Description
This Easy Crockpot Meatball Sub Dip is a warm, cheesy, and meaty appetizer perfect for game day. Made with frozen meatballs, marinara, cream cheese, and provolone, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds frozen fully cooked meatballs (homestyle or Italian-style)
- 24 ounces (3 cups) marinara sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 8 ounces provolone cheese, sliced or shredded
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- For serving: crusty bread (baguette or ciabatta), sliced into bite-sized pieces
Instructions
- Lightly spray the inside of a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the frozen meatballs in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the marinara sauce, softened cream cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper until the cream cheese is mostly incorporated.
- Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the meatballs and gently stir to coat.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until the meatballs are tender and the sauce is thick and bubbly.
- About 30 minutes before serving, uncover and gently stir the dip. Arrange the provolone slices on top in an even layer and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.
- Cover and cook for another 20-30 minutes on LOW, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. For a browned top, broil for 1-2 minutes (optional).
- Serve immediately from the slow cooker set to WARM, with sliced bread, crackers, or breadsticks for dipping.
Notes
Don’t skip softening the cream cheese to avoid lumps. Stir halfway through cooking for a smoother dip. If the dip is too thin, cook uncovered on HIGH for 15-20 minutes or stir in a cornstarch slurry. Serve warm from the slow cooker to keep the cheese gooey. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 6 meatballs wi
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: crockpot meatball sub dip, game day appetizer, slow cooker meatball dip, easy party dip, cheesy meatball dip