1. Combine ground meats, cheese, garlic, parsley, and breadcrumbs in a large bowl. Thoroughly mix the ingredients by hand until you achieve walnut-sized meatballs.
2. Heat olive oil in a frying pan and sear the meatballs over medium heat. Ensure they are evenly colored but not fully cooked through. Remove the meatballs from the pan, leaving the cooking oil.
3. In the same pan, sauté the onion, carrot, and celery for approximately 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and about one cup of water. Stir gently before transferring the mixture to a slow cooker.
4. Place the meatballs into the slow cooker with the tomato paste mixture. Cook on low for 7 hours or on high for 5 hours. Add the pasta after 3 1/2 hours of cooking time and continue cooking.
5. To serve, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Feel free to use your favorite pasta shape in this dish if you want to ring the changes. Pappardelle and bucatini are a good match for meatballs, but frankly, any pasta shape will taste good.
Your kitchen will smell like the set of the Godfather, in a good way, and when it comes to inviting guests round to share this show-stopping dish, you’re gonna make them an offer they can’t refuse…
