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Savory Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs

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A comforting and easy slow cooker recipe featuring juicy meatballs in a sticky honey garlic sauce, perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey (80/20 beef preferred)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced fresh
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced fresh
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Cooked white rice or jasmine rice, for serving
  • Chopped green onions or extra parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, beaten egg, 2 cloves minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently by hand to avoid overmixing.
  2. Shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, about 20 total, and place on a plate or baking sheet.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, 3 cloves minced garlic, ketchup, vinegar, and optional crushed red pepper flakes. Adjust sweetness or tang to taste.
  4. Pour half the sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange meatballs in a single layer over the sauce, then pour the remaining sauce on top, covering the meatballs.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until meatballs are tender and cooked through (internal temperature 160°F). Avoid lifting the lid during cooking.
  6. While meatballs cook, prepare rice according to package instructions or in a rice cooker.
  7. Once cooked, gently stir meatballs to coat evenly in sauce. Serve over warm rice and garnish with chopped green onions or parsley.
  8. Optional: If sauce is too thin after cooking, mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 2 teaspoons water and stir into slow cooker. Cook uncovered on high for 10-15 minutes until thickened.

Notes

Do not overmix meatball ingredients to keep meatballs tender. Fresh minced garlic is preferred over powder for better flavor. Browning meatballs before slow cooking is optional but adds flavor. Keep slow cooker lid closed during cooking to maintain heat. Adjust honey and soy sauce to taste. Sauce can be thickened with cornstarch slurry if needed. Meatballs can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated. Freeze leftovers in sauce for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic meatballs, easy dinner, comfort food, family meal, weeknight dinner, crockpot meatballs

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/savory-slow-cooker-honey-garlic-meatballs-recipe-easy-homemade-dinner-idea/