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–+ servings
bowl with slow cooker meatballs

Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs

Diana
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
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Appetizers, Meatballs
Cuisine Southern
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 4 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs, plain
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup minced onion
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • Homemade Barbecue Sauce
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup reduced-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.
Keyword appetizer, barbecue sauce, bbq, meatballs, slow cooker
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