Name: Slow Cooker Garlic Honey Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American, Asian
Ingredients: 2 pounds frozen meatballs; 1 ½ cups ketchup; ¼ cup brown sugar; ¼ cup honey; ¼ cup soy sauce; 2 tablespoons vinegar (white or apple cider); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; cooked rice and veggies (optional for serving)

Slow Cooker Garlic Honey Meatballs

These Garlic Honey Meatballs combine sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and aromatic garlic in a slow cooker for the perfect appetizer or dinner!

Prep15 min

Cook2 hr

Total2 hr 15 min

Serves6

Published 1 Oct 2025

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TheseGarlic Honey Meatballscombine sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and aromatic garlic in a slow cooker for the perfect appetizer or dinner. Ready in just 3 hours with frozen meatballs!

A white plate filled with slow cooker garlic honey meatballs in sauce, steamed rice, and mixed vegetables including carrots, green beans, and squash. Another similar plate is blurred in the background.

👩‍🍳 So easy! Just toss frozenmeatballs in your crock pot, whisk together a handful of pantry ingredients, and let your slow cooker do all the work. No browning, no fuss, no complicated steps.

My 2 Best Tips For Making Garlic Honey Meatballs

Use Fresh Garlic:Fresh garlic makes a noticeable difference in flavor compared to garlic powder. I sometimes even double it because we love that aromatic punch! (So no vampires around here! 🤣)

Balance the Sweetness:Start with the recipe as written, then taste the sauce before pouring it over. If you prefer less sweet, start with reducing the honey and/or brown sugar by half and then add more after tasting if needed. For more depth, add a splash of low sodium soy sauce.

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This is a great recipe and so easy! That combination of honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic creates the most incredible sweet and savory glaze.

It’s sticky, flavorful, and coatsevery meatballin deliciousness. I’ve served these as an appetizer and make them as a complete meal over rice with veggies.

The recipe has so much flexibility! Add red pepper flakes for heat, throw in some green onions for freshness, or adjust the sweetness to your liking.

How To Make Crock Pot Garlic Honey Meatballs

A bottle of ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, a bag of light brown sugar, frozen Italian-style meatballs, and a small bowl of sauce are arranged on a white surface.

Step 1:Add the meatballs to your slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic until well combined. Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat all the meatballs evenly.

A table with a slow cooker of meatballs in sauce, a pot of cooked white rice, a bowl of mixed vegetables, and a small plate with a serving of rice, meatballs, and vegetables. Serving utensils are nearby.

Step 2:Cook on low for 3–4 hours or on high for 2–3 hours. (Until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce is thickened.)

A plate with rice, glazed meatballs, and mixed vegetables sits in front of a blue Crockpot. Another similar plate is in the background, all on a wooden board.

Step 3:Serve hot over rice with steamed veggies on the side.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use homemade meatballs instead of frozen?

Yes! Homemade meatballs work beautifully in this recipe. If they’re already cooked, follow the same timing. If using raw homemade meatballs, you will need to brown them on all sides before putting in the crock-pot.

How do I make the sauce thicker?

The sauce naturally thickens as it cooks, but if you want it even thicker, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking. You can also remove the lid for the final hour to let some liquid evaporate.

Can I make these in the oven instead of a slow cooker?

Sure! Bake at 375°F for about 25-30 minutes. Whisk together the sauce ingredients, pour over the meatballs in a baking dish, and stir halfway through cooking to ensure even coating.

More Tasty Beef Recipes To Try

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Slow Cooker Garlic Honey Meatballs

These Garlic Honey Meatballs combine sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and aromatic garlic in a slow cooker for the perfect appetizer or dinner. Ready in just 3 hours with frozen meatballs!

Ingredients

Instructions

Add the meatballs to your slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic until well combined.

Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat all the meatballs evenly.

Cook on low for 3–4 hours or on high for 2–3 hours. (Until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce is thickened.)

Serve hot over rice with steamed veggies on the side.

Notes

Slow Cooker Size: A 4-6 quart slow cooker works perfectly for this recipe. Too large and the sauce spreads too thin; too small and the meatballs won't heat evenly. Recipe Variations & Substitutions: You can use all honey or all brown sugar in this recipes if you'd like instead of doing half and half. The sauce has a lot of flexibility to make additions as you'd like. Adding hot sauce or ground ginger are my two favorite additions if I think of it. Adding red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce during the last hour transforms these from sweet to sweet-and-spicy. Start with ¼ teaspoon and adjust to your family's preferences. Fully cooked frozen meatballs are most convenient - beef, turkey, or chicken all work great. I prefer Italian-style or plain meatballs so the honey garlic sauce really shines through. Serving Suggestions: You can serve this over rice with a side of vegetables for a complete meal, use what you like or have on hand. Serve over egg noodles instead of rice. Tuck into sub rolls for the ultimate meatball sandwich. And don't forget to spoon that gorgeous sauce over everything! Storing & Reheating Leftovers: Store leftover honey garlic meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. The sauce may thicken when cold - just add a splash of water when reheating.

Nutrition

Calories545

Carbohydrates38

Cholesterol109

Fat32

Fiber0.3

Protein27

Saturated fat12

Sodium1172

Sugar33