Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

Sweet and spicy meatballs are the perfect appetizer for game day or any gathering made easy in the slow cooker. Doctoring up frozen meatballs in the crockpot is easy, delicious, and always a crowd pleaser!

I am not much of a sports fan, but I am all for party food. Buffalo chicken dip, homemade salsa, instant pot hummus – you’ll find me in front of the spread.

These sweet and spicy, easy crockpot meatballs make the perfect addition to the lineup.

Not only are they the perfect candidate for football party food, this delicious meatball recipe is so easy to throw together, you’ll want them at all your parties (or just for dinner!).

You just need frozen meatballs and a few other ingredients, making them so easy!

Hanging out with friends and family > than spending all day in the kitchen so I like dishes with minimal effort when we have gatherings. Frozen meatballs in the crockpot are PERFECT!

Helpful Tools

• Crockpot – I’ve had this slow cooker for years & highly recommend it. It switches to “warm” after the designated cooking time, which is super helpful.
• Tongs – Love these for handling high temperatures since they have silicone tips.
• Mixing bowls – I like the grippy bottoms so the bowls don’t slide around.
• Whisk – This is the most comfortable whisk I think I’ve ever owned. Great for mixing.

Spicy Party Meatball Ingredients

• Meatballs – You’ll need a 2 lb bag of frozen meatballs. We usually opt for beef but turkey or plant based meatballs will work as well! Of course you could make homemade meatballs. They’re easy and it’s nice to have a batch in the freezer for these types of dishes.
• Brown Sugar – Adds some of the sweet without being too much.
• Honey – Honey in meatballs are a must for the sweet in this recipe.
• Jalapeno Ketchup – Heinz makes a jalapeno ketchup but you can also make your own.
• Sriracha Sauce – Sriracha is a chili sauce to add heat. If you don’t have any, Sambal Oelek (that I use in my spicy bbq sauce) will work as well.
• Soy Sauce – I like to use low sodium soy sauce, which helps to balance the sweet & spicy. Coconut aminos could also be used.
• Garlic – Mince up a few cloves for the sauce.
• Sliced Green Onions – Used as a garnish for the meatballs. You can also use chopped cilantro instead.

How to make Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

1. STEP ONE: Add the meatballs into a slow cooker (you’ll want at least a 4 qt size – mine is 6 qt).
   
2. STEP TWO: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, ketchup, sriracha, soy sauce, and garlic until well combined.
   
3. STEP THREE: Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs and toss to fully coat them. Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
   
4. STEP FOUR: Serve your meatballs hot, garnished with green onions or chopped cilantro.

What to serve with them

Some of our favorite recipes to serve with this spicy appetizer are hot wings, buffalo chicken dip, spinach artichoke dip, and taco dip.

Or, pair them with firecracker meatballs!

If you’re having them as a main dish, a great way to serve them is with brown rice or noodles and a veggie.

Follow them up with a sweet treat like brownies, cheesecake filled cupcakes, or Reese’s Pieces cookies.

How long to cook frozen meatballs in the crockpot

Frozen meatballs should cook for 2-3 hours on HIGH or 5-6 hours on LOW in the crockpot, stirring occasionally.

If you have time, low and slow really soaks up the flavors leaving you with moist and delicious meatballs.

Should I thaw meatballs before putting in the crockpot?

No. As long as you’ll be cooking your meatballs for at least 2 hours on HIGH, you don’t need to thaw them before you put them in the crockpot. They come fully cooked and just need to warm through.

If you don’t have at least 2 hours of cook time, start with thawed meatballs.

How to store leftovers

Store leftover spicy party meatballs in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze them?

I don’t recommend it, no. Since you start with frozen meatballs, I wouldn’t refreeze them. Once is enough.

More meatball recipes

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

Cranberry Meatballs

Grape Jelly Meatballs

Spicy Buffalo Meatballs

Slow Cooker Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs

Click here for my entire collection of meatball recipes.

4.71 from 106 votes

Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Meatballs

Created by Melissa Williams

Servings: 60 meatballs

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 3 hours hrs

Total Time: 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

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Sweet and spicy meatballs are the perfect appetizer for game day or any gathering made easy in the slow cooker. Doctoring up frozen meatballs in the crockpot is easy, delicious, and always a crowd pleaser!

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 pounds frozen fully cooked meatballs
• ▢ ½ cup light brown sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup honey
• ▢ 1 cup jalapeno ketchup
• ▢ 3 tablespoons sriracha sauce
• ▢ ¼ cup soy sauce
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ Sliced green onions or chopped cilantro optional

Instructions

• Pour meatballs into a slow cooker.
  2 pounds frozen fully cooked meatballs
• In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, ketchup, sriracha, soy sauce and garlic until combined.
  ½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup honey, 1 cup jalapeno ketchup, 3 tablespoons sriracha sauce, ¼ cup soy sauce, 3 cloves garlic
• Pour the sauce over the frozen meatballs and toss to fully coat. Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
• Serve garnished with sliced green onions or chopped cilantro.
  Sliced green onions or chopped cilantro

Notes

• We use beef meatballs. Turkey or plant based will work as well!
• You’ll want to use at least a 4 quart slow cooker. 
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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