Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs: The Easiest Sweet and Savory Appetizer
When you need an easy appetizer or a simple dinner that everyone loves, Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs are the answer. Made with frozen prepared meatballs and a simple homemade honey garlic sauce, this slow cooker recipe takes just minutes to prep but delivers big flavor.
These tender meatballs simmer low and slow in a sticky, sweet, and savory sauce made with honey, garlic, soy sauce, and a few pantry staples. The result is juicy, flavorful meatballs coated in a delicious glaze that makes them impossible to stop eating.
Serve with rice or Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes for a complete meal.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, planning a game day spread, or need a quick weeknight dinner, these slow cooker honey garlic meatballs are an easy recipe you’ll want to keep on repeat.
Meatballs make a great meal, I love these Slow Cooker Mississippi Meatballs and these Slow Cooker Easy Swedish Meatballs, but these honey garlic meatballs might be my new favorites.
Why You’ll Love Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Only a few minutes of prep: Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it do the work.
- Uses frozen meatballs: No rolling, mixing, or cooking required.
- Perfect for parties: Keep them warm in the crockpot and let guests serve themselves.
- Sweet and savory flavor: Honey, garlic, and soy sauce create the perfect balance.
- Family-friendly: A meal kids and adults both enjoy.
Ingredients for Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
- 2 (32-ounce) bags frozen fully cooked meatballs (beef, turkey, or Italian-style)
- ¾ cup honey
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- Green onions, sliced, for garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
How to Make Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
Step 1: Add Meatballs to the Slow Cooker
Place the frozen meatballs directly into your crockpot. No need to thaw them first!
Step 2: Make the Honey Garlic Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and black pepper until combined.
Pour the sauce over the frozen meatballs and stir gently to coat.
Step 3: Slow Cook
Cover and cook until the meatballs are heated through and have absorbed the sweet and savory sauce.
Cook:
- LOW: 4–5 hours
- HIGH: 2–3 hours
Stir occasionally if possible to help evenly coat the meatballs.
Step 4: Thicken the Sauce (Optional)
If you prefer a thicker, sticky glaze, mix cornstarch and water together to create a slurry.
During the last 15–20 minutes of cooking, stir the slurry into the crockpot. The sauce will thicken into a glossy honey garlic glaze.
Step 5: Serve
Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks, or make it a meal by serving over:
- White rice
- Jasmine rice
- Fried rice
- Noodles
- Steamed vegetables
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs
Use Frozen Meatballs Straight from the Freezer: This recipe is designed for convenience. Frozen fully cooked meatballs can go directly into the crockpot without thawing.
Choose Your Favorite Meatballs: Beef meatballs are classic, but turkey, chicken, or pork meatballs all work well.
Adjust the Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the honey slightly and add extra soy sauce or vinegar for balance.
Make Them Ahead: These meatballs are even better after sitting in the sauce for a while, making them perfect for parties and meal prep.
Ways to Serve Honey Garlic Meatballs
As an Appetizer: Keep them warm in the crockpot and serve with toothpicks for an easy party snack.
As a Dinner: Serve over rice with steamed broccoli or vegetables for a quick family meal.
In a Bowl: Create a delicious meal prep bowl with rice, meatballs, vegetables, and extra sauce.
As a Sandwich: Pile them onto toasted rolls with a drizzle of extra sauce for a fun twist.
Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatball Variations
Spicy Honey Garlic Meatballs: Add 1–2 teaspoons of sriracha or red pepper flakes for a sweet heat version.
Pineapple Honey Garlic Meatballs: Add a can of drained pineapple chunks for a tropical twist.
Teriyaki Meatballs: Replace the sauce ingredients with your favorite teriyaki sauce and add sesame seeds and green onions.
Grape Jelly Meatballs: Swap the honey garlic sauce for grape jelly and chili sauce for a classic party meatball variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use homemade meatballs instead of frozen?
Yes! Cooked homemade meatballs work great. Simply add them to the crockpot with the sauce and heat through.
Can I make honey garlic meatballs ahead of time?
Absolutely. Cook them as directed, then keep them warm in the slow cooker until ready to serve.
How long do leftovers last?
Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Can I freeze crockpot honey garlic meatballs?
Yes. Cool completely and freeze meatballs with the sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
More Crockpot Recipes
- Crockpot Chipolte Pork Tacos
- Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops
- Crockpot Sweet and Sour Pork
- Crockpot Baked Potatoes
- Spinach Artichoke Crockpot Dip
These Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs are proof that easy recipes can still be packed with flavor. With frozen meatballs, a homemade honey garlic sauce, and the convenience of your slow cooker, you can have a crowd-pleasing appetizer or easy dinner with almost no effort.
Sweet, savory, sticky, and delicious, this is the kind of recipe that disappears fast—so you may want to make a double batch!
Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
Ingredients
- 64 ounces frozen fully cooked meatballs beef, turkey, or Italian-style
- ¾ cup honey
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil optional
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- Green onions sliced, for garnish
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Add Meatballs to the Slow Cooker
- Place the frozen meatballs directly into your crockpot. No need to thaw them first!
Step 2: Make the Honey Garlic Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and black pepper until combined.
- Pour the sauce over the frozen meatballs and stir gently to coat.
Step 3: Slow Cook
- Cover and cook until the meatballs are heated through and have absorbed the sweet and savory sauce.
- Cook: LOW: 4–5 hours or HIGH: 2–3 hours
- Stir occasionally if possible to help evenly coat the meatballs.
Step 4: Thicken the Sauce (Optional)
- If you prefer a thicker, sticky glaze, mix cornstarch and water together to create a slurry.
- During the last 15–20 minutes of cooking, stir the slurry into the crockpot. The sauce will thicken into a glossy honey garlic glaze.
Step 5: Serve
- Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
- Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks, or make it a meal by serving over rice or mashed potatoes.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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