Savory Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs
A simple and flavorful slow cooker recipe featuring tender meatballs coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 to 4 hours (slow cooker low) or 1.5 to 2 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker low) or 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, milk, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix gently until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, about 18-20 pieces.
- Optional: Brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of oil until golden on all sides, about 2 minutes per side.
- In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Place meatballs in the slow cooker and pour the honey garlic sauce over them. Add the cornstarch slurry and stir gently.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or on high for 1.5 to 2 hours until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is thick and glossy.
- If sauce is too thin near the end, remove lid and cook on high for 15-20 minutes to reduce.
- Stir gently, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
For gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice crackers. For dairy-free, substitute milk with almond or oat milk. Browning meatballs before slow cooking adds flavor but is optional. Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid frequently to maintain heat. Sauce thickness can be adjusted by cooking uncovered at the end.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 meatballs wi
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 22
Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic meatballs, easy dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal, crockpot meatballs