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Crock Pot Cheese Stuffed Turkey Meatballs in homemade marinara sauce is a family favorite in my house and perfect for a busy school night dinner! These are made grain free, low carb, keto, and gluten free!
You may or may not be in love with your crock pot.If you have been scarred from one too many dry dinner recipes that made you feel like you could never trust it anymore, I can relate. I've been there too.
But given the right balance of time and liquids and you've got a winning recipe for the family.
This is my favorite way to add flavor to a somewhat bland kind of meat, ground turkey. The addition of spices and stuffed with cheese, slow cooked in a homemade marinara make this a recipe your family will ask you for often.
Everyone loves meatballs so stuffing them with cheese was just something that had to happen in my opinion.We are a family of cheese lovers. I've made this recipe with both mozzarella and fontina, both equally delicious. The fontina is a bit more ooey gooey as you will see from the pics.
I've added directions to bake in the oven if you don't have a slow cooker. Either way is delicious!
This recipe makes 2 dozen so you should have enough left overs as well.
Warning: If you have a boy teenager in the house, like my son, you may not have much left over at all. My own son, who after having been sick for a week barely eating, enjoyed about 8 of these the first night his appetite was back. True story.
Other fabulous Slow Cooker Meals to feed the whole family:
- Slow Cooker Short Ribs
- Crock Pot Pulled Chicken
- Crock Pot Meatloaf
- Crock Pot BBQ Baby Back Ribs
Moral of today:
If you're ready to love your crock pot again and make peace with it if it has failed you terribly in the past, this recipe is the one that will help you make amends. 🙂
If you like this recipe, you’ll find many more in my Meal Plan Membership.
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4.59 from 12 votes
Crock Pot Cheese Stuffed Turkey Meatballs
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time6 hours hrs
Total Time6 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 372kcal
Author: Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup pork rinds crushed
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasonings
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 ½ pounds ground turkey
- 8 ounces Fontina cheese cut into 24 pieces or mozzarella
Marinara Sauce
- 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Crock Pot Directions
In a large bowl whisk the eggs, pork rinds, cheese and seasonings together.
Add the ground turkey and mix just until combined.
Roll mixture into 24 meatballs.
Insert 1 cube of cheese into the center of each meatball. Set aside.
In a separate bowl stir together the marinara sauce ingredients.
Pour enough sauce to cover the bottom of the crock pot.
Place meatballs in the crock pot and cover with remaining sauce.
Cover and cook on high 3 hours or low 6 hours.
Oven Directions
Follow the recipe up until you put the sauce in the crock pot. Instead place half the sauce into a 9 by 13 baking pan. Add all the meatballs and cover with remaining sauce. Bake 30 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink when cut open.
Notes
Net Carbs: 7g
This recipe was first published in September 2014 and updated with video in January 2019.
Nutrition
Serving: 3meatballs | Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 1014mg | Potassium: 770mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Vitamin C: 9.3mg | Calcium: 301mg | Iron: 3.4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sugarfreemom and tag #sugarfreemom, I'd love to see your dish!
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Karen Wilson
This recipe is fantastic and will become a favourite go to for an easy filling meal. I always thought meatballs were so labour intensive, not true. This is so simple and delicious and the crockpot frees you up to make a yummy dessert while it’s cooking. My family loved these meatballs, a definite win win if you ask me!
Reply
Jane Halleran
These meatballs are delicious and the marinara sauce is great too!Reply
Malissa Lima
Hi!!
I am loving your recipes! This one was so good but I’m wondering does anyone ever have a problem with the cheese seeping out during cook time? I cooked in my crockpot and the fontina came out of most of the meatballs during the cook time. Wondering how I can help that? Thanks!Reply
SPARROW
Thank you for a delicious and easy recipe. I made these in the frying pan and they were great!
Reply
Kelly Slebodnik
What temp in the oven, please? Thanks!
Reply
Brenda
I've not made these in the oven but other meatballs I've made without cheese filling at 400 for 20 minutes. Maybe reduce to 375 or 350 for so they don't dry up the cheese in the center.
Emily K.
This recipe was a win for the whole family, including my picky 6 year old. I never one to post comments after a dish is made but this one was a true homerun! Thank you!
Reply
Brenda
Thanks Emily!
Emily C
I have this same recipe that I printed out a few months back, but it says 1/2 cup rolled oats and nothing about pork rinds.
Is there a reason the recipe changed? What is the pros of using pork rinds over the oats? Thanks!Reply
Brenda
Yes I swapped the rolled out to make this low carb by using the pork rinds. You can use either.
Kerri
If I assemble and freeze couple days before and pop in crock pot while still frozen on a busy morning?
Reply
Brenda
That should work.
Kristy
What can I sub for pork rinds? Almond flour? Would the measurement be the same?
Reply
Brenda
Yes almond flour would work, same amount.
Stacey Smith
It's in my crockpot right now ! I put the rest of my crumbled pork skins on top , had to add salsa to the marina because I didn't have enough crushed tomatoes.
Reply
Stacy Smith
It was very good! Will make again!
Veronica
Can you use ground beef instead? If so should it be the same amount asTurkey? Thanks
Reply
Brenda
Sure you can use ground beef, same amount.
JoAnne
help!!!!! I don't eat pork. at all!!! and every recipe depends on pork rinds....I can get around with almond flour and parmesan usually, but now what for meatballs?? help!!
Reply
Brenda
Almond flour will work for these as well.
Darcy Fitzpatrick
I have a similar recipe like this where I use buffalo sauce and blue cheese. I never use them in the crock pot- I think I will now.
Reply
Bryan Martinez
These meatballs look sooo tasty! I love that they're cheesed stuffed too. I'll have to make this recipe soon, thank you!
Reply
Robin
Made these tonight after reading the post this morning. OUTSTANDING! Thank you for keeping the healthy ideas family friendly and recipes easy to make! The recipe is a repeat for this family!
Reply
Dolores Salerno
Hi Brenda ~ I'm not a fan of pork rinds. What else could I use in its place and still keep it Keto friendly.
Tx/DoloresReply
Brenda
Try almond flour
Lily
I forgot the old fashioned oats at the store but have quick oats. Would those work?
Reply
Brenda
sure
Danielle
Can we use ground chicken instead of turkey? Also, can I make thematic few days in advance and freeze beforehand?
Reply
Brenda
Sure! And yes you can bake freeze then thaw when you want them.
Doreen
Made this it was delish. Even my unloving turkey son liked it.
Reply
Penny
What else could you sub for the oats to keep it Keto friendly?
Thanks,
PennyReply
Brenda
I'd sub crushed pork rinds or just use more grated parmesan,
Alisha Hall
These are amazing!!! Easy and very tasty! I can't wait to make them again!
Reply
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