Slow Cooker Meatballs and Cabbage is a delicious and satisfying dish. This easy crockpot recipe features homemade meatballs, tender cabbage, and a light tomato-based sauce. It is hearty, wholesome, and perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.
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📝Shopping list
This is a list of the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe. For quantities and full preparation instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Meatballs -You can use pre-made frozen meatballs or make your own:
- Ground beef - I prefer to use lean ground beef. The leaner the beef, the less grease there will be in your final dish.
- Onion - grated (can also be pulsed in a food processor together with garlic)
- Garlic Clove - grated
- Bread Crumbs - You can use Italian or plain bread crumbs for this recipe
- Egg
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Green Cabbage
- Diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning
- onion diced
- Italian dressing/seasoning mix
- Garlic minced
- Mozzarella Cheese - shredded (optional)
- Parmesan Cheese - grated (optional)
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.
NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.
Making Homemade Meatballs
- ✔️Add all meatball ingredients to a large bowl and mix until fully combined
- ✔️Using your hands, roll the meat mixture into tablespoon-sized meatballs
Get Cooking
- 🥬 Start by slicing a head of cabbage. Set aside.
- 🥬 Next, add the rest of the ingredients to your greased slow cooker and stir to make a sauce.
- 🥬 Place your raw meatballs directly into the sauce.
- 🥬 Carefully spoon the sauce over the meatballs so they are somewhat covered
- 🥬 Add shredded cabbage into your slow cooker on top of the meatballs and sauce. Don't worry if it seems like a lot, just push it in there. The cabbage will shrink as it cooks.
- 🥬 Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours
- 🥬 After cooking, stir to mix meatballs and sauce with cabbage.
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🔁Substitution ideas
- Too lazy to make your own meatballs?? I usually am! Frozen, cooked meatballs work perfectly in this recipe. Store bought or homemade!
- This is a very mild dish. If you are a fan of spice, add red pepper flakes to turn up the heat.
- Use garlic powder and onion powder in place of fresh if that is what you have on hand.
- Ground turkey and ground chicken meatballs can be used in place of beef
- If you are a fan of a more tomato-y sauce, add a can of tomato paste or tomato sauce. They can be stirred into the other sauce ingredients at the start of cooking time.
Storing
Store leftovers of this cabbage casserole in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag. They will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator and several months in the freezer.
For best results, defrost frozen leftovers in the refrigerator overnight before gently reheating.
😉Hints & hacks
- If you are a fan of slow cooker cabbage meals, you will also love: Cabbage & Sausage, Cabbage & Ground Beef, and Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
- If you are averse to cutting onions, chopped onions are generally available in the freezer section of the grocery store. Frozen onions work very well in slow cooker recipes!
- Feeling too lazy to cut up a whole cabbage? Use a large bag of pre-cut coleslaw mix instead. This is a great way to save time on super busy days.
- This is a great dish if your people will be eating at different times. Once cooked, turn your slow cooker to the warm setting (or have it automatically switch if you have this feature). Everyone will have a hot and filling meal, no matter what time of the evening they are ready to eat.
- I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner for easy clean up. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Always double-check that your slow cooker is plugged in and turned on! There is nothing worse than a cold slow cooker come mealtime! 😟
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Meatballs and Cabbage
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- cutting board and knife
- measuring cups and spoons
- mixing bowl
- food processor optional
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1½ lbs ground beef
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves garlic or 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs can use Italian flavored if you like
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
Sauce
- 2 14.5oz cans diced tomatoes I use the Italian flavored ones
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 7oz packets Italian dressing/seasoning such as Good Seasons
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
Finishing ingredients
- small head cabbage sliced
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded (optional topping)
- grated parmesan cheese optional when serving
Instructions
- In a seperate bowl, use your hands to fully mix together 1½ lbs ground beef, 1 small onion, 3 cloves garlic, ¼ cup panko bread crumbs, 1 egg, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- Make this mixture into tablespoon sized meatballs and set aside
- To a well greased slow cooker, add 2 14.5oz cans diced tomatoes , 1 medium onion , 2 7oz packets Italian dressing/seasoning, 1 tablespoon garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt.
- stir to combine
- Add meatballs into the sauce. Use a spoon to gently cover them with sauce - gently
- Add sliced cabbage on top of the meatballs. Don't worry if you have to squeeze it all in. The cabbage will shrink a lot duringcooking.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours
- Once cooked, gently mix meatballs and sauce with cabbage in your slow cooker
- Optional: top with 1½ cups mozzarella cheese. Cover untill melted
- Serve with grated parmesan cheese
Final Step
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Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Debbie says
This was so good and easy! I just baked some frozen meatballs partially and added to the rest of ingredients and it turned out so flavourful! Served it over buttered tagliatelle and sprinkled some grated parmesan on top! This recipe is a keeper!
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Yay! So happy to hear you loved it as much as we do. And I love how you served it - sounds amazing! Thank you for taking the time to share.