Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Meatballs

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

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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, these crockpot meatballs are 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!

SLOW COOKER MEATBALLS INGREDIENTS

Below is a list of ingredients & some helpful tidbits to help you plan out your cooking, but you can also skip it and scroll down for the full recipe.

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!
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 will work as well.
SOY SAUCE – Salt, to balance the sweet & spicy.
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.

TOOLS FOUND ON AMAZON TO HELP YOU

• 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.

CROCKPOT MEATBALL RECIPE

STEP ONE: Add the meatballs into a slow cooker (you’ll want at least a 4 qt size – mine is 6 qt).

STEP TWO: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, ketchup, sriracha, soy sauce, and garlic until well combined.

STEP THREE: Pour the sauce over the meatballs and toss to fully coat them. Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, or HIGH for 2-3 hours.

STEP FOUR: Serve your meatballs hot garnished with green onions or chopped cilantro.

HOW LONG TO COOK FROZEN MEATBALLS IN 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?

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 THEM

Store leftover slow cooker 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 CROCKPOT FAVORITES

Crockpot Turkey Meatballs
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Asian Crockpot Meatballs
Crockpot Swedish Meatballs

Click here for my entire collection of crockpot recipes.

Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Meatballs

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates

Perfect appetizer for game day or any gathering. Doctoring up frozen meatballs in the crockpot is easy, delicious, and always a crowd pleaser!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 3 hrs

Total Time 3 hrs 10 mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 60 meatballs

Calories 17 kcal

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.
• In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, ketchup, sriracha, soy sauce and garlic until combined.
• 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.

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 17kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 108mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 22IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 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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