If you have the frozen meatballs and the sauce and the slow cooker...throw them them all together (you can add culinary embellishments if you wish) and let them heat all day and they will be ready for you by the end of the day (5:00). Read your slow cooker instructions and be sure you're going to be heating properly for safety. You've chosen ingredients that are already cooked; just be sure they are heated thoroughly to serve. Don't panic!

Alexa; Why don't you test you crockpot with water tonight,
to see how long it takes to heat the water.
Then allow about 20 minutes more.
You will have your Crockpot all cleaned and ready.
Lou

You had a slow cooker -- Sorry if I was wrong. Just get your meatballs and sauce together and heat thoroughly anyway you can. On the stove, in the oven. If you are at work and are worried about getting it done in time, prepare ahead by thawing the meatballs and combining with the sauce. It can be heated easily to the proper temperature in good time.
Relax and have a good time.
Annie1971

Like you, I have never done that. Therefor, if I were doing it, I would heat the meatballs in sauce on the stove. I would be certain of getting them up to temperature that way before they went into the crock pot. If the meatball package has directions, so much the better.

If someone else has more crock pot experience, they may have a better idea.

Jim

Alexa, how old is the crockpot? The newer ones ron hotter than the ones from the 90's.

If they are frozen, dump it all together at about 1 pm, set the cooker to high if it is an older one, or on low if a newer one. If they are not done, you can always turn the cooker up to high or transfer to a casserole dish and nuke them.

I have done this too for other functions and it works. I will not disown you.

Peppi

PS: I love it, Hubby is cooking the balls...darfc...

Alexa:
I forgot to ask if the meatballs are cooked then frozen.
Maybe you should allow 3/4 Hour instead.
Lou

On pot luck days at work one of the girls pours the frozen meatballs and sauce into the crockpot at 7am while I am making coffee. By 11:00 people are eating the meatballs. She uses two bags of meatballs and 3 or more jars of sauce but I never checked if she set it on low or high.

Oh heavens.....the reason why you are doing it this way is because it's easy and for a bunch of Philistines who won't know store bought meatballs and sauce from home made.
Over cooked is better than cold in the middle...
Put the stuff in the crockpot at noon.....
Linda C.....who knows nuffin bout crock pots!

Philistines?!?! Be careful how you talk about Cub Scouts! I was a Cub Scout once. :-)

Jim

I agree with Linda that this is being overthunk, but being as frozen meatballs take about 30 minutes max simmering stovetop that's the way I would go. Then transfer to a crockpot so you can plug it in later to keep warm. Assuming your drive is less than a half hour, it doesn't sound like you even need your husband's help.

Alexa:
Just put it on a day ahead, what the h--- !
Lou

Thanks everyone!

I will have DH put them on to cook between noon and 1:00 and check to make sure they are hot at 4:30 when we are leaving.

It is an older crockpot, so it doesn't get too hot....

You are all awesome!

Alexa

I won't tell you how I know:), Caliloo, but there have been folks who have actually microwaved the frozen/store-bought meatballs before putting them in the crockpot.

LOL -- Philistines! When I was on lunchroom duty and much to the delight of his friends, I looked over to see my son nonchalantly eating his lunch with two pretzels hanging out of his nose. Don't worry about offending the palates.

Good luck and have fun!

Cathy in SWPA