Crock Pot Barbecue Meatballs Recipe
These crock pot barbecue meatballs are tender, juicy, packed with flavor, and smothered in rich barbecue sauce. They're one of the easiest slow-cooker appetizers you can make and are always a huge hit for parties, game day, potlucks, or even as an easy dinner the whole family will love.
The homemade meatballs bake up perfectly before finishing low and slow in the crock pot, soaking up all that delicious barbecue flavor. They’re perfect appetizers or a main dish with garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes and bacon green beans.
If you love easy crock pot recipes, be sure to also check out crock pot chili, slow cooker beef stew, and crock pot BBQ pulled pork for even more easy comfort food recipes.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super easy slow cooker recipe
- Perfect party appetizer
- Great for holidays and game day
- Tender homemade meatballs
- Rich, smoky barbecue flavor
- Easy make-ahead recipe
Key Ingredients
I’ve listed the most important ingredients for this recipe, but you’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- BBQ Sauce: Adds smoky, sweet, tangy flavor and keeps the meatballs moist while they cook in the crock pot.
- Onions: Bring moisture and a little sweetness that helps balance the rich beef.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, savory boost that gives the meatballs extra depth of flavor.
- Garlic Salt, Oregano & Basil: Create a bold, savory, herby flavor that gives the meatballs their homemade flavor.
Variations
- Sweet and Tangy Meatballs: Add ½ cup grape jelly or apricot preserves.
- Sipcy BBQ Meatballs: Add diced jalapenos, red pepper flakes, or a dash of hot sauce to the meat mixture.
- BBQ Pineapple Meatballs: Omit the bell peppers from my pineapple meatballs and replace the ketchup and vinegar with BBQ sauce.
- Turkey Meatballs: Use ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Honey BBQ Meatballs: Add a few tablespoons of honey for extra sweetness and rich flavor.
- Semi-Homemade: Use your favorite frozen meatballs.
How to Make Crock Pot Barbecue Meatballs
- Step 1: Mix the meatball ingredients. Then, use a 1 ½-inch cookie scoop to form meatballs and place them on a large, ungreased baking sheet.
- Step 2: Bake for 15 minutes.
- Step 3: Transfer the meatballs to a crock pot, cover with BBQ sauce, and cook on low or high until hot, bubbly, and cooked through.
Expert Tips
- Mix the meatball ingredients until just combined. Overmixing creates tough meatballs.
- Use a large cookie scoop to create uniform meatballs with far less effort and mess.
- Don’t overbake the meatballs. You want them to cook just enough to hold their shape.
- Use a smaller slow cooker to ensure the meatballs “swim” in the sauce.
Crock Pot Barbecue Meatballs FAQs
Any barbecue sauce works great. Each s auce adds its own unique flavor to the dish.
Avoid overmixing the meat mixture. Mixing just until combined helps keep the meatballs soft and juicy.
Using a 1½-inch cookie scoop creates evenly sized meatballs that cook consistently and are perfect for appetizers or dinner.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.
You can microwave them at 30-second intervals until hot, cook them over medium-low heat in a saucepan, or reheat them in the crock pot.
Absolutely! Serve them over rice, mashed potatoes, noodles, or on sandwich rolls for an easy family dinner.
Great Pairings for These Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs
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Crock Pot Barbecue Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- ½ cup onions, finely chopped
- 1 ¼ cups barbecue sauce, divided
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp basil
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together and only ¼ cup of the barbecue sauce.
- Using a 1 ½ inch cookie scoop, form meatballs and place on a large ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes then add the meatballs to a smaller size crock pot.
- Pour remaining 1 cup of the barbecue sauce over meatballs and stir gently.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, then enjoy!
Notes
- Mix the meatball ingredients until just combined. Overmixing creates tough meatballs.
- Use a large cookie scoop to create uniform meatballs with far less effort and mess.
- Don’t overbake the meatballs. You want them to cook just enough to hold their shape.
- Use a smaller slow cooker to ensure the meatballs “swim” in the sauce.
Here are a few pics that are perfect to pin to Pinterest.
Enjoy, Terri
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