! We all link up recipes that could be great for the next week… Come join us! ezperry.blogspot.com
I assumed meatballs had to be browned too, so I hardly ever make them. This is TERRIBLY EXCITING for me, Jen! (try not to judge)
Believe me, this is a judgement-free zone!
I only make my meatballs in the crockpot. I love them that way! Plus? It’s so easy for me to cook.
I’m so glad I gave this a shot, I will never go back. Ever!
Jen! I love you! I really, really love you! I am sans kitchen for about four more weeks as my kitchen is being restored from some water damage!
I keep thinking about meatballs but without and stove or oven I wasn’t sure how to accomplish it!
I am making these tomorrow for leftovers for later in the week, too! I’d do it today, but they wouldn’t be ready for dinner!
Woo hoo!
And even without pasta they’d be good!
Thank you! Thank you!
Oh, Jenny, just the sight of your name in my comments makes me happy! I’m glad to have made meatballs a possibility for you again.
These look awesome!! I am definitely going to try this! Your newest follower, from craft-o-maniac monday. Hope you’ll stop by and see me too!
Thanks!! I’ll be stopping by asap!
I need to purchase a crock-pot for THIS very reason!! yummm… nothing brings a family together like a big bowl of pasta and great meatballs
Amen!
Say ‘pasta’ and I know I’ll be at the table in a flash. 
Loved this idea, saw it on Tasty Tuesday. The pretty photo made it look sooooo appetizing and your description made you jump off the page!
Love the food styling of the meatballs perched on top of the twisted up noodles! Won’t you come share this at my link party Friday? http://www.dwellonjoy.com/2012/01/dwell-on-fridays-two.html
Hope to see you there!
Thank you so, so much! I’ve followed your blog and will for sure be there.
Thank you for yet another reason to love my crockpot! I am going to do this! PS, I found you from your link party with A Turtle’s Life for Me.
Thanks for coming over!
You should do it – it’s so worth it.
I’m with you, Jen! I think the meatballs are actually more tender & juicy. I discovered this method a long time ago in a newspaper article.
They really are more tender this way, you’re right!
I made meatballs in the crockpot once and they came out great!! I’ve now made baked meatballs twice and again they came out great. We love them over rice so all the sauce drips into the rice. Yum!!
Ooooh saucy rice – love it!
That is a GENIUS idea!
Stopping by from Mouthwatering Monday.
Thanks! And thanks for stopping by!
sitting down to a bowl of spaghetti and a glass of wine… warms MY soul!! It’s meant to be
Yes!!
Not much in life makes me happier, I can honestly say.
I love crockpot recipes!! And our family is crazy about meatballs. Thanks for sharing this at Shine on Fridays!
Thank YOU!