Stews with beef in them are common, but ground beef usually isn't the type of beef used! We've got a unique stew here for you that incorporates beef via meatballs. Meatballs are often made in a crock pot, but seldom are they used in a crock pot stew!
This particular meatball stew has an Italian flair to it, thanks in part to the Italian-style stewed tomatoes we'll be using. You'll need quite a few ingredients for this recipe, so it's important that you pay close attention to the ingredients list.
Forgetting even just one ingredient could throw the flavors of this stew off by a lot. Each ingredient was carefully selected to provide its own unique contribution to the overall taste of this dish. The ingredients list here may seem overwhelming, but each one is necessary.
Fortunately, the steps to make this stew are a lot simpler than the ingredients list. This stew will be ready after just four simple steps. That's one of the glorious things about using a crock pot. Now, let's get into this recipe.
Italian Meatball Stew
Ingredients:
3 pounds ground beef
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups water
2 cups beef broth
14-1/2 ounces Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
12 ounces tomato paste
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
Directions:
1. Combine beef, bread crumbs, eggs, milk, cheese, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in large bowl.
2. Form into 2-inch-round balls. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
3. Brown meatballs on all sides. Transfer meatballs to the crock pot.
4. Add remaining ingredients. Stir well to combine.
5. Cover and cook on low 4 to 6 hours.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Franco Volpato/Shutterstock.com