Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs

Sweet, spicy, and absolutely finger-licking delicious, Honey Garlic Meatballs have become a go-to EASY dinner plan. This recipe is awesome for the days when I just don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen – or when I simply don’t feel like cooking!

Honey Garlic Meatballs

This is the kind of dinner that I can start mid-afternoon, barely pay attention to it, and have dinner ready at any point between 5 pm and 8 pm when we’re ready to eat and when everyone has made it home from martial arts and other activities.

I typically serve the meatballs with rice. However, they also work well with leftover mashed potatoes or with dinner rolls for a sweet, tangy, spicy meatball sandwich option.

Honey Garlic Crock-Pot Meatballs

1. Combine the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, and chili paste in a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Stir to combine.
2. Place the meatballs in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir to coat thoroughly. Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 1½ hours.
3. Stir well, taking care to scrape the sides of the crock-pot. Add the bell peppers and stir again to mix throughout. Cover with lid and cook on HIGH for 1 more hour.
4. Stir and serve warm OR reduce heat to WARM and hold for up to 2 more hours.

My choice for this recipe is miniature or bite-size (approximately 1-inch) frozen meatballs whenever possible. I’ve used “party” meatballs, homestyle meatballs, even Italian meatballs without any issues.

I typically just use whichever meatballs are in my freezer. The sauce has so much flavor, it will be stronger than any of the underlying meatball flavors. It just plain works.

While we love a little bit of heat with many of our meals, the chili paste in this recipe does more to deepen the flavor than “heat” the sauce. That said, if you’re leery of it, use the lesser amount or feel free to skip it entirely. It works both ways.

Looking for more very simple, minimal effort meals? Easy recipes like Creamy Cajun Pasta and the Egg Roll Skillet are fast dinners that guarantee dinner on the table fast.

Cheater Korean Beef and this Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet are a couple more lightning-fast ways to get dinner on the table and everyone loves them.

Sticky Garlic Pork is another great option for a fast dinner with tons of flavor.

Last, but not least, if these 30 Minute Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas aren’t on your regular meal plan, they should be, Enchiladas are a crowd-pleasing meal that I make for my crew at least once a month.