Easy Summer Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
A simple and delicious crockpot recipe featuring tender meatballs in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, perfect for effortless summer dinners without heating up the kitchen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 5 hours (low) or 2 to 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes (low) or 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (panko works great for texture)
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium if preferred)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons water (optional for thickening)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, beaten egg, 2 minced garlic cloves, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix just until combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, about 20 total, keeping them uniform in size.
- Optional: Brown the meatballs in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes per side.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, 3 minced garlic cloves, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar.
- Place the meatballs in the crockpot and pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over them. Gently stir to coat without breaking the meatballs.
- Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or on high for 2–3 hours until meatballs are cooked through and tender.
- Optional: About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook uncovered until the sauce thickens.
- Serve the meatballs and sauce over rice, noodles, or alongside a fresh summer salad.
Notes
Browning meatballs before slow cooking is optional but adds flavor and firmer texture. Avoid overmixing the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari soy sauce for a gluten-free version. To thicken sauce, add cornstarch slurry 15 minutes before serving. Resist lifting the crockpot lid frequently to maintain cooking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 meatballs pe
- Calories: 280320
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 20
Keywords: honey garlic meatballs, crockpot meatballs, slow cooker recipe, summer dinner, easy weeknight meal, sweet and savory sauce