Friday, September 20, 2024

The Greatest Crockpot BBQ Meatballs


These simple crockpot BBQ meatballs are a hearty and addictive social gathering appetizer! Meatballs are gradual cooked in a selfmade bbq sauce till completely juicy and stuffed with smokey barbecue taste.

Overhead photo of meatballs in bbq sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Barbecue Meatballs Recipe

These juicy meatballs are the right social gathering or recreation day appetizer! Right here’s why you’ll love them:

  • Straightforward: Utilizing frozen meatballs means you don’t need to do a lot work in any respect. Whisk collectively your sauce, toss all the pieces into the crockpot, and let it do all of the onerous work!
  • Get together Prepared: Stick a toothpick into them and set them on a platter for everybody to munch on throughout the recreation, or hold them heat within the gradual cooker.
  • Smoky: Liquid smoke and Worcestershire sauce make these bite-sized meatballs style like they had been on the grill all afternoon.
  • Versatile: Making your personal simple selfmade bbq sauce with easy components places you in management. In order for you your barbecue meatballs sweeter or spicier, you may simply modify to suit your tastes.

If you happen to love gradual cooker meatballs, attempt my candy and savory grape jelly meatballs, spicy crockpot buffalo rooster meatballs, or these crockpot candy and bitter meatballs!

Ingredients for crockpot bbq meatballs.

What You’ll Want

Candy honey and tangy apple cider vinegar make the right sweet-and-savory sauce to coat the meatballs. Scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the publish for actual quantities.

  • Tomato Sauce: Use a can of plain tomato sauce.
  • Tomato Paste: To assist deepen the flavour.
  • Brown Sugar: Use mild or darkish brown sugar.
  • Honey: Maple syrup and agave nectar additionally work.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: White vinegar will even work, however apple cider vinegar is somewhat milder in taste.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: You may swap for A1 should you don’t have Worcestershire readily available.
  • Garlic Powder: Finely chopped garlic is an effective swap.
  • Onion Powder: You should use all-garlic should you choose.
  • Purple Pepper Flakes: Just a bit for taste, or double or triple so as to add warmth!
  • Salt and Pepper: I choose kosher salt and freshly-cracked pepper.
  • Liquid Smoke: It’s much like an extract and makes meals style prefer it was cooked over a grill. Watch out, somewhat liquid smoke goes a good distance!
  • Meatballs: Use your favourite frozen meatballs!
Bitten-into meatball on a fork.

Find out how to Make Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

It’s a set-and-forget bbq meatball recipe. You solely want so as to add all the pieces to the crock pot. Scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the publish for full detailed directions.

  • Sauce: Add the entire sauce components to the gradual cooker and stir to mix.
  • Meatballs: Add the meatballs and stir to coat them within the sauce.
  • Cook dinner: Set the crockpot and let all the pieces cook dinner till the meatballs are heat and the sauce is sweet and bubbly. For an excellent simple cleanup, line your gradual cooker with a liner.
Cooked crockpot bbq meatballs with fresh parsley as a garnish.

Suggestions & Variations

Except for frozen meatballs, store-bought sauce also can prevent time whenever you’re in a pinch.

  • Home made Meatballs: If you happen to’ve bought a household recipe for meatballs, use it! Keep away from extremely seasoned recipes that would make the combination overwhelming. Make sure that to cook dinner the meatballs earlier than including to the gradual cooker.
  • Spicy: Add additional crushed purple pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili oil to style for some warmth.
  • Tanginess: Omit the honey and add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar for a tangier bbq sauce.
  • Use Retailer-Purchased: If you happen to’re in a rush, use store-bought, plain bbq sauce. I like candy child rays. Nonetheless add the garlic powder, onion powder, purple pepper flakes, and liquid smoke. Solely add honey and brown sugar if you wish to make it sweeter.
Crockpot bbq meatballs with fresh parsley on top.

Serving Ideas

These crockpot bbq meatballs are the right game-day appetizer. Serve them with different simple appetizers for an extremely saucy, smoky chunk. My pulled pork crescent ring is a family-favorite. Chili cheese fries, turkey sliders, and air fryer rooster taquitos are nice too. If you happen to don’t wish to cook dinner lots, go for my loaded guacamole or restaurant fashion salsa. It’s also possible to serve them with garlic mashed potatoes for a hearty dinner!

Barbecue meatballs in a crockpot with a spoon scooping out a meatball coated in bbq sauce.

Find out how to Retailer & Reheat Leftover BBQ Meatballs

Make this bbq meatballs crockpot recipe prematurely if you wish to be ready for internet hosting last-minute game-days.

  • Fridge: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
  • Reheat: Microwave in 15-second intervals till warmed by way of. It’s also possible to reheat them in a pan over medium-high warmth with the lid on for 8-10 minutes, stirring often. Or toss them again into the gradual cooker on excessive for half-hour, stirring often.
  • Freezer: Switch the sauce and meatballs to a freezer-friendly container or bag. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat them as ordinary.

Extra Should Make Meatball Recipes

Landscape photo of crockpot bbq meatballs.

Print
Pin Recipe

Yield: 12 Servings

Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

This juicy crockpot BBQ meatballs recipe is a simple game-day appetizer made with frozen meatballs gradual cooked in a flavorful, selfmade barbecue sauce.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook dinner Time2 hours

Whole Time2 hours 10 minutes

Components

  • 2 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon crushed purple pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 2 lbs frozen meatballs

Directions 

  • Within the bowl of your crockpot, whisk to mix all of the components besides the meatballs. Add the meatballs and stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce.
  • Cook dinner on excessive for two to three hours, or low for 4 to five hours, till the meatballs are warmed by way of and the sauce is sweet and bubbly.

Notes

Fridge: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Reheat: Microwave in 15-second intervals till warmed by way of. It’s also possible to reheat them in a pan over medium-high warmth with the lid on for 8-10 minutes, stirring often. Or toss them again into the gradual cooker on excessive for half-hour, stirring often.
Freezer: Switch the sauce and meatballs to a freezer-friendly container or bag. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat them as ordinary.
Home made Meatballs: If you happen to’ve bought a household recipe for meatballs, use it! Keep away from extremely seasoned recipes that would make the combination overwhelming. Make sure that to cook dinner the meatballs earlier than including to the gradual cooker.
Spicy: Add additional crushed purple pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili oil to style for some warmth.
Tanginess: Omit the honey and add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar for a tangier bbq sauce.
Use Retailer-Purchased: If you happen to’re in a rush, use store-bought, plain bbq sauce. I like candy child rays. Nonetheless add the garlic powder, onion powder, purple pepper flakes, and liquid smoke. Solely add honey and brown sugar if you wish to make it sweeter.

Diet

Serving: 1serving, Energy: 43kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 0.1g, Fats: 0.03g, Saturated Fats: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.02g, Monounsaturated Fats: 0.01g, Sodium: 217mg, Potassium: 32mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 51IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 0.2mg

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