This slow cooker Spaghetti Rings with Beef Meatballs meal is perfect for those busy nights when everyone’s hungry and you need dinner ready fast without much extra work. It uses easy pantry cans and frozen meatballs to make things simple, giving a fun, kid-friendly spin on classic spaghetti and meatballs while the slow cooker does most of the job for you.
Serve this dinner with buttery toast, garlic bread, or a light green salad to make it a full meal. For kids, try adding a little shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheese once it’s plated. For adults, a side of steamed green beans or roasted broccoli adds a nice touch without much extra effort.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) spaghetti rings in tomato sauce
- 1 bag (24 to 26 ounces) frozen raw beef meatballs
- 1 jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Spaghetti Rings with Beef Meatballs: Directions
- Get the slow cooker ready. If you’d like, spray the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with a little nonstick cooking spray so nothing sticks. Place the frozen raw beef meatballs in a flat, even layer along the bottom of the pot. There’s no need to thaw them first — they’ll cook fully in the slow cooker.
- Add the sauce and seasoning. Pour both cans of spaghetti rings right over the meatballs, spreading them out so they cover as much of the meat as possible. Next, pour the jar of pasta sauce on top and sprinkle the Italian seasoning evenly over everything. Use a spoon to gently push the sauce around so most of the meatballs are covered, but try not to stir too hard yet.
- Cook it low and slow. Put the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 2 and a half to 3 hours. You’ll know it’s done when the meatballs are fully cooked all the way through and the sauce is hot and bubbling gently around the edges.
- Melt the cheese. Scatter the shredded mozzarella evenly across the top of the dish. Put the lid back on and let it cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, just until the cheese melts and turns soft and gooey. If you like a mixed-in cheesy dish, stir it gently once the cheese has melted. If you’d rather have a cheesy top layer like a casserole, just leave it as is.
- Serve and enjoy. Scoop the warm spaghetti rings and meatballs into bowls and serve right away while everything is hot. Feel free to add a little extra shredded cheese on top for good measure.