Cozy Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
Tender meatballs simmered in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, cooked effortlessly in a crockpot for a comforting and crowd-pleasing meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (low) or 2 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 20-24 meatballs (about 4-6 servings) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned or plain)
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried parsley)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (for thickening)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, about 5 minutes.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, about 20-24 pieces. Place on a baking sheet or plate. Optionally, brown meatballs in a non-stick skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes until smooth.
- Place meatballs in the crockpot and pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over them. Stir gently to distribute sauce without breaking meatballs.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until meatballs are cooked through and tender.
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir cornstarch slurry into the crockpot to thicken the sauce. Cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes until sauce is glossy and thick.
- Serve meatballs and sauce over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with extra chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Browning meatballs before slow cooking is optional but adds flavor. Use cornstarch slurry to thicken sauce at the end. Leftovers taste better after a day. Can substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef. For gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour and tamari instead of soy sauce. Parmesan cheese can be omitted for dairy-free version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 5-6 meatballs
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 18
Keywords: crockpot meatballs, honey garlic meatballs, slow cooker recipe, comfort food, easy dinner, family meal