An easy beef stew gets even easier.
So it turns out, I wasn’t just bragging when I called my beef stew “The Best Crockpot Beef Stew.” People really, really like it, and the recipe has been getting lots of attention.
So I figured, why not take that recipe and put a little twist on it? Swapping out the stew meat for frozen meatballs makes this recipe even easier, because there’s less prep involved. All you have to do now is chop a few veggies.
And because it’s easy to keep a bag of meatballs in the freezer, ready to go, you can make this stew pretty much any time you want. So if you wake up one morning and realize you have no idea what you’re going to serve for dinner that night, no need to run to the store…just toss this together in your handy crockpot. Half an hour before dinner, throw in the frozen veggies, and boom, you’re done.
`I like to throw in two cups of cooked noodles at the end of the cooking time, because nothing goes with meatballs like pasta, right? And it stretches the stew from maybe six generous servings to eight. But if you don’t want all those extra carbs, you can leave them out. With meat, veggies, and potatoes, the stew is definitely hearty enough.
Easy Crockpot Meatball Stew
- Combine meatballs, celery, carrots, red onion, potatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and tomato paste in the crockpot. I used a 6 qt crockpot for this stew. Cooked on HIGH for 4-5 hours or LOW for 7-8.
- About 15 minutes before serving, add in your cooked noodles, frozen peas and corn. Continue cooking covered for 30 minutes.
HERE ARE MORE SLOW COOKER RECIPES WE LOVE!
- Easy Slow Cooker Chili
- The Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Creamy Crockpot Crack Chicken
- The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
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Easy Crockpot Meatball Stew
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen meatballs
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 celery ribs sliced
- 2-3 cloves of garlic minced
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 32 oz beef broth
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups baby carrots carrots
- 4-5 small red potatoes cut into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 cups frozen peas
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 cups of cooked pasta
Instructions
- Combine meatballs, celery, carrots, red onion, potatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and tomato paste in the crock pot. I used a 6 qt crockpot for this stew. Cooked on HIGH for 4-5 hours or LOW for 7-8
- About 30 minutes before serving, add in your frozen peas and corn. Continue cooking covered for 30 minutes.
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Colleen Marshall says
This recipe looks so yummy for cold nights! Sadly, I am terribly allergic to beef… Do you think turkey meatballs and a different type of broth would still work well?
Corey says
Yes! Turkey meatballs with a chicken or veggie stock would be great!
Holly says
Cab you use tomato sup if you don’t have paste?
Corey says
I think should work out of Holly. Is it condensed soup?
Angela says
I made this the other night and it was so good. I printed out the recipe and just realized that the printed version didn’t list the pasta. It was really good without the pasta. Oops 🙂 Won’t the pasta take up most of the juice?
Corey says
That is strange Angela. I will check on that printer version. You can serve this over noodles or without. It does taste great both ways 🙂
Kate says
This was SO easy and SO good!!! My husband is always skeptical when I try a new crock pot recipe, but he loved this! So did our 2 year old! So good over egg noodles topped with some parmesan cheese!
Marla says
This looks delicious and I want to make it this week. Is it best to add in the cooked noodles or serve it over the noodles . I like the idea of adding them but how does the dish hold up for leftovers? Thank you !
Corey says
We always add ours in right away because we rarely have any leftovers. lol. But if you think you will have leftovers or want to freeze the leftovers, I would suggest to keep them seperate.
Pam says
Can this be made into a freezer friendly recipe?
Corey says
I would leave out the noodles for freezing, and use fresh ones once you reheat 🙂
Jessica says
Sadly j made this recipe in an 8 qt slow cooker and needed to add another 32 ounces of beef broth to completely immerse the veggies and meatballs in liquid ? Hopefully it won’t throw off the flavor. ?
Karen says
I love the sound of this recipe. Please could I ask what is your recipe for the meatballs? Is it just beef rolled into meatball size – or is it with onion and spices and is it browned before freezing? Thanks for your help! love your slow cook chilli and your beef stew so good!
Corey says
Karen, for this one I just used my favorite frozen meatballs from Trader Joes. 🙂
Rachell Powers says
You can buy frozen meat balls at Wal-Mart or any grocery store’s frozen food section
ROBERT says
– A bit of unsolicited advice. For the greatest flavor, purchase ‘ITALIAN MEAT BALLS’. The Swedish Meatballs & Regular Meatballs just do NOT have the ‘get up & go’ you’re looking for. –
Robert Young says
When you purchase bags of frozen meatballs – they have ‘Italian Style’ – ‘Swedish Meatballs’ – & also ‘Homestyle Meatballs.’ – They are already cooked. All you are doing is heating them through & marinating various flavors into them.
I find ‘Italian Style’ frozen meatballs have more enhanced flavor than any of the others.
One might want to take that into consideration when purchasing the product.
(I also put just a ‘hint’ of ‘Liquid Smoke’ into the brew to give it a ‘down home’ type flavor.) It will make your tongue slap both sides of your mouth!
Megan Reese says
I can’t use frozen meatballs due to most having soy or dairy, can I make homemade meatballs?
Corey says
You sure can Megan! You might just have to reduce the cooking time by a little.
Yvette says
I’m making this stew for my family today. I hope it turns out well and that they like it. I followed the recipe to the T except for the noodles. I added zucchini along with all of the other vegetables because I am a diabetic and the noodles are
just too many carbs along with the potatoes. PS I added the zucchini in last along with the corn and peas so it wouldn’t get mushy thanks for the recipe I know what love it
Amanda says
This is one of my family’s favorites. I love how great it tastes and how easy it is to prep. Even my little ones love it!
Corey says
So happ you love it Amanda!!
Corey says
So happy you love it Amanda!!
Del says
Do you know if frozen meatballs are exported to Australia, can’t say I’ve seen them here.
Robert says
DEL – Check the frozen food section in your market. They usually come in ‘bags’. ITALIAN Meat balls have the best flavor. There are several brands, plus ‘house’ brands available. They are already cooked – then frozen – so you can use them in a variety of recipe concoctions. ROSINA BRAND ITALIAN MEATBALLS – are baked – & not fried, and to me are the most flavorful.
Walter says
Making this right now. My 6Qt. too small, had to use 8Qt. crockpot. Does this make more juice/gravy/liquid while cooking? Right now, its very dry looking.
Norma says
Just copied and pasted the recipe, plan on making it at a time, when our weather is
cooler, more than likely, in the fall and winter time. I will use Italian meatballs. For
different changes at different times making it, could beef stew meat, ground, etc. be used or should meatballs only be used? Even though, not having made it yet, I am going
to give it a 5 star rating. I am very good at deciding for myself, if a recipe is going to
be good or not.
Corey says
I think stew meat or ground beef would taste great with this one Norma!
Annie says
Just threw everything together in the pot to make this. I didn’t have any potatoes, but I subbed cauliflower instead. Hoping for a good result!
Nadine says
This is the second time i’m making it (first time was about a month ago). It is soooooo delicious, my family loves it, including the dogs. And, yes, the Italian Meatballs really add that extra special something. YUM…
Great recipe! 5 stars! *****
Audrey says
Made this tonight and OMG it was delicious! I only used 1 pound of meatballs but that was enough for the two of us! I added an extra can of broth so the noodles wouldn’t soak it all up! Forgot frozen corn so I put in a can of corn 10mins before serving! Making this again soon!
Bunny says
About 15 minutes before serving, add noodles, peas and corn. Continue cooking covered for 30 minutes. This doesn’t make sense. This is your first set of directions, but the times don’t jive. The printable version says nothing about adding pasta.
betty hanswirth says
I just turned on my crockpot for this recipe, I am wondering if the leftovers
can be frozen. there are only three of us in the house and I can see it is way too much food. thank you for any help.
Maggie says
Making this stew today but it doesn’t look thick like stew. It looks more like soup. Is there anyway to thicken it?
Corey says
You could add a flour/water mix to it to thicken it up.
Donna Howard says
Going to make this but recipe doesn’t say when to add pasta?? Not sure??
Corey says
It’s in step 2 Donna 🙂
Brian Gilbert says
This looks so good but I have an allergy to tomatoes. Do you suggest some kind of a substitute?
Nancy Casas says
For the meatball stew at what time do you add the pasta noodles?
Scott Family says
This is absolutely delicious and super easy!! Most of the ingredients
are in your house already. My husband had two bowlfuls and my super-fussy daughter woofed it down, Thank you! We’ll move making this all the time now!
Rbazner1 says
Could this be made in a pressure cooker
Teri says
Can I use uncooked meatballs
Corey says
I would brown the uncooked meatballs before adding them into the stew. And you will want to increase the cooking time to ensure the meatballs of fully cooked.
Carol says
I made it today ,It was great I also added a teaspoon of Dash. And then to thicken it up I had some cornstarch and water and add that also the recipe was great thank you good for you. Good job
Betsy says
Can you double this and still use the 8qt crockpot
Corey says
Yes Besty. Depending on how hot your crockpot runs, you might need to add a little cooking time.
Amberly says
My family loves this . I use turkey meatballs since we don’t eat beef. My only question is any suggestions for getting the potatoes and carrots to cook softer? They always come out crunchier then I would hope. But even with that it still tastes great!
Corey says
I could try cutting them up smaller so they will cook through faster. I hope that helps!
mike says
Was thinking of adding cheese tortellini instead of noodles…What do you think?
Corey says
Sounds like a yummy idea!
Kay says
Great recipe for an easy meal. I threw everything in the crockpot, prepared a salad and hot rolls …so easy! Everyone loved it.