Description
A forgiving, slow-cooker meatball recipe featuring a sticky sweet and tangy honey BBQ glaze. This dish is perfect for game day parties, requires minimal effort, and offers easy swaps for gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, and vegan diets.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1/2 cup (50g) panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 small onion (100g), finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic (2 tsp), minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup (240ml) BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup (85g) honey
- 1 tbsp (15ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp (5ml) Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, egg, diced onion, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined; do not overmix.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch uniform balls (makes about 24-30 meatballs). Place them directly into the slow cooker without browning.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour half of the sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on Low for 4-6 hours or on High for 2-3 hours, until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir meatballs to coat in juices. For a thicker glaze, remove lid and cook on High for the last 15 minutes.
- Serve hot with reserved sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
Do not overmix the meatball mixture to avoid tough texture. Handle meatballs loosely when rolling to keep them tender. If using gluten-free breadcrumbs, they may absorb more moisture, so adjust ratio if needed. For a thicker glaze, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to let excess liquid evaporate. You can freeze raw meatballs on a baking sheet before adding to the slow cooker, adding 30 minutes to cook time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball (approx.
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 8
Keywords: game day food, crockpot meatballs, honey BBQ meatballs, slow cooker appetizer, allergen friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, keto, party food