Easy Cheesy CHEATS Spaghetti Meatballs

Submitted by Paulene Christie

Easy Cheesy CHEATS Spaghetti Meatballs

5 from 6 votes
Serving: 4
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
 

  • 24 ready made, raw meatballs
  • 2 jars of pasta bake sauce **see notes**
  • 500g packet of spaghetti (dry pasta)
  • 1 cup of your favourite grated cheese (mozzarella, tasty, cheddar or pizza blend are great)

Instructions
 

  • Please note: This is a fast and easy meatballs meal intended for convenience! We have plenty of recipes here on our website for these made completely from scratch (both the meatballs and the pasta sauce). This one is ALL about convenience and to simply give everyone time guidelines for doing so 🙂

Method

  • Place raw meatballs into slow cooker (see notes)
  • Pour over pasta sauces (see notes)
  • Cook on low for 4hrs.
  • When nearing completion time cook pasta on stove top (or see notes)
  • Gently remove the meatballs from slow cooker and set aside on a covered plate to keep warm.
  • Stir through cooked pasta into the slow cooker to coat spaghetti well.
  • Serve this sauce coated spaghetti on your plates and return meatballs to each plate
  • Scatter with cheese & hey presto ... easy cheesy cheats spaghetti!

Notes

  • Meatballs don’t need pre browning, just don’t stir them in first 2-3hrs then they’ll be firm after that and will stay formed perfectly and intact.
  • I like to use PASTA BAKE sauce rather than straight spaghetti sauce, or one jar of each, as I find the pasta bake sauce a creamier end consistency that coats the spaghetti beautifully. I use Dolmio's Pasta Bake in 'Cheesy Pizza Style' flavour but you can choose any creamy, tomato based pasta bake sauce you prefer 🙂 Or simply use regualar spaghetti sauce or passata if you wish.
  • You may choose cook your spaghetti IN the slow cooker but it will absorb a lot of the cooking sauces, so when I did so I added two cups of hot water at time of adding pasta then gave it 45mins for pasta to cook through. I do prefer and recommend for best results though to use the pre cooked on the stove pasta though for the best saucy spaghetti meatballs 🙂

22 thoughts on “Easy Cheesy CHEATS Spaghetti Meatballs”

  1. This really is a great quick and easy meal and delicious too! If I have time, I add some sliced red capsicum, zucchini and mushrooms for extra veg!

  2. This really is so quick , easy and delicious! If I have time I add sliced red capsicum, zucchini and mushrooms for extra veg!

  3. Had this on Monday night for tea, was so bloody delicious ?
    Easy and quick to prepare and quick to cook too 4 hours was bang on!
    First time using pasta bake sauce for me too and it worked beautiful! Highly recommend as a must try recipe!

  4. Had this for tea on Monday night. Was really delicious, first time using pasta bake sauce too and it worked super good with coating the spaghetti. 4 hours was also bang on! Will definitely make again and would highly recommend to anyone who wants a super delicious, easy and quick recipe!

  5. Love this easy dinner idea. I did change things around a little but reading this recipe gave me the idea. As the day progressed I made changes in my mind & ended up with our dinner. Thanks for sharing your recipe Pauline.

  6. Very quick and easy!
    Love the suggestion to use pasta bake sauce!
    A favorite in our house now to .
    Thankyou

  7. Made this last night. The sauce is amazing and the options of pasta bake flavours will make this a regular

  8. Absolutely amazing
    I used 2 jars of Leggos pasta bake (mozzarella) cooked for 4 hours and added cooked pasta in the last half hour .
    I did have to add a splash of water as I think I put the pasta in to early .
    End result was amazing
    I will never cook spaghetti and meatballs any other way now ?

  9. Just wondering how I’m meant to turn the slow cooker on at 2pm when I start work at 8:30…?? ? Turning it on at 5:30 doesn’t really work either!

  10. This has become a big favourite in our house. One of only a few dishes everyone eats without complaint. I use I pasta bake sauce and 1 can of tomatoe soup

  11. Maria Mihailidis

    5 stars
    I used the Italian meatballs sub recipe and the sauce as in the recipe. it’s a winner meal on repeat.
    thank you, Paulene for this beautiful recipe ????

  12. Andrea Crocombe

    I made this using ready made Beef and Lamb meatballs (2 trays) and 2 jars of Leggo’s Creamy Tomato With Mozzarella Pasta Bake sauce. So good! 500g pkt spaghetti cooked separately was enough for 3 adults and 3 teenage boys (with garlic bread). Absolutely delicious!

  13. 5 stars
    Just made this recipe for the second time and again it didn’t disappoint. Scrumptious, super easy and great on the budget. I used to packets if the Aldi pre made meatballs, 2 bottles of Aldi pasta bake sauce, half an onion and then added Aldi grated cheese for the finishing touches. Everyone enjoyed it which is a rarity in this household. So definitely 5 stars ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? in this house.

  14. Thank you so much for this wonderful easy recipe.!!
    It was delicious. I added garlic and onion and quickly grilled them with the meatballs as they were frozen.
    Simple and wholesome. And enough for 6 of us ?????
    I’ll certainly be making this again. My fussy partner said 9.5/10!!! (The meatballs weren’t big enough was his complaint) ????

  15. 5 stars
    Made this today for the first time and it won’t be the last.. Oh boy soooo tasty, not a thing left on anyone’s plate.. Also enough for our Grandson tomtake to work tomorrow for his lunch. Was he pleased ?

  16. 5 stars
    Cooked this for three of our Grandchildren and they literally licked their plates clean.. Of course myself and Gramps enjoyed it too ??

  17. 5 stars
    This recipe is a favourite of ours. It proves that tasty food doesn’t have to be complicated.
    I use the pre-made meatballs from Woolies (2 trays) and cook the pasta separately. It makes plenty.

  18. This is easy and tastes great. Freezes well also. I usually put some of the grated cheese in about 1/2 before finish time & if I’m freezing I don’t put more on until the day I defrost.

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