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Cozy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs

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These slow cooker honey garlic meatballs are an easy, comforting dinner option with a perfect balance of sweet honey, pungent garlic, and mild heat from sweet chili sauce. They are hands-off to prepare and great for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef or a mix of beef and pork (80/20 preferred)
  • ½ cup plain or panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • ¼ cup natural honey
  • ½ cup sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, 1 minced garlic clove (reserve 2 for sauce), egg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands until just combined, about 5 minutes.
  2. Shape mixture into 1-inch meatballs, about 20 total, ensuring uniform size. This takes about 10 minutes.
  3. Optional: Brown meatballs in a skillet over medium-high heat with oil for 2-3 minutes per batch to add flavor, about 10-15 minutes total.
  4. In a bowl, whisk together honey, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, 2 minced garlic cloves, and water until glossy.
  5. Place meatballs in the slow cooker in a single layer if possible. Pour sauce over meatballs and gently stir to coat without breaking them.
  6. Cook on low for 4-5 hours until meatballs are cooked through and tender. Avoid lifting the lid frequently.
  7. Once cooked, gently stir meatballs to coat again. Garnish with sliced green onions before serving.

Notes

Browning meatballs before slow cooking is optional but adds flavor. Avoid overmixing meat to keep meatballs tender. If sauce is too thin at the end, cook on high with lid off for 15-20 minutes to thicken. Can substitute ground turkey or chicken for leaner option. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs for gluten-free diet.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker meatballs, honey garlic meatballs, easy dinner, sweet chili sauce, comfort food, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/cozy-slow-cooker-honey-garlic-meatballs-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-dinner/