Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs
56 Comments Mar 01, 2024
Updated Dec 09, 2024
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Easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs only have 3 ingredients (including Sweet Baby Rays) and are wonderful for a quick and easy appetizer or over mashed potatoes for dinner. Your family is sure to enjoy the way these taste and you’ll love how easy they are to make!
Quickly whip up a game day spread with these meatballs and my Slow Cooker French Onion Dip and Slow Cooker Molasses Barbecue Little Smokies.
Table of Contents
I stick with my sister-in-laws “secret” recipe but I add diced white onion. Because if you love onions, they make everything better. This dump-and-go crockpot recipe is super easy to prep and can be done in as little as 2 and a half hours. Fun finger foods like this make the perfect appetizer. Also, try slow cooker meatball sliders.
Recipe Ingredients
- Frozen homestyle meatballs: Pick up a bag from the freezer section of your local grocery store or make a batch of homemade meatballs.
- Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce: This sauce is already packed with so much flavor. You can also use your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Diced white onion: Adds flavor and texture to these delicious crockpot bbq meatballs.
Variations
- Use your favorite barbecue sauce in this recipe and also you can use flavored barbecue sauces such as chipotle or spicy. I also have a really delicious recipe that uses grape jelly to make Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs.
- Skip the onion if you have fussy eaters.
- Other jams that can be used are apple butter, red current, or raspberry. You can even use a can of cranberry sauce!
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Add frozen meatballs to the crock pot. Add the diced white onion and barbecue sauce.
Step Two – Stir until the ingredients are well combined.
Step Three – Cover and cook frozen meatballs and onions on HIGH for 2.5 hours or on LOW for 4 hours. Stir occasionally so the meatballs won’t burn on the edges. Serve and enjoy!
How to Serve
- This crockpot meatball recipe is a versatile dish perfect for any occasion. Serve these savory meatballs as an appetizer with toothpicks for an easy party snack that’s always a favorite.
- For a heartier meal, serve the meatballs over mashed potatoes or rice for a comforting dinner. Pair them with my slow cooker mashed potatoes recipe for a complete, satisfying meal.
- You can also turn them into sandwiches by adding them to slider buns or hoagie rolls. Top with cheese or your favorite sauce for a delicious, easy meal similar to my slow cooker meatball subs recipe.
Recipe FAQs
If you are serving these meatballs as an appetizer, you can keep them warm for about 3 hours by placing the slow cooker in the warm setting. Keep an eye on the meatballs and stir them occasionally and if the sauce seems to dry out, add a splash of water.
Place them in an airtight container once they have cooled to room temperature. Refrigerate up to 3-4 days, or freeze for longer-term storage, ensuring they are reheated thoroughly before serving.
Other great meatball recipes:
- Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Jalapeno Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs – Recipe from the Cagle Diaries
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Easy Meatball Subs
- Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
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Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs
Ingredients
- 40 oz. frozen meatballs, (I use Safeway's Kitchen brand homestyle meatballs)
- 16 oz. Sweet Baby Ray's Original Barbecue Sauce
- 1 small sweet yellow onion, diced
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker.
- Add the diced white onion and barbecue sauce. Stir.
- Cover and cook on high for 2.5 hours or on low for 4 hours. Stir occasionally so the meatballs won't burn on the edges.
- Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks or as dinner on top of mashed potatoes or rice. Or you can serve on slider or hoagie rolls.
To keep warm at a party:
- After the cooking time is up, set the slow cooker to the warm setting.
- The meatballs can be kept warm for up to 3 hours. Check on the meatballs occasionally and stir. Add a splash of water if sauce seems to be dry.
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
- Use your favorite barbecue sauce in this reicpe and also you can use flavored barbecue sauces such as chipotle or spicy.
- Place them in an airtight container once they have cooled to room temperature. Refrigerate up to 3-4 days, or freeze for longer-term storage, ensuring they are reheated thoroughly before serving.
- If you are serving these meatballs as an appetizer you can keep them warm for about 3 hours by placing the slow cooker to the warm setting. Keep an eye on the meatballs and stir them occasionally and if the sauce seems to dry out, add a splash of water.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Great food ideas thank you
I’ve actually done this a few times…My sister told me to try it and I was hooked! They are great on hogie buns with fries also…
I love this receipe! I have to add extra meatballs cause can down a dozen while putting it in a dish to seve for myguest. .. adicted!@
This is a keeper. I made it with my own meatballs. Was so pleased to find the Sauce in Woolies here in Australia. Thank you!
Sarah, I found this recipe in Milwaukee WI, Instead of using BBQ sauce on the meatballs, use a lg. bottle of Chili Sauce and 1/2 to 3/4 of Grape Jelly ( Lg. jar) on the meatballs. Delicious.
Yes! I’ve made that too! Sooo good.
I have made this with the BJ’s brand of Thai chili sauce marinade/sauce and OMG over jasmine rice. NIIIIICE!
I saw your recipe the other day, read the ingredients and have them ready to make the recipe.
I just noticed from your picture…that is a yellow onion, not a white onion.
Which is it supposed to be. They’re different flavors.
Thanx.
You can use either. But I fixed it. I used a sweet yellow onion
Have not made these but what I like about this recipe is the freedom it offers to complete other tasks. While these are stewing in the background, I can be making the balance of our meal, and loading the dishwasher. Diet multitasking!
I have found that after well cooked, most onions have the same flavor.
Is rays sauces smoked. We don’t like the smoked taste bu like the sweet taste
They have several flavors of Sweet Baby Rays, but the original is just kind of sweet. They have a hickory smoke, brown sugar something and sweet & spicy. Just pick your fav flavor.
break out the grape jelly to add to the BBQ sauce, i know sounds strange but it is a great additive.
I added two large spoonfuls of strawberry preserves. So amazing and so easy!
If you use grape jelly with BBQ sauce, how much?
Use the grape jelly and chili sauce. It is so good.
I’d like to make these as a half batch, as it is only for two people. Any thoughts on how that would affect the cooking time?
For a smaller batch enough for 2 people, you could half the batch. Will be just enough for you to eat for a meal and freeze some for another rainy day. You could also, microwave the meatballs arranged in a plate lined with paper towels, and put the onions, bbq sauce and meatballs in a saucepan, and slow cook for 30 mins. I basically prefer it on the stove if its a smaller batch instead of using power for 4 hours.
if we are making half the bag, do we cook for 2 hours on high or 4 on low in the crockpot?
You can do either! You can’t mess these up.
Can these be made with fresh ground chicken? Would you say 4 hours on low would be ok or longer?
Looks great, But, we can’t have ground beef. I have never seen frozen chicken meatballs.
I would definitely make these as we love Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauces.
I would do 5 hours on low for homemade meatballs.