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    Home » Slow Cooker Beef

    Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

    Posted: Dec 9, 2019 · Updated: Feb 12, 2021 by Tonje

    1170 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Delicious, sticky, sweet Crockpot BBQ Meatballs are a fantastic dish that practically makes itself. Perfect for dinner, as an appetizer, or simply served as a snack.

    Crockpot BBQ meatballs in a bowl with mashed potatoes in the background.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Leftovers
    • Frequently asked questions
    • You might also like these recipes
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Have you ever tried to cook frozen meatballs in your slow cooker? It's so easy, and although the dish takes a few hours to come together, it only requires a few minutes of labor.

    These BBQ glazed meatballs are so tender and juicy, and the sauce is incredible. Cooking them in a crock pot means that they stay soft all over, and as long as you remember to prepare the dish a few hours in advance, they are ready to eat exactly when you feel like it!

    Ingredients

    The main component in this recipe is of course meatballs. You can use store bought or homemade meatballs using your favorite recipe, and they can either be used frozen or fresh.

    If you're using frozen meatballs, whether they are uncooked or precooked, you can just throw them directly into the slow cooker. The same applies if you're using chilled, cooked meatballs.

    However, if you're using raw chilled meatballs, I highly recommend that you quickly brown them a little in a pan or skillet before you transfer them to your crockpot, otherwise they could dissolve a little as they cook.

    Additionally, you will need your favorite BBQ sauce, an onion and some honey.

    Frozen meatballs, onion, BBQ sauce and honey on a table.

    Check out my collection of slow cooker beef and pork recipes for more meal inspiration!

    Instructions

    Add your meatballs, honey, BBQ sauce and a finely diced onion to your slow cooker. Place the lid on top, and cook for 3-4 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low.

    The liquid from the meatballs will mix with the BBQ sauce, so don't worry if it seems like you're not adding enough sauce - you are.

    Stir to coat everything evenly, and serve immediately, or leave the crock pot on the warm setting until you're ready to eat.

    Frozen meatballs and BBQ sauce in a crock pot.

    Top tips

    Here is my best advice to help you succeed with this recipe:

    • Leave the lid on the crock pot while the meatballs are cooking. This will keep the heat in and allow the meatballs to cook faster and more evenly.
    • The honey can be substituted with maple syrup, agave nectar, brown sugar or any other sweetener. You can also omit it completely.
    • Use your favorite BBQ sauce! I love Sweet Baby Ray's, but you can also use a homemade sauce, or a different brand.
    BBQ meatballs with mashed potatoes.

    Serving suggestions

    Meatballs can be served on cocktail sticks as an appetizer or snack, or served with side dishes as an entree. Here are some of my favorite sides to pair them with:

    • Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges - These cheesy potato wedges are the absolute best.
    • Oven Roasted Green Beans - Crispy, delicious roasted green beans.
    • Healthy Mashed Potatoes - Creamy mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt.
    • French Potato Salad - A flavorful potato salad with herbs.
    • Air Fryer Baked Potato - Easy baked potatoes made in your air fryer.
    BBQ meatballs with parsley on the side.

    Variations

    With grape jelly: For added flavor, you can replace the honey with grape jelly. This is a popular version of the dish in the US, and is definitely worth trying.

    Spicy: Add some chili powder, sriracha or use spicy BBQ sauce to add a little heat to the dish.

    Gluten free: Make sure to use gluten free meatballs and BBQ sauce if you want to make gluten free BBQ meatballs.

    Low calorie / lean dish: For fewer calories, you can use turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs instead of beef meatballs.

    Vegetarian: Use vegetarian meatballs. Keep in mind that different types and brands of veggie meatballs have very different textures, so your results may vary.

    Leftovers

    You can store leftover BBQ meatballs in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months.

    Reheat the meatballs in a pot, slow cooker or microwave, and serve them hot. You can also re-use them in a different dish, like a sandwich or casserole.

    A bowl of BBQ sauce meatballs.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you cook frozen meatballs in your crock pot?

    Yes, you can safely cook frozen meatballs in your crock pot as long as you cook them for long enough time to allow them to cook through.

    How long do you cook meatballs that have already been cooked in the slow cooker?

    Precooked meatballs simply have to be slow cooked until they have heated through, typically 3-4 hours.

    You might also like these recipes

    • Broccoli and Cheese Balls
    • Beef and Pork Meatballs
    • Baked Turkey Meatballs
    • Honey Sriracha Meatballs
    • BBQ Meatloaf
    • Air Fryer Meatballs
    • Sausage Meatballs
    • Slow Cooker Meatball Stew

    Recipe

    Crockpot BBQ Meatballs.

    Crockpot BBQ meatballs

    Delicious, sticky, sweet Crockpot BBQ Meatballs are a fantastic dish that practically makes itself. Perfect for dinner, as an appetizer, or simply served as a snack.
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 4 hrs
    Course Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 30 meatballs
    Calories 59 kcal

    Equipment

    • Crockpot
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 30 meatballs (raw or cooked)
    • 1 onion
    • 1 cup BBQ sauce (236 ml)
    • 2 tablespoons honey

    Instructions
     

    • Finely dice the onion.
    • Add the onion, meatballs, BBQ sauce and honey to your slow cooker.
    • Cover with a lid, and cook for 3-4 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low.
    • Stir the meatballs to coat evenly, then serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • Leave the lid on the crock pot while the meatballs are cooking. This will keep the heat in and allow the meatballs to cook faster and more evenly.
    • The honey can be substituted with maple syrup, agave nectar, brown sugar or any other sweetener. You can also omit it completely.
    • Use your favorite BBQ sauce! I love Sweet Baby Ray’s, but you can also use a homemade sauce, or a different brand.
    • You can store leftover BBQ meatballs in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 59kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 106mgPotassium: 68mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 21IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword bbq, easy, honey, meatballs, slow cooker
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenn

      December 12, 2019 at 8:46 pm

      5 stars
      What a great dish to take to a holiday party I've got coming up! Can't wait dig in!

      Reply
      • Tonje

        December 12, 2019 at 8:52 pm

        Definitely a perfect party recipe! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
      • Jelena

        August 26, 2021 at 3:05 pm

        Can you put frozen meatballs in a crockpot or do you have to thaw them before putting them in?

        Reply
        • Tonje

          August 28, 2021 at 8:54 am

          I tend to thaw them first, but I know some people cook them directly from frozen. If you use frozen meatballs, they will release more water when they cook, so the BBQ sauce can get quite watery.

          Reply
    2. Haley D. Williams

      December 12, 2019 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      Seriously juicy and tender. Makes a big batch too!

      Reply
      • Tonje

        December 12, 2019 at 8:52 pm

        You'll need a big batch - these guys are super popular 🙂

        Reply
    3. Sunrita | Spice

      December 12, 2019 at 9:10 pm

      5 stars
      I have a Christmas apero for 30. This is just the type of dish I need. A crowd pleasure and easy to make.

      Reply
      • Tonje

        December 13, 2019 at 6:29 am

        Always perfect for a large crowd! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Erika

      December 12, 2019 at 9:36 pm

      5 stars
      I love meatballs and even better that these are made in the crockpot. Yum!

      Reply
      • Tonje

        December 13, 2019 at 6:29 am

        I'm so happy you like them!

        Reply
    5. Andrea Metlika

      December 13, 2019 at 10:32 pm

      5 stars
      These looks so delicious. I love how easy they are to make too!

      Reply
      • Tonje

        December 13, 2019 at 10:36 pm

        I'm so happy you like them! 🙂

        Reply

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