Description
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs feature tender, juicy meatballs cooked low and slow in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. This fuss-free recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or gatherings, offering a delicious balance of honey’s sweetness and garlic’s boldness with minimal hands-on prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground meat (beef, pork, turkey, or a mix)
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup water or broth
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined, then shape into evenly sized meatballs about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
- Make the Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and water or broth until smooth to create the sweet and tangy sauce base.
- Slow Cook: Place meatballs evenly in the slow cooker and pour the sauce over them. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until meatballs are cooked through and tender.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked, gently stir to coat meatballs evenly with sauce before serving to ensure full flavor in every bite.
Notes
- Use a cookie scoop or measuring spoon for evenly sized meatballs for consistent cooking.
- Mix ingredients just until combined to keep meatballs tender and prevent toughness.
- For extra flavor, sear meatballs in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker.
- If sauce is too thin after cooking, remove meatballs and simmer sauce on stove to thicken.
- Cooking on the low setting yields juicier meatballs and better flavor development.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours on low or 2 to 3 hours on high
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs with sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic meatballs, easy dinner, party appetizer, gluten free, kid-friendly, comfort food
