These Honey Garlic BBQ Crockpot Meatballs are the perfect appetizer or lunch idea. They're so easy to make with less than 10 ingredients!
When I was a kid, my uncle would bring his slow cooker filled with these meatballs to our family Christmas party. Everyone would stop by the appetizer table and get a meatball or two with a toothpick. It's one of my favourite core memories from my childhood – these meatballs are my homage to his!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Crowd pleaser: These meatballs are perfect for potlucks, parties and game days.
- Easy to make: Brown the meatballs, dump them in the crockpot and cook!
- No need for the freezer aisle: Sure, you can buy these at the store, but they're so much better for you and are easy to make from scratch!
Ingredients and substitutions
Meatballs
- Extra-lean ground beef – ground turkey would also work.
- Breadcrumbs – try using panko or crushed cornflakes instead.
- Egg – plain yogurt or buttermilk can also act as a binder.
- Yellow onion – white onion would be the best substitute here.
- Garlic powder – freshly minced garlic will work too.
Sauce
- BBQ sauce – use your favourite store-bought BBQ sauce.
- Ketchup – try grape jelly for a different flavour. You can leave out the honey if you use that instead.
- Honey – maple syrup or agave would also be good.
- Garlic – fresh minced garlic is best but garlic powder will work in a pinch.
How to make these meatballs
Step 1: Make the sauce.
Mix BBQ sauce, ketchup, honey and garlic together.
Step 2: Roll then sear the meatballs.
Roll and sear the meatballs until lightly browned.
Step 3: Add the sauce.
Add the meatballs to the crockpot and cover in sauce.
Step 4: Cook in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
Recipe tips & variations
Here are my expert tips for making these crockpot meatballs:
- Try different sauces: Use marinara sauce, teriyaki sauce or even Swedish meatball sauce.
- Use frozen cooked meatballs: Skip the browning step and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Go for a healthier option: Ground turkey will provide a leaner and healthier option.
- Make them in the oven: Bake on a parchment-lined sheet for 10-12 mins at 400° F.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to brown the meatballs first?
You don't need to brown them, but it does help them keep their shape as they cook, so I highly recommend it.
What BBQ sauce is best?
You can use any store-bought BBQ sauce of your choice! You can also try using a homemade BBQ sauce.
How long can I keep them in the slow cooker?
You can keep the cooked meatballs in the crockpot on the ‘Keep Warm' setting for up to 3 hours.
Serving ideas
These meatballs are a great appetizer, or you can serve them with one of these sides for a full meal:
- Steamed broccoli or corn on the cob with rice
- Macaroni and cheese
- Mashed potatoes
Storing and reheating
Prep ahead: Make the meatballs a couple hours before a party, then leave on the ‘Keep Warm' setting for 3 hours.
Storing: Store the leftovers in the fridge for 5 days.
Freezing: Flash freeze the meatballs on a tray, then freeze for up to 3 months in a reusable bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 mins or on a stovetop pan with some extra sauce.
More easy meatball recipes
Meal prep tools
- This is the slow cooker I use.
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these meatballs into your weekly lunches.
- I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your meatballs are cooked through.
- Use these Ziploc bag holders if you're add the meatballs to freezer bags then freezing them.
- Freeze this recipe in reusable freezer bags for up to 3 months.
Honey Garlic BBQ Crockpot Meatballs {Super Easy}
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 yellow onion, grated
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Sauce
- 3/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Mix sauce together in a large bowl and set aside.
- In another large mixing bowl, mix meatballs together until combined. Heat a large skillet over high heat then sear meatballs for 2-3 minutes each side until lightly cooked and browned.
- Gently add meatballs to crockpot with tongs, then cover with sauce. Cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for 4 hours.
- Serve with toothpicks or in meal prep bowls with steamed broccoli. Leftovers will last up to 5 days in the fridge, and meatballs can be frozen up to 3 months. Enjoy!
Video
Comments & Reviews
Terri says
I like that this recipe uses homemade meatballs. I think it a textural thing with me, but I can’t eat the pre made frozen meatballs you buy at the store. I haven’t made this recipe yet, but I’ll make it for the holiday gatherings.
Kayla Rush says
I made this recipe for my work lunches and it turned out delicious! I didn’t have the 2 hour setting on my crockpot and used 4 hours. The flavors just burst on your tongue and tastes so good with broccoli!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed 🙂
Layla says
If you’re making it in the over do you put the sauce on top of the meatballs while they cook or after there cooked.
Taylor Stinson says
I would recommend tossing them after they’re cooked in a bowl 🙂 I would microwave the sauce first for 1 min so it can thicken.
Tracey says
How many meatballs in a serving? I’m not seeing it in the nutritional information.
Taylor Stinson says
I don’t provide servings by weight/cup/number. You will need to take the number of servings listed and divide into portions. Each portion is a serving. This will depend how large you make the meatballs.
Lisa says
Taylor, these were sooo delicious!! I doubled the recipe to feed my family of 3 teenage boys and will definitely triple or quadruple in the future. I baked my meatballs at 350 for 15 minutes before adding to crockpot for 2 hours on high. I also ran out of bbq sauce and added about 1/2 cup of runny jalapeno jelly that i made and it really added a dimension of flavor! Will certainly do this again! And it sounds weird but i added these to a salad and drizzled some sauce for the dressing—incredible!!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you all enjoyed! The jalapeno jelly sounds amazing!
Taylor S. says
How much is a serving?
Taylor Stinson says
I don’t provide servings by weight/cup unfortunately. You will need to take the number of servings listed and divide into portions. Each portion is a serving.
Jen says
Could this be made as a meatloaf?
Taylor Stinson says
I think so, I haven’t tried it myself.
Nona says
How many meatballs did you have per serving in order to arrive at all the numbers for the nutrition facts?
Taylor Stinson says
There should be approximately 32 meatballs total, or 4 meatballs per serving including sauce.
Stephanie says
Hi Taylor,
To save time on our busy weekdays I was going to use frozen turkey meatballs. Would I have to defrost them prior to cooking or just throw them in frozen and add some cooking time to the toyal? Thanks for the help
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Stephanie – I haven’t tried this myself but I imagine you could add them in frozen.
Whitney says
How many meatballs is in one serving?
Taylor Stinson says
It depends on how large you make the meatballs. I don’t typically provide servings by number/weight/cup unfortunately. You will need to take the number of servings listed and divide into portions. Each portion is a serving.