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Easy Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs: Perfect Weeknight Dinner

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These honey garlic meatballs are a weeknight win that requires minimal prep and delivers maximum flavor. The crockpot does all the work, creating a sticky-sweet sauce that coats every meatball perfectly.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds frozen fully cooked meatballs (homestyle or Italian-style)
  • ¾ cup honey (mild, runny like clover or wildflower)
  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic)
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
  • 2–3 green onions, chopped (for garnish, optional)
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Taste and adjust sweetness or tanginess as desired.
  2. Place the frozen meatballs directly into the slow cooker in an even layer. No need to thaw.
  3. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and gently toss with tongs until all meatballs are coated.
  4. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Stir halfway through cooking to ensure even coating.
  5. About 30 minutes before serving, mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth. Pour the slurry into the crockpot and stir gently. Let cook for the remaining 30 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed (add more soy sauce for saltiness or honey for sweetness).
  7. Garnish with sesame seeds, green onions, and fresh herbs if desired. Serve over rice, as an appetizer, in bowls, or on slider buns.

Notes

For best flavor, cook on low. Don’t skip the cornstarch slurry—it thickens the sauce to a glossy, clingy consistency. If the sauce is too thin at the end, mix another tablespoon of cornstarch with water and stir in, then cook 10 more minutes. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot meatballs, honey garlic meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, easy weeknight dinner, frozen meatballs recipe

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