Hearty Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan Meatballs in Tomato Basil Sauce
Ingredients
For the Tomato Basil Sauce:
- 6 whole tomatoes, diced
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Chicken Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Prepare the Tomato Basil Sauce:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Let the sauce simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to thicken slightly.
2. Prepare the Chicken Meatballs:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, milk, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, dried oregano, and black pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs using your hands or a meatball scoop for uniformity.
3. Assemble and Cook in Crock Pot:
- Transfer the prepared tomato basil sauce to the crock pot. Discard the bay leaf.
- Gently place the chicken meatballs into the sauce, ensuring they are submerged.
- Cover and cook on low for PT6H (6 hours) or on high for PT3H (3 hours) until the meatballs are fully cooked and the sauce is bubbling.
4. Finishing Touches:
- Top with fresh basil leaves just before serving for an aromatic finish.
- Serve the meatballs with tomato basil sauce over pasta, with crusty bread, or as a sandwich filling.
Total Time
PT6H10M
6 hours and 10 minutes
Type of Dish
Dinner
Keywords
Crock Pot, Chicken Parmesan, Meatballs, Tomato Sauce, Basil, Slow Cooker, Comfort Food, Italian Inspired, Family Dinner, Easy Recipe
Recipe Yield
Feeds 4 adults
Calories
1,200 calories (total for entire dish)
#ComfortFood #SlowCooking #ItalianCuisine #DinnerTime #ChickenMeatballs
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