Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs Recipe

A close up image of a bowl of meatballs in BBQ with a toothpick in the focus meatball.

Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs Recipe

My slow cooker BBQ meatballs come together with just 5 ingredients and require minimal effort for maximum flavor. Prepped, cooked, and ready to serve in the crockpot in just over 2 hours!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Diet Low Fat

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 2

Inactive time 2

Total Time 2 5

Servings servings

Calories 356kcal

Author Jessy Freimann

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups tomato ketchup
2 tablespoons liquid smoke (you can also substitute soy sauce)
1 ½ cups brown sugar
½ cup onion minced
24 ounces meatballs pre-made and cooked from the freezer section

Instructions

In the bowl of the slow cooker, whisk together the ketchup, liquid smoke (or soy sauce) and brown sugar until well combined.
Stir in onions and meatballs until evenly coated.
Cover the slow cooker and set to High.
Cook for 2 hours until hot and bubbly.
Set the slow cooker to Warm and serve hot.

Video

Notes

Mix the sauce right in the pot of the slow cooker! No need to dirty any extra dishes.

When you add the meatballs and onions, be sure to stir well so everything is evenly coated.

Don't worry about touching the meatballs as they cook. I usually stir a couple times, but you don't have to.

I like to serve these directly from the crockpot. I simply set it to Warm after they're done cooking.

I wanted to keep these slow cooker BBQ meatballs as simple as possible. But that doesn't mean you can experiment with extra ingredients! Sometimes I'll add a pinch of cayenne for some heat or a blend of Italian seasonings. You can even substitute soy sauce for liquid smoke.

Ingredients to prep ahead- This recipe is super hands-off once you load up your crockpot, so there isn't much to prep! You could always mince the onions in advance.

Leftovers and storage- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, pop the meatballs in the microwave and heat in 30-second bursts until warmed through, or on the stovetop.

Nutrition