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Slow-Cooker Meatballs with Roasted Spaghetti Squash

Tender, flavorful meatballs are slow-cooked in tomato sauce and served with roasted spaghetti squash.

Ingredients
Sauce:

• 2 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• coarse salt and fresh black pepper
• 1 can (3 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 cans (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, crushed between fingertips
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more), optional
• pinch of sugar

Meatballs:

• 1 + 1/2 pounds ground beef/pork/veal mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• 3 tablespoons yellow onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• coarse salt and fresh black pepper
• for serving:
• 2 medium spaghetti squash

Instructions

1.     Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onion, pepper and garlic. Season well with salt and pepper. Cook about 10 minutes until soft and tender, stirring often.
2.     Mix the tomato paste into the onion and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add it to the crock-pot with the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, a pinch of sugar plus 1 teaspoon salt and about 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
3.     In a large mixing bowl using a fork or your hands combine the ground meat, eggs, Parmesan, onion, garlic, parsley and a dash of salt and pepper together. Scoop up 2 tablespoons of the meat and pack it into a ball. Repeat until all the meat is used. Carefully drop them into the crock-pot.
4.     Cook on high 4 - 5 hours or low 6 - 8 hours. Taste and season the sauce as needed during the last hour.
5.     Meanwhile roast the spaghetti squash (you can roast it whole!) until tender on 400 degrees F about 45 minutes depending on their size. Let them cool off until you can handle them comfortably. Cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the pulp and seeds with a grapefruit spoon. Pull a fork through the squash to make the noodles.
6.     If your spaghetti squash seems especially watery you can drain it for a few minutes in a colander.
7.     Mix the spaghetti squash with enough sauce to generously coat and sere with the meatballs and Parmesan cheese.