Recipes and Cooking Spicy Italian Meatballs 4.2 (10) For your next party or tailgate, prepare a batch of these slow cooker beef and sausage meatballs. They can stay warm in the pot as guests come and go! By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on August 7, 2012 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Kritsada Panichgul Prep Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs Bake Time: 30 mins Total Time: 4 hrs 55 mins Servings: 24 Yield: 24 meatballs Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 egg, lightly beaten ½ cup fine dry bread crumbs ¼ cup finely chopped onion ¼ cup finely chopped bottled pepperoncini salad peppers 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, crushed 1 clove garlic, minced 1 pound lean ground beef 1 pound bulk Italian sausage 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes ½ cup finely chopped onion (1 medium) 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ teaspoon dried oregano, crushed ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper Directions Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl combine egg, bread crumbs, 1/4 cup onion, pepperoncini peppers, Italian seasoning, and the 1 clove garlic; mix well. Add ground beef and sausage; mix gently until combined. Shape mixture into twenty-four 2-inch meatballs. Place meatballs in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes; drain well. Meanwhile, in a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker combine crushed tomatoes, 1/2 cup onion, the vinegar, 2 cloves garlic, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Add baked meatballs to slow cooker; stir gently to coat. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 3 hours. Skim fat from sauce before serving. Tips Meatballs can be served on their own, over hot cooked pasta, or in buns for meatball sandwiches. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 133 Calories 9g Fat 5g Carbs 7g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 24 Calories 133 % Daily Value * Total Fat 9g 12% Saturated Fat 3g 15% Cholesterol 36mg 12% Sodium 237mg 10% Total Carbohydrate 5g 2% Total Sugars 1g Protein 7g Vitamin C 4.1mg 21% Calcium 20.2mg 2% Iron 1.3mg 7% Potassium 213mg 5% Folate, total 8.1mcg Vitamin B-12 0.6mcg Vitamin B-6 0.2mg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.