These Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and coated in the stickiest, most delicious sauce. Perfect for anytime you need a crowd-pleaser that’s super easy to make!
INGREDIENTS
To make the meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- ⅓ cup finely chopped onion OR shallot
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley optional for more flavor
- ¼ teaspoon dried garlic powder optional for more flavor
- salt & pepper to taste
To make the sauce
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika smoked or regular both work
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt or less to taste
TIP: You could also speed up the process and just buy a bag of frozen meatballs!
DIRECTIONS
- Make meatballs: To make the meatballs, mix all ingredients in a large bowl (I use a hand mixer with the dough hook attachements for easy and mess-free work) and shape into small meatballs. I use 1 teaspoon meat mix per meatball for a good appetizer size; make sure to firmly shape the meatballs or they disintegrate in the sauce.
- Cook meatballs: Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and add some oil. Cook the meatballs until browned on the outside and entirely cooked through. OR bake the meatballs at 425°F for 10-12 minutes.
- Slow cook with sauce: Once the meatballs are cooked, mix all sauce ingredients together in a 3-4 quart slow cooker. Add the meatballs and cook on low for 3-4 hours. The meatballs keep in the slow cooker for another 1-2 hours on "warm" setting.
NOTE: If using frozen meatballs you can skip steps 1 & 2. Just throw everything together and cook on low 4-5 hours or high 2 hours.
