Description
These sticky, sweet, and tangy honey BBQ meatballs are the perfect easy game day appetizer. Made in a slow cooker, they stay hot for hours and feed a crowd with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (900g) ground beef (80/20)
- 1 cup (100g) plain dried breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup (240ml) BBQ sauce
- ½ cup (120ml) honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1–2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional)
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, minced garlic, diced onion, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently with hands until just combined; do not overmix.
- Roll the mixture into uniform balls, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter (about a tablespoon each). Place on a baking sheet or plate.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce until smooth.
- Place the meatballs in the slow cooker in a single layer if possible. Pour the honey BBQ sauce over the meatballs, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Once cooked, give the meatballs a gentle stir to coat them in the thickened sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve warm directly from the slow cooker.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs. For a gluten-free version, use almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs. If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water and stir into the slow cooker, cooking on High for 30 minutes to thicken. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6-8 meatballs per se
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: slow cooker meatballs, honey BBQ meatballs, game day recipes, football party food, easy appetizer, crowd pleaser, slow cooker appetizers