Cheesy Cheats Spaghetti Meatballs

Cheesy Cheats Spaghetti Meatballs. This is a quick and simple meatball and spaghetti meal made for busy days. It uses ready-made meatballs and jarred sauce so you can relax while it cooks in the slow cooker. If you want to make things from scratch, there are other recipes for that — but this one is all about saving time and being easy.

A warm, cheesy spaghetti and meatball dinner you can set and forget in the slow cooker. Ready-made meatballs and jarred pasta sauce cook slowly until tender. Toss with cooked spaghetti, top with melty grated cheese, and serve. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want a tasty, fuss-free meal.

Ingredients

• 24 ready-made raw meatballs

• 2 jars pasta bake sauce (see notes)

• 500 g spaghetti (dry)

• 1 cup grated cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, tasty, or pizza blend)

Cheesy Cheats Spaghetti Meatballs: Directions

1. Put the raw meatballs into the slow cooker.

2. Pour the pasta bake sauce over the meatballs.

3. Cook on low for 4 hours. Do not stir for the first 2–3 hours so the meatballs keep their shape.

4. Near the end of the cooking time, boil the spaghetti on the stovetop until done; drain.

5. Carefully lift the meatballs out and place them on a covered plate to stay warm.

6. Add the cooked spaghetti to the slow cooker and stir to coat the pasta with sauce.

7. Serve the sauced spaghetti on plates, put the meatballs back on top, and sprinkle with grated cheese.

8. Enjoy your easy cheesy cheats spaghetti!

Notes

• You don’t need to brown the meatballs first. Avoid stirring them during the first 2–3 hours so they stay firm and don’t fall apart.

• I prefer pasta bake sauce (creamy tomato style) because it coats spaghetti nicely. You can use one jar of pasta bake sauce, one jar of regular spaghetti sauce, or all regular spaghetti sauce if you like.

• You can cook spaghetti in the slow cooker, but it will soak up a lot of sauce. If you do, add two cups hot water when you add the pasta and allow about 45 minutes for it to cook. I recommend cooking pasta on the stove for the best saucy result.