These meatballs in a crockpot are so easy to prepare. When you return from a hard day, they can be ready for a great sandwich topped with Mozzarella cheese.
Sauce:
1 c. onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic
1-2 T. pouch Hunt's Recipe Ready Tomato Paste
2-28 oz. cans Hunt's Crushed Tomatoes
2 t. salt
1 t. pepper
2 t. dried basil
2 t. dried parsley
2 t. dried oregano
Meatballs:
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. breadcrumbs
2 eggs, beaten
1 t. salt
1/2 t. black pepper
3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c. finely minced Italian parsley
1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage
1/2 c. onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
Meatball sandwich:
6 - 8 sub rolls, sliced horizontally
Mozzarella slices - 2 slices per sandwich
Optional: chopped parsley, for garnish
Sauce:
Line a crockpot with a crockpot liner for easy clean up. Combine all ingredients in the crock of the crockpot; carefully stir; cover; set crockpot to High.
Meatballs:
in a small bowl, stir together breadcrumbs and milk; set aside.
In another bowl, stir together eggs, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese and parsley; add ground beef and sausage; mix; add breadcrumbs, onion and garlic; mix until just combined, without over mixing, to avoid making the meatballs tough.
Form a meatball from 1/3 c. meat mixture; place on a baking sheet; repeat with remaining meat mixture.
Place meatballs in the sauce in the crockpot; cook on Low 7 - 8 hours or on High 4 - 6 hours.
Meatball sandwich:
Preheat oven to broil.
Spread sauce from crockpot on the inside of each sub roll; place 3 - 4 meatballs inside the roll to fit the roll; drizzle with more sauce; cover the tops of the meatballs with Mozzarella cheese slices.
Broil sandwiches until cheese is melted.
Serve, topped with chopped parsley, if desired.
Makes 6-8 sandwiches.