There are times when you finally figure out that you’re in a bit of a food rut. Coincidentally, this usually happens when you have neither the time nor the mental energy to find and try something completely new to knock yourself out of said rut.
Enter: Old recipes you know you like that are pretty easy to pull together. Namely, Slow Cooker Cheese Stuffed Meatballs. My original write up is linked, but if you want the newer format, please have a look below!
Slow Cooker Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- Foil lined cookie sheet
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- ¼ c Parmesan cheese finely grated
- 1 c Italian breadcrumbs
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ tsp Italian Herbs seasoning
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella divided into 12 pieces
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 24-oz jars prepared marinara sauce
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, pork, Parmesan, eggs, salt, pepper, and seasoning. Add breadcrumbs ½ cup at a time until the mixture is not too wet and can be formed into balls easily. Form 12 balls, and place onto prepared cookie sheet
- For each of the balls, press a hole into the center. add the mozzarella into the hole, then close it by pressing the meatball mixture around the cheese.
- Heat a large saute pan over medium heat, and drizzle olive oil into it. When the oil is shimmering, add meatballs and cook until just browned (not that depending on the size of your pan, you may need to do this in batches). Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the meatballs into the slow cooker.
- Pour marinara sauce over the browned meatballs, then set the slow cooker to low, and cook for 5 hours.
- Enjoy over pasta or on their own!
MM and I have been eating a lot of the same meals over the last number of weeks, purely out of necessity. The aforementioned busy part of our jobs, and the sheer lack of energy to do anything new. Add in some travel and some mild sickness (colds are the WORST), and you’re bound to do the same things over and over again, right?
I’ve shared this meatball recipe, as well as the Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy recipe, with you before, but why not go back to an oldie but goodie?
What about you? What have you recently revisited in your kitchen, hobbies, or life?