Meatballs With Mozzarella Cheese In The Middle Slow Cooker

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Slow-Cooker Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs

Prep 30 min
Total 5 hr 30 min
Servings 6

Nothing says "home cooking" like a good plate of meatballs. Tiny balls of fresh mozzarella are the "surprise inside" this hearty dish, which uses the slow cooker as a prep shortcut.

Ingredients

2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1/2 cup Progresso™ Italian style bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon crushed dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
8 oz small fresh mozzarella balls
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 jars (25 oz each) tomato pasta sauce
12 oz uncooked spaghetti

Make With

Progresso Breadcrumbs

Steps

1

In large bowl, mix beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, basil, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and eggs. Shape into 14 to 16 (2-inch) meatballs. Press 1 small mozzarella ball into center of each meatball, sealing it inside.
2

In 10- to 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add meatballs; cook just until browned on all sides.
3

Pour 1 jar of the pasta sauce into 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Carefully place browned meatballs over sauce. Pour second jar of pasta sauce over meatballs.
4

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 5 to 6 hours.
5

When about 15 minutes are left, cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Serve meatballs and sauce over cooked spaghetti.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

tip 1
Don't have spaghetti on hand? Any of your favorite pastas would work great with this recipe.
tip 2
Use any leftovers for meatball sandwiches the next day!

Nutrition

900 Calories, 40g Total Fat, 50g Protein, 84g Total Carbohydrate, 20g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 900

Calories from Fat: 360

Total Fat: 40g; 61%

Saturated Fat: 10g; 49%

Trans Fat: 1g

Cholesterol: 185mg; 61%

Sodium: 1890mg; 79%

Potassium: 1210mg; 35%

Total Carbohydrate: 84g; 28%

Dietary Fiber: 7g; 27%

Sugars: 20g

Protein: 50g

Vitamin A: 40%; 40%

Vitamin C: 20%; 20%

Calcium: 35%; 35%

Iron: 45%; 45%

Exchanges:

4 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 3 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 4 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

5 1/2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.