December has been such a whirlwind: Holiday parties, school performances and activities, Christmas shopping (and wrapping OMG), one kid’s birthday party and a 24-hour stomach bug that swept through our house. To say it’s taken a toll on my nutrition and meal prepping would be an understatement. I’m getting back in the game NOW as I prepare for my January Whole 30!
And because I am all about the busy mamas out there, I wanted to share this recipe for Whole 30 Slower Cooker Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs because it only uses ONE POT! Yep, that’s right. One pot, super healthy and only 5 main ingredients.
Here are the deets:
You’ll need:
-1 medium sized spaghetti squash
-2 pounds of ground meat (I used grass-fed ground beef but I really love to mix beef and Italian sausage together when I have it on hand. Ground turkey is also a great option!)
-1 jar of W30 Compliant Marinara Sauce (Rao’s is my absolute fave!)
-1 20-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
-2 eggs
-1 tsp sea salt
-2 tsp onion powder
-2 tsp garlic powder
-2 tbsp Italian seasoning (make your own or carefully read labels to avoid sugar and other additives)
Method:
1. In a large bowl, combine meat with eggs and spices. Using your hands, mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated and ready to roll into balls.
2. Roll into bite-sized meatballs (I put my kids to work in the kitchen as often as possible!) and place in slow cooker (the meatballs, not the kids 😊).
3. Pour marinara sauce and canned tomatoes over the meatballs and stir.
4. Cut spaghetti squash in half through the center and scoop out seeds.
5. Place spaghetti squash halves face down on top of meatballs.
6. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.
7. Remove spaghetti squash carefully, scoop out insides, then top with meatballs and sauce. Garnish with herbs of your choice!
Notes:
-If you have picky little eaters like I do, you can quickly make some pasta and top with the meatballs and sauce from the crockpot. I do this and everyone in my family is happy!
-This is a great meal prep recipe as it makes a lot! You can use the meatballs in other meals too — I love them with roasted veggies and a salad.
The Clean Life Mama 