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These slow cooker Asian meatballs are so irresistibly delicious that you might just find yourself “taste-testing” half the batch before they even make it to the table—no judgment here! Simmered in a sticky, sweet, and savory sauce made with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger, these juicy meatballs are bursting with deliciousness. Whether served over rice for a simple dinner or as a party appetizer, they’re always a hit. Just toss everything in the Crockpot and let the magic happen—effortless, mouthwatering, and guaranteed to disappear fast!
These delicious slow cooker Asian meatballs are just perfect for a flavorful meal. They’re incredibly easy to make and the sweet, sticky sauce tastes like a dream.
You might also like Italian wedding soup with chicken meatballs, some creamy meatball stew, Swedish meatballs, or Salisbury steak meatballs.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: You just need to whisk up the sauce and add all your ingredients to a slow cooker. The crockpot will do the rest!
So much flavor: Slow cooker meatballs are sweet, savory and tangy – these meatballs have it all.
A versatile dish: Enjoy slow cooker Asian meatballs as an flavorful appetizer or as a main dish. You can even make it for a buffet or potluck meal.
Sticky Asian Meatballs Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Frozen meatballs: Anything goes – beef, pork, turkey, chicken, or homemade meatballs. Don’t use any flavored ones, such as Italian meatballs, as the flavors won’t go with the Asian sauce.
Soy sauce: A key Asian flavor in many dishes. You can use light or dark soy sauce.
Honey: For sweetness.
Rice vinegar: Adds a tart tang that contrasts with the honey flavor.
Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce.
Brown sugar: For rich sweetness.
Sesame oil: Adds a nutty flavor.
Garlic and ginger: To add even more flavor.
Green onion and sesame seeds: To garnish, adding flavor and crunch.
How to Make Asian Crockpot Meatballs
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Make the sauce: Whisk the water, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, and garlic powder together. Whisk in the cornstarch.
Add the ingredients to a crockpot: Add your frozen meatballs to the slow cooker and pour the sauce over them.
Cook the meatball recipe: Cover and cook on low until the sauce is thick and the meatballs are hot, stirring halfway through. Serve hot, garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, make sure you’re using gluten-free meatballs.
Meatballs: Use any type of meatballs you prefer, any kind of meat or even vegetarian meatballs.
Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes, a splash of hot sauce or chili paste.
Adjust the sweetness: Use less or more honey and/or brown sugar.
Optional add-ins: You might like to add pineapple chunks, hoisin sauce, freshly minced garlic, or fresh ginger.
Serving Suggestions
As an appetizer: Serve small portions with homemade bread or a simple salad.
As the main course: Enjoy slow cooker Asian meatballs with hibachi noodles, hibachi rice or egg noodles. You could end with an iced espresso and something sweet like these cherry cheesecake egg rolls.
How to Store Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 to 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze these in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost them in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm them back up in a pan on the stove.
Top Tips
Adjust the sauce: Taste the sauce before pouring it over the frozen meatballs. It might need more honey and/or brown sugar, both for sweetness and to get the glaze “sticky” enough.
Check for doneness: The dish is ready to serve when the meatballs are at least 160°F in the middle and the sauce has thickened up.
Cool before storing: Don’t cover and store the meatballs until they’re completely cooled, otherwise the condensation in the container will make the sauce more watery than sticky!
Crockpot Asian Meatballs FAQs
The sauce will start to get thick around the 4-hour mark. If the meatballs are heated through but the sauce isn’t thick enough, you can remove the lid, turn the heat up to high and cook for 15 to 20 minutes to speed up the sauce thickening time. Stir it occasionally, otherwise the sauce might scorch on the bottom.
Yes but keep in mind these can take longer to cook through than using frozen cooked meatballs. Give them 4 to 6 hours on low in the crockpot and make sure they’re 160°F before serving.
Best Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs Recipe
Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs
Equipment
- Slow Cooker 5-Quart Minimum
Ingredients
- 36 Ounces meatballs, frozen
- ¼ Cup soy sauce
- ¼ Cup water
- ½ Cup honey
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ Teaspoon ground ginger
For Garnish:
- sesame seeds, toasted
- green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Put the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker.
- Whisk the water, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, and garlic powder in a measuring cup.
- Taste the sauce and adjust if needed.
- Whisk the cornstarch into the sauce.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 to 5 hours or until the meatballs are hot in the middle and the sauce has thickened. Stir halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Notes
Check for doneness: The dish is ready to serve when the meatballs are at least 160°F in the middle and the sauce has thickened up.
Cool before storing: Don’t cover and store the meatballs until they’re completely cooled, otherwise the condensation in the container will make the sauce more watery than sticky!
Nutrition
Slow cooker Asian meatballs are always popular, whether you serve them as an appetizer or as a main course, perhaps over fluffy rice. Soy, honey, ginger, garlic, and a splash of rice vinegar ensure plenty of tasty Asian flavors in every meatball. This is a simple slow cooker recipe that’s incredibly easy to prepare. Just add your ingredients to the slow cooker and leave it to work its magic!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
