Go Back
Sweet Chili Meatballs Crockpot

Sweet Chili Meatballs Crockpot

Enjoy the easiest, most flavorful dinner with this Sweet Chili Meatballs Crockpot recipe. It's a quick, healthy-ish, and delicious dish bursting with sweet and spicy flavors.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs:
  • 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Sweet Chili Sauce:
  • 1 cup Sweet Chili Sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce low sodium recommended
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for extra heat

Equipment

  • Large Bowl
  • Crockpot
  • Separate Bowl
  • Skillet

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, gently mix together ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  2. Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together Sweet Chili Sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  4. Place the meatballs in the bottom of your crockpot. Pour the sweet chili sauce mixture over the meatballs, ensuring they are evenly coated.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
  6. Once cooked, serve the Sweet Chili Meatballs Crockpot over rice, noodles, or as an appetizer.

Notes

Avoid over mixing the meatball mixture; this keeps them tender. Pre-browning the meatballs in a skillet before adding them to the crockpot adds a rich, caramelized depth of flavor, but it's not essential. Adjust the level of sweetness and spice to your preference by tweaking the amount of sweet chili sauce and red pepper flakes. A cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) added during the last 30 minutes of cooking will thicken the sauce to perfection. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for a visually appealing finishing touch.