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bowl with slow cooker meatballs

Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs

Diana Rattray
These slow cooked meatballs feature a tangy homemade barbecue sauce. The homemade meatballs are baked, but frozen meatballs can be substituted.
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Servings 48 meatballs
Calories 81
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Appetizers, Meatballs
Cuisine Southern
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs, plain
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup onion, minced
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 can tomato paste, 6 ounces
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  • Line two rimmed baking sheets with foil (jelly roll pans or shallow roasting pans).
  • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, 1/4 cup ketchup, breadcrumbs, egg, minced onion, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Mix lightly but thoroughly and then shape into 1-inch meatballs.
  • Arrange the meatballs in the prepared pans. Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes, or until they are nicely browned.
  • Transfer the meatballs to slow cooker.
  • Mix remaining 1 cup ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, soy sauce, vinegar, liquid smoke, and crushed pepper in a medium bowl. Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs.
  • Cover and cook on LOW 3 to 4 hours.
  • Serve with small plates and cocktail picks or toothpicks.
  • Makes about 48 1-inch meatballs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 81kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 199mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 37IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer:

Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.

Keyword appetizer, barbecue sauce, bbq, meatballs, slow cooker
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