Description
Mouthwatering slow cooker honey garlic meatballs combine tender beef with a sweet and tangy sauce. Savory ingredients meld perfectly, creating a simple yet irresistible dish that satisfies hungry guests with minimal preparation effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 kg (2 lbs) frozen meatballs (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (if using raw meatballs)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsps water (for thickening)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Searing Preparation: Heat a skillet with olive oil over medium temperature, browning meatballs until they develop a golden exterior. For frozen meatballs, transfer directly into the slow cooker without searing.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk honey, soy sauce, ketchup, chicken broth, minced garlic, rice vinegar, and grated ginger in a mixing bowl until achieving a glossy, uniform mixture.
- Coating and Flavor Infusion: Gently drench meatballs with the prepared sauce, ensuring comprehensive coverage and even distribution throughout the slow cooker.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, allowing meatballs to become tender and absorb the rich sauce completely.
- Sauce Thickening: Prepare a cornstarch slurry by whisking cornstarch and water until smooth, then pour into the slow cooker and increase to high temperature.
- Final Reduction: Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring intermittently to prevent burning and achieve a glossy, clingy sauce consistency that perfectly coats the meatballs.
- Garnishing and Serving: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and finely sliced green onions over the meatballs, then serve immediately atop fluffy white rice or tender noodles.
Notes
- Perfectly Brown Meatballs: Sear meatballs in a hot skillet with olive oil to develop a rich golden crust, which locks in flavor and creates a delicious caramelized exterior before slow cooking.
- Sauce Consistency Hack: Whisk cornstarch slurry thoroughly to eliminate lumps, ensuring a smooth, glossy sauce that coats meatballs evenly without becoming gloopy or thin.
- Flavor Infusion Technique: Let meatballs simmer slowly in sauce for the full recommended time, allowing herbs and spices to deeply penetrate and tenderize the meat for maximum taste absorption.
- Low-Carb Adaptation: Replace traditional rice with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles to transform this dish into a keto-friendly meal without sacrificing the rich, savory flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg