Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 1 pound (16 oz.) lean (93/7) ground beef
  • 1/2 cup (104g) long grain white rice (uncooked)
  • 1/3 cup (62g) grated yellow onion ((grate on a box grater))
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon EACH: fine sea salt and Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 cup (234g) beef stock (or broth)
  • 2 cans (15 oz.; 426g EACH) tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar (lightly packed)
  • 1/4 cup (58g) Worcestershire sauce
  • Optional: fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley
  • Cooked white or brown rice (for serving (See Note 1))

Instruction

  • PREP: Preheat the oven to high broil (550 degrees F.) Line a large tray with foil, spray with cooking spray, and set aside.
  • MEATBALLS: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, uncooked white rice, grated white onion, minced garlic, large egg, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, and dried basil. Knead the mixture until just combined, avoiding overmixing (which makes the meatballs dense).
  • FORM MEATBALLS: Form meatballs by measuring out 1 and 1/2 tablespoons per meatball and tightly squishing the mixture together until a firm meatball is formed. Repeat until all of the mixture is used up. The mixture should make around 22-25 meatballs.
  • BROIL: Place all of the formed meatballs on the prepared tray, generously spritz with cooking spray, and then broil in the oven for 3 minutes per side (6 minutes total). This helps ensure they don't break apart in the slow cooker. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  • SLOW COOKER TOMATO SAUCE: Spray the slow cooker with nonstick spray. Add in the beef stock/broth, both cans of tomato sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir.
  • ADD MEATBALLS: Layer the meatballs on top of the tomato mixture. Gently spoon the sauce over.
  • COOK: Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours, high for 3-5 hours or until rice is tender and meat is cooked through (165 degrees F.) I recommend cooking on low; my slow cooker takes 6 hours exactly. Avoid checking too often; when a slow cooker's lid is removed it takes a while for everything to get back to temperature.
  • SERVE: Taste meatballs and sauce and add any additional salt/pepper as needed. Gently spoon out meatballs and sauce from the slow cooker and serve over cooked white or brown rice (See Note 1). Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and enjoy!