These Pork Meatballs will remind you of your favorite pasta meal using ground pork and warm rich spices in an easy tomato sauce. These cook in the slow cooker while you go about your day and also freeze well. Serve them as a meal or even as an appetizer! 

PORK MEATBALLS 

During the colder months I love making a big batch of pasta sauce with meatballs.

Today’s Pork Meatballs cook in the crockpot and sure to be a crowd pleaser.

You will love the flavor that these meatballs have and they freeze great for later, which is always a plus.

The Ohio Pork Council and I are brining you this easy recipe, perfect for winter and the holidays.

You can serve these Italian Style Pork Meatballs as a main meal with pasta or you can serve them as an appetizer.

Just put a toothpick on the meatballs and set a small dish of sauce next to them and they become a cocktail style meatball.

If you like meatballs you have to try these Baked Turkey Meatballs, Greek Meatballs, Beef Kafta Meatballs, Mediterranean Baked Meatballs or these Baked Chicken Meatballs.

What Ingredients Are In These Slow Cooker Meatballs?

GROUND PORK: I used about 1.3 pounds of ground pork in this recipe. You can easily double the recipe to make more for a big crowd or freeze half for later. 

BREADCRUMBS: The breadcrumbs I used are a whole wheat version but you can use your favorite breadcrumbs. 

PARMESAN CHEESE: When I make meatballs I use a finely grated Parmesan cheese to add into my meatballs. I like the flavor it adds to them. 

SPICES & HERBS: I use garlic, oregano, thyme, basil and parsley in my pork meatballs and sauce. I especially like adding fresh herbs to my finished sauce. 

TOMATO SAUCE: The tomato sauce is simple and one I make a lot. It uses crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaves, spices and garlic. 

Should Pork Meatballs Be Pink on the Inside?

The rule of thumb with ground pork is you want the internal temperature to reach 160 degrees F and you do not want pink.

I find that when cooking pork meatballs in a tomato sauce in the crockpot that sometimes the pork meatballs don’t cook evenly and the inside might be pink with some of them.

For this reason I always broil my meatballs for about 4 minutes per side to brown them. This helps them cook more evenly in your sauce. 

How Do You Make Pork Meatballs?

1. ADD INGREDIENTS TO SLOWC COOKER: Combine all of the tomato sauce ingredients into a large slow cooker. 
2. CREATE MEATBALL MIXTURE: In a large bowl, combine ground pork, breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, egg, garlic, salt and pepper. Using clean hands mix all the ingredients and form small meatballs.
3. BROIL MEATBALLS: Lightly grease a baking sheet. Broil meatballs on high in the oven until browned on each side. This took about 4 minutes on each side. 
4. ADD MEATBALLS TO CROCKPOT WITH SAUCE: Drop meatballs into the sauce making sure the meatballs are covered in sauce. Cover the slow cooker and set crock pot to low for 5 to 6 hours. 
5. COOK MEATBALLS UTNIL 160 DEGREES F: When meatballs are ready and have reached a temperature of 160 degrees F, adjust salt and pepper to taste and add fresh chopped basil or parsley.
6. Serve with Italian bread or over your favorite pasta.

Today’s post is sponsored by the Ohio Pork Council. As always, opinions are 100% my own.