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Cozy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs

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A comforting and easy slow cooker recipe featuring tender meatballs coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef or a mix of beef and pork (80/20 mix preferred)
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs (plain or seasoned)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, 1 clove minced garlic, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix just until combined, about 5 minutes.
  2. Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, about 20-24 pieces, keeping them uniform in size.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, 2 cloves minced garlic, and water until smooth.
  4. Place the meatballs in a single layer in the slow cooker. It’s okay if they touch but avoid overcrowding.
  5. Pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over the meatballs and gently stir once to coat without breaking them.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is thickened and glossy.
  7. About 10 minutes before serving, gently stir the meatballs if the sauce is separating. Garnish with sliced green onions.
  8. If sauce is too thin, mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water and stir into the slow cooker. Cook for another 10-15 minutes to thicken.

Notes

Do not overmix meatball mixture to avoid tough meatballs. Fresh garlic is preferred for best flavor. You can brown meatballs in a skillet before slow cooking for extra caramelization but it’s optional. Use gluten-free bread crumbs or almond flour for gluten-free version. Adjust cooking time if using ground turkey or chicken. Sauce can be thickened with cornstarch slurry if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic, meatballs, easy dinner, comfort food, crockpot, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://lunafeast.com/cozy-slow-cooker-honey-garlic-meatballs-recipe-easy-and-delicious-at-home/