Spicy Italian Meatballs
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!
Ingredients
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1 egg, lightly beaten
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½ cup fine dry bread crumbs
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¼ cup finely chopped onion
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¼ cup finely chopped bottled pepperoncini salad peppers
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1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, crushed
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1 garlic, minced
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1 pound lean ground beef
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1 pound bulk Italian sausage
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1 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
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½ cup finely chopped onion (1 medium)
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1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
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2 garlic, minced
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½ teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
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¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Directions
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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.
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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.
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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.