Description
A comforting and easy slow cooker meal featuring flavorful meatballs, cheesy tortellini, and a creamy Italian sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the sauce
- 24 oz jar of marinara sauce (Pick a marinara you enjoy.)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning (Or a mix of basil and oregano.)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (Fresh garlic is recommended.)
- 8 oz cream cheese, cubed (Helps makes the sauce creamy.)
- 1 cup heavy cream (Or half and half for a lighter option.)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (For salty, nutty flavor.)
For the main ingredients
- 24 oz frozen Italian style meatballs (Beef, pork, or turkey options are fine.)
- 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini (Freezing is okay, but check timing.)
Instructions
Preparation
- Add marinara sauce to the slow cooker.
- Stir in Italian seasoning, garlic, and a little salt and pepper.
- Add the frozen meatballs, ensuring they’re coated in sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until meatballs are heated through.
Adding Cream and Tortellini
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the cubed cream cheese.
- Once the cream cheese is mostly melted, add the tortellini and a splash of heavy cream.
- Cover again and cook until the tortellini is tender, about 15 to 30 minutes.
Serving
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese right before serving.
Notes
This meal can be made ahead; just keep tortellini for the end. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, add a splash of cream or water to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
