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A close-up of slow cooker honey garlic meatballs in a glazed sauce, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.

Classic Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs

These classic slow cooker honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and easy meal, perfect for a weeknight dinner or game day appetizer.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Slow cooker
  • Whisk
  • Small bowl

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 1.5 pounds ground beef 80/20 or leaner
  • 0.5 cup breadcrumbs plain or panko
  • 0.25 cup milk any type
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped Optional

For the Honey Garlic Sauce

  • 0.75 cup honey
  • 0.5 cup soy sauce low sodium if desired
  • 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated or 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water for cornstarch slurry

Instructions
 

Meatball Preparation

  • In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, and optional parsley, mixing until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
  • Roll the mixture into 1 to 1.5-inch balls, yielding approximately 30-35 meatballs.
  • Place the meatballs in a single layer at the bottom of your slow cooker, spreading them out for even cooking.

Sauce and Cooking

  • In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger until well combined.
  • Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1.5-2.5 hours until tender.
  • Create a cornstarch slurry by whisking cornstarch and water in a small bowl, then stir it into the slow cooker and cook on high for 15-30 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Stir everything thoroughly before serving to ensure the meatballs are fully coated in the sticky sauce.

Notes

For best results, do not overmix the meatball mixture. You can use a lean ground beef for a healthier option. The meatballs can also be cooked on the stovetop or baked in the oven if you're short on time, but adjust cooking times accordingly.