Description
These slow cooker honey garlic meatballs are a sweet, savory, and tender weeknight dinner solution that tastes better than takeout. With a simple ‘set it and forget it’ method, they are perfect for busy families and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1/2 cup (50g) panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (for meatballs)
- 2 stalks green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup (170g) honey
- 1/4 cup (60ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) rice vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (for sauce)
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup (120ml) water or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cold water (for slurry)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, green onions, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined; do not overmix.
- Roll the meat mixture into 20-24 meatballs, each about the size of a tablespoon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and water or chicken broth until the honey is dissolved.
- Place the meatballs in the slow cooker and pour the sauce over them. Gently turn the meatballs to coat them evenly.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours (or high for 2 hours).
- In the last 30 minutes of cooking, mix the arrowroot starch or cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry. Stir this into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook for another 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Turn off the slow cooker. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and a drizzle of sesame oil if desired. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or with steamed vegetables.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs. Use fresh garlic for the best flavor. The sauce will thicken as it cools. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey and add a tablespoon of olive oil to the meat mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 4 meat
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic meatballs, easy dinner, better than takeout, weeknight meals, meal prep, crockpot recipes, sweet and savory