Easy Summer Meal: Spaghetti & Meatballs

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This is a simple meal to make. If it's hot in your area, put the crockpot on the porch to keep the house cool. I use a few cheats to make this meal painless to throw together. Like pre-made frozen meatballs. I buy them in a 6 pound bag from Costco. It's nice to have them in the freezer for easy meals.



Complete recipes are at the bottom of the post.


Start by putting the meatballs in the crockpot and covering with spaghetti sauce....




Let cook on low for 4 to 5 hours until everything is well heated.  When ready to serve, cook pasta, drain and mix into meatballs and sauce...



Serve....


 
This meal also calls for a jar of spaghetti sauce. But if you are like me and forgot to pick some up at the grocery store ~smile~ or you just prefer your own sauce than you may like my super easy sauce that is made in the blender..

My super easy spaghetti sauce...

Open diced tomatoes and put in blender
 



Add spices... and mix until smooth....
 



Taste and adjust seasons and you are ready to go!!





Spaghetti & Meatballs

2 ½ (or so) pounds of frozen pre cooked meatballs
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (around 24 to 28oz) (you can also use homemade spaghetti sauce... below I share a super easy simple sauce that takes just minutes to whip up)
10 to 12oz of spaghetti noodles (I use angle hair pasta for quick cooking and minimal heat to the kitchen)

Put the meatballs in the crockpot. Cover with sauce. Cook on low for about 4 to 5 hours until hot and heated through. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Mix in with meatballs and sauce, serve.



Super Fast and Easy Spaghetti Sauce

2 14oz cans of diced tomatoes
1T Italian seasonings
2 to 3t salt, according to taste
1t pepper
2t granulated garlic (or garlic powder equivalent to 2 cloves of garlic)
2T (more or less, according to taste) sugar

Combine ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.


 

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