Do you guys remember that FRIENDS episode a while back when Monica told the guys they have to be the hosts now that they have the big apartment? Then she spends the whole episode fixing up the small apartment and baking cookies so that the friends will want to hang out in her apartment. She says “I was always the hostess, I mean even when I was little, the girls brought their dollies to my tea party -I served the best air.”
No? Maybe that’s because it first aired over 15 years ago. Anyway, for some reason that episode has always stuck with me. I love being the host, too, always have. I enjoy having friends and family over. Cooking and prepping the apartment and making sure everyone is having a good time.
When J and I first started eating paleo I was nervous people wouldn’t want to come over for dinner or wouldn’t like the appetizers I served at cocktail parties. But it turns out I was wrong! All you need is a few solid recipes that are sure to please paleo and non-paleo eaters alike. Previously I shared my dinner party go-to dessert recipe – Baked Apple Crisp – and today I am sharing one of my favorite appetizer recipes – Slow Cooker Meatballs!
These meatballs are easy to prep and then cook on low in the slow cooker all day. That means you have plenty of time to get everything else ready without having to worry about food. Best of all you can prep a few days in advance and store the meatballs in the fridge or freezer to save even more time! Check out the recipe below and let me know what you think!
- 2 lb ground beef
- 1 lb pork sausage
- ½ cup celery, chopped
- ½ cup carrots, chopped
- ½ onion, chopped
- ½ cup almond meal
- 3 eggs
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 1½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- dash cayenne
- 1 tbsp basil
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 1 can of tomato paste
- 5 cloves of garlic chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Combine ground beef, pork sausage, celery, carrots, onion, almond meal, eggs, oregano, garlic powder, black pepper and cayenne in a large bowl
- Mix well using your hands
- Form mixture into well packed meatballs
- Layer meatballs on the bottom of the the slow cooker
- Combine diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil and garlic in a blender
- Add salt and pepper to taste
- Pulse until well combined
- Pour sauce over meatballs
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours