Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

I am two assignments away from graduating with my B.S. in Public Health (praise God!) and my stress level is through the roof. Outside of being a full-time student, I am first and foremost a wife and mother. I enjoy making dinner for my husband and three kids. During times like this (aka final exams) I have a lot of school work and other activities going on. I am desperate for easy meal options that are both healthy and delicious. The key to doing this without skimping on nutrition and flavor is utilizing my slow cooker. I love the idea of “set it and forget it” until dinner time comes around, and I can serve it up like I’ve been standing over the stove all day. I like to call this, “Mom Magic!” This recipe is also great for when you look up at noon and realize you haven’t planned a thing for dinner (or the appetizer you intended for a get-together).

The key behind this recipe is using a freezer friendly ingredient. As I have mentioned before, I shop at Costco. I buy a 64oz bag of pre-cooked frozen turkey meatballs (approximately 50-60 meatballs). I also do this with beef as long as the price is reasonable. You are absolutely welcome to make turkey meatballs from scratch, cook them, and freeze them for later use. I do that too when I am on a serious prep-wagon and meat is on sale. I like turkey meatballs because they are low fat, low sodium, high protein, and low carb. They aren’t overly flavorful either (the only time I’m happy about that), so they go well with any type of sauce or gravy you choose to pair them with. They can be used as appetizers or the main star of your meal. Now, moving along to the good stuff!

Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

You will need:

~25-30 frozen pre-cooked turkey meatballs (each should be about the size of a golf ball if you’re making them from scratch)
For the sauce (aka best sauce ever!)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (liquid aminos works here too)
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
non-stick spray (I use canola oil spray)
6qt slow cooker with high and low settings

To start, plug in your slow cooker and give it a good spray with non-stick spray. If you prefer to use slow cooker liners, go for it!

Next up, place the frozen turkey meatballs into the bottom of the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, add in all of the ingredients for the sauce and stir until well combined. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and give everything a good stir until all of the meatballs are coated. Put the slow cooker lid on and cook on low for 3 hours, or until the meatballs are heated through. Each slow cooker heats a bit differently, so check them at 3 hours and make the call. Once the time is up, give everything a stir to make sure all of the meatballs are coated in the sauce. It should smell pretty amazing at this point. If you are serving this as a main meal, you can pair it with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, egg noodles, rice, etc. If you’re serving this as an appetizer, just place some cocktail picks or forks next to the slow cooker and let people help themselves. I have cooked the whole batch of meatballs before for a party (approx 50-60 meatballs) and just doubled the sauce recipe to accommodate for more meat.

I hope you love this recipe! It is a big hit with my entire family. The sauce is simply amazing. It might be a strange list of ingredients, but once cooked together- you really can’t beat it. The slow cooker really helps me out when my end goal is to get everyone together for a hot meal at the table. The time I get to spend with my family is priceless.

Please pray for me, and my family’s patience (ha), as I get through these next two weeks of school. This has been an uphill climb, and I am so happy to be (nearly) done. We are also preparing to move across the country, welcome a new baby into this world, and start life in a brand new city. As always, thank you for your support. If you don’t already- give me a follow over on Instagram @thecatholickitchen.

Lots of love and many blessings,

Chelsea

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to Jesus,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”