Holiday season is just around the corner, and even more than the gifts this time of year makes me think of food and family. I miss my mother and father dearly as I haven’t seen them in years (it is so difficult with them living extremely far away). Luckily, I have 2 beautiful kids that keep me busy all day, every day. They help me uphold the family traditions I grew up with myself by spending time cooking, baking and enjoying long meals together. We love bringing extended family and friends in to join our special dinners and lunches. This is something that my parents also did every Saturday or Sunday and a tradition I want to continue to uphold. We believe every meal will create special family moments around the table; it’s magical that food brings us together and closer.
While preparing meals for guests is very important, spending quality time with them is of course at least as important. This can be a tricky juggling job. My mom used to plan a barbeque and ask guests to help prepare the meals as they arrived. Everyone would get involved in prepping and had a lot of fun together. Each time it was an exciting project! This is another tradition that I want to keep going in our family.
While preparing meals for guests is very important, spending quality time with them is of course at least as important. This can be a tricky juggling job. My mom used to plan a barbeque and ask guests to help prepare the meals as they arrived. Everyone would get involved in prepping and had a lot of fun together. Each time it was an exciting project! This is another tradition that I want to keep going in our family.
It doesn't matter how much food we have or whether it’s simple or gourmet, we never want to skip a dinner at the table together. My days are hectic and time flies by so fast, I found that it really helps to follow a simple meal plan for my family. Knowing what I’m going to be cooking tonight and the next night gives me a little reassurance that I won’t have to panic about getting dinner ready. Even though I like some planning in this department, I don’t mind winging at least part of the recipes. If you have been following my page, you know that often my recipes grab just about anything I can find in the pantry. It causes less stress and makes things pretty affordable. An amazing companion for me in the kitchen has been Ragu® Pasta Sauces. It's like having my own chef, I just need to twist open a jar and add some to a dish to make it more magical.
It’s not just for pasta, either. I use it everything from sandwiches to mixing it in with eggplant and other veggies, and from seafood sauces to homemade pizzas. It works great as a dipping sauce, and when I do use it for pasta it works great as a flavorful pasta sauce on its own, and brings out great taste if I use it in a meat sauce. My kids love bread so much and I often make them a bruschetta or a baked string cheese dip with Ragu® sauce. Our favorite recipes however would be any baked pasta with veggies and meats! There’s just something about a hot cheese dish mixed with some great pasta sauce, there’s really nothing like it!
Celebrating the Magic in Mealtime - Crockpot Meatballs
Ingredients
- For Meatballs :
- 2 lbs Ground Beef
- 1 cup Bread Crumb
- ½ cup milk
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon oregano dried
- ½ tablespoon pepper
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tablespoon salt
- Crockpot :
- 1 jar Ragu® Old Word Style Traditional Sauce
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 can tomato puree
Instructions
- Mix all meatball ingredients in a bowl
- Stir together and use your bare hands to meat mixture into medium size balls
- In a slow cooker,
- In a slow cooker, place the meatballs, Ragu® sauce, crushed tomatoes, and tomato puree.
- Cook on low for 6 - 8 hours or medium for 3-4 hours
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Ragu® . The opinions and text are all mine.
patricemfoster
Mealtime is always better with family and one of out favorite use to be meatball with Ragu sauce and noodle.
tara pittman
I love Ragu sauce. I love it over pasta and veggies.
Heidi Spears-Gray
I love that ragu has so many different varieties available it's so easy to mix it up while still using a great sauce!
The L's Mum
I love tegu and i love meatballs, I can't wait to try this recipe. 🙂
You, Baby and I Blog
Can't remember the last time I ate this. It's been ages, definitely need to make some soon.
Polen
i'm not a meat person, but this looks nice and tempting! 🙂
Lexie Lane
I love that Ragu sauce! I mostly often to mixed up to pasta and veggies!
Claudette Esterine
OMG, those meatballs look soooo good!!! Must try your recipe.
Shann Eva
Yum! These look great! Pinning the recipe. Thank you for sharing it.
jeanette
You take the best pictures! This food looks SO amazing I am willing to eat my computer just to taste it! I NEED to make these. They looks outstanding!
michele wallace
Ive been looking for a crockpot recipe for meatballs so I can have them ready when I get home from work. these photos are so tantalizing I can't wait to try them!
jo
I miss cooking with crockpot and never knew I could make meatballs with them! I haven't tried cooking with Ragu ever but since you posted a really good recipe, I will! 😀
Shannon P
The slow cooker / crockpot is totally this busy mom's best friend! This is a great recipe!
lisa
This sounds amazing. I love meatballs and I love making them in my crock pot. What a great recipe.
bowen1960
I often cook meatballs in tomato sauce but had never thought of cooking them in my slow cooker. Thank for the inspiration.
Platter Talk
With a combination of Ragu, meatballs, and a slow cooker, how can you go wrong?! Wonderful post and recipe, our family will love this one!
MyCookingSecrets.com | Krystallia Giamouridou
I really like the fact that you are including parmesan cheese in your meetballs. It will definitely give this extra something to the recipe.
Jessica {Swanky Recipes}
Meatballs are a favorite in our house and the fact that they are done in the slow cooker makes them that much easier and better! Love this recipe, I'll give it a try during the week!
claudia krusch
Love the recipe and love Ragu! Can't wait to try your recipe! Yummy
Wildish Jess
I've been wanting to try making my own meatballs!
HilLesha
I don't eat meat, but this looks amazing, nonetheless! I know that my husband and children would love this.
Claudette Esterine
That's a great idea Shann, to pin it until such time!
Digna
This is a super yummy recipe! I have always been a fan of Ragu sauces!
michelle
I am very partial to Prego so I have never tired Ragu. Glad that it works out well for you. I also love the idea of having the guests help prepare the food as a way to spend time with them
Ana De Jesus
I am a vegetarian and I love Quorn meatballs with Ragu sauce, add some garlic and chillis and you are good to go!
Karla | karlaroundtheworld
I absolutely love Ragu, tried this when my aunt made a dish for me once. It was perfect for me 🙂
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
What a fabulous recipe! We love making and eating meatballs here. Your pictures are gorgeous...they're making me hungry right now. We've always loved Ragu sauce and love how convenient it is when it comes to preparing quick and delicious meals. It's great that this uses the slow cooker!
Stefanie Whelchel Cornwall
These look delicious! What a great recipe for the cooler months ahead of us! Will definitely have to give these a try!
Davey Live
Have you tried the Bold and Spicy Ragu? I like spicy meatballs, wondering if I should just get the sauce with some kick in it. Thanks.
rochkirstin
The sauce's color looks so vibrant and I'm sure it's pretty tasty. This recipe looks easy to follow and quick to make. The meatballs also look delicious and I think they are best eaten with rice.
tammileetips
I love using my slow cooker it gets used a couple times a week in my house. I love the idea of making meatballs like this, I don’t think I have made them like this before. Ragu is a great spaghetti sauce!
Mommy Levy
we don't have a slow cooker. I want to try this.. maybe I'll just fry the balls or steam it. Thanks for sharing your recipe