Description
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs are a weeknight lifesaver. Tender, tangy, and sweet, these meatballs practically cook themselves. Perfect for busy evenings!
Ingredients
Scale
- Meatball Base:
- 1.5 lbs ground beef or pork (or a mix)
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- Honey Garlic Sauce Essentials:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Flavor Enhancers & Bindings:
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Garnish & Serving:
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Get Those Meatballs Mixed Up:: Okay, first things first, grab a big bowl. Toss in your ground meat, panko, egg, milk, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Now, here’s where it gets a little messy but fun: get your hands in there! Mix it gently until everything is just combined. Overmixing makes for tough meatballs, and nobody wants that. I usually just use one hand so the other stays clean-ish for opening doors or scratching my nose, haha!
- Roll ‘Em Out:: Time to roll! I aim for about 1-inch meatballs. They don’t have to be perfectly uniform, honestly. My kitchen always looks like a flour bomb went off after this step, but who cares? Just remember, smaller meatballs cook a bit faster and soak up more sauce. You can do this right on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper – it makes cleanup a breeze, trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way.
- A Quick Sear (Optional but Recommended!):: This step is where the magic happens, flavor-wise. Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides. They don’t need to be cooked through, just get a nice crust. This step adds so much depth and keeps them from falling apart in the slow cooker. I didn’t expect that the first time I tried it, but wow, what a difference!
- Whisk Up That Glorious Sauce:: In a separate bowl, whisk together your ketchup, honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Give it a good whisk until it’s all smooth and beautifully combined. Taste it! Does it need a little more honey for sweetness, or a dash more vinegar for tang? Adjust it to your liking, my friend. This is your kitchen, after all!
- Slow Cooker Time!:: Carefully transfer your browned meatballs into your slow cooker. Pour that delicious honey garlic sauce all over them, making sure every meatball gets a nice coating. Give the slow cooker a gentle shake to settle everything. Then, pop on the lid. Set it to low for 3-4 hours or high for 1.5-2 hours. Walk away, go do something else! The house will start smelling incredible, I promise.
- Serve and Enjoy Your Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs!:: Once the cooking time is up, your meatballs should be tender and swimming in that rich, sticky sauce. Give them a stir to ensure they’re all coated again. Ladle them out, sprinkle with sesame seeds and fresh parsley or green onions. They look so inviting, and the smell? Oh, the smell is just divine. Get ready for some happy eaters, because these are always a hit!