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Honey Garlic Meatballs are simmered in a rich, sweet-savory sauce with fresh ginger, soy sauce, and garlic. This is an easy crockpot dinner (or appetizer) the whole family will love.
These honey garlic meatballs made in the slow cooker are one of our most popular new meatball recipes. And for good reason! The sauce is a perfect blend of Asian flavors, and with the slow cooking time, the meatballs really absorb so much of that flavorful sauce.
Key Ingredients
Frozen Meatballs: Convenient and time-saving, frozen meatballs make this recipe a breeze. We use these same meatballs in our slow cooker BBQ meatballs.
Honey: Adds sweetness and helps to create that irresistible honey garlic sauce.
Soy Sauce: We use low-sodium soy sauce for this recipe.
Slurry: Cold water and cornstarch are combined to make the thickening agent for the sauce.
Seasonings: Fresh garlic, ground ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes are the perfect combo for making these tasty meatballs.
How to Make Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Whisk up the honey-garlic sauce and pour it over the frozen meatballs in the crockpot.
- Cook until the meatballs are hot and tender.
- Thicken the sauce with a quick cornstarch slurry, then stir to coat.
Tips & Variations
Make it Spicy: For a spicier kick, add more crushed red pepper flakes or a minced jalapeno.
Thicker: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can increase the amount of cornstarch and water mixture.
Vegetables: Our favorite additions are diced white onion and water chestnuts.
How to Serve
Main Course: These honey garlic meatballs are great as the main course! Serve over mashed potatoes, rice or noodles. Add a green vegetable to round out the meal. You can even serve them on slider buns or in a stir fry.
Appetizer: These meatballs are a great change from grape jelly meatballs for parties! Simply serve them with toothpicks for eating.
Toppings: To finish off the dish, add sesame seeds and green onion for more flavor and texture.
Can homemade meatballs be used instead of frozen?
Yes! Simply add them to the sauce and cook as directed. Be sure they are cooked through before serving (165°F).
Do the meatballs need to be thawed?
No, frozen meatballs are fine to add to the slow cooker; they will thaw quickly and cook up perfectly.
Honey Garlic Meatballs Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 26 oz. frozen meatballs
- ½ cup honey
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, Minced
- ½ tsp. ground ginger, or 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger
- ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp. cold water
Optional Garnish
- sesame seeds, sliced green onions or fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, ground ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using).
- Place the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker.
- Pour the honey garlic sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat the meatballs evenly.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours, or on high heat for 2-3 hours, until the meatballs are heated through and tender.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker, and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes on high, or until the sauce thickens.
- Once the sauce has thickened, give it a final stir to make sure the meatballs are well coated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or chopped fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
How to Store
More Frozen Meatball Recipes
Salisbury steak meatballs are simmered in rich brown gravy and perfect over mashed potatoes. We also make slow cooker meatball subs for an easy dinner.
For a fun twist on a classic, try Crockpot Swedish Meatballs (with lots of sour cream gravy). Cranberry meatballs offer a tangy, festive flavor that’s great for holidays or potlucks.
