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Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

Author: Julia
Slow-cooker sweet and spicy meatballs are the perfect appetizer for any occasion! Made from scratch these meatballs are a crowd-pleaser.
4.54 from 64 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 20 meatballs

Ingredients
 

For the spicy sauce:

  • ¾ cup ketchup (210 grams)
  • ¼ cup water (60 milliliters)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

For the meatballs:

  • 14 ounces ground beef (400 grams)
  • ⅓ cup breadcrumbs (50 grams)
  • 1 egg (medium-large)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • black pepper (a generous pinch)
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions
 

  • Place all the sauce ingredients in your slow cooker. Stir well.
  • In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, basil, oregano and garlic powder. For best results use your hands to mix everything.
  • Take a small amount of mixture and roll it into a bite-size ball. Repeat until you have used up all the meat mixture.
  • In a skillet/frying pan, heat the oil and quickly brown the meatballs. Transfer them to the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours. About an hour into cooking, stir the meatballs so that they are all covered in the sauce. Check the internal temperature before turning off the slow cooker.
  • Best served warm!

Notes

  1. If you don’t have basil, use oregano only (instead of 1 teaspoon, use 2 teaspoons) and vice versa.
  2. Check the meatballs after 2 hours to see if they are cooked. Your thermometer should read at least 165°F/75°C.
  3. The amount of hot sauce can be increased or decreased, depending on your taste. I’d say start with less and add at the very end if needed.
  4. For more information and tips I recommend reading the whole post.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 meatball, Calories: 97 kcal (5%), Carbohydrates: 6 g (2%), Protein: 4 g (8%), Fat: 6 g (9%), Saturated Fat: 2 g (13%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g, Trans Fat: 0.3 g, Cholesterol: 21 mg (7%), Sodium: 255 mg (11%), Potassium: 108 mg (3%), Fiber: 0.3 g (1%), Sugar: 4 g (4%), Vitamin A: 62 IU (1%), Vitamin C: 1 mg (1%), Calcium: 15 mg (2%), Iron: 1 mg (6%)
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
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