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Sweet Chili Meatballs Crockpot

Sweet Chili Meatballs Crockpot

Quick, healthy-ish, and full of sweet and spicy goodness, these Sweet Chili Meatballs are a weeknight staple that even picky eaters will love. Cooked in a crockpot, they're an effortless and flavorful dish perfect for busy days.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs:
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Sweet Chili Sauce:
  • 12 ounce sweet chili sauce
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for extra heat

Equipment

  • Large Bowl
  • Crockpot

Method
 

  1. Gently mix all meatball ingredients in a large bowl just until combined. Be careful not to overmix!
  2. Roll the mixture into approximately 1-inch meatballs.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  4. Place the meatballs in the bottom of your Sweet Chili Meatballs Crockpot.
  5. Pour the sweet chili sauce mixture over the meatballs, ensuring they are evenly coated.
  6. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2 hours, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
  7. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or as appetizers with toothpicks.

Notes

For truly tender meatballs, avoid overmixing the ingredients. Overworking the meat will result in a tougher texture. Consider using a blend of ground beef and ground pork or turkey for a more complex flavor profile. If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to briefly blend the sauce in the crockpot after cooking. This is purely optional, though! For a little extra caramelization and richness, you can broil the cooked meatballs for a few minutes after they come out of the crockpot. But be careful of burning! A splash of lime juice at the end adds a bright and zesty kick. Don't be afraid to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to customize the level of heat to your liking. The sauce should thicken slightly as it cooks, but if it's too thin for your preference, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water and stir it into the sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking.