Mouthwatering Honey Garlic Meatballs are the perfect balance of all things tangy and sweet. Being the perfect pop-able bite, these meatballs are perfect for serving at parties, tailgates and potlucks. Juicy, tender and flavorful these are always scooped up quick. Which is just another reason, they are a favorite recipe for getting dinner on the table quick!
If I am looking for a way to turn Honey Garlic Meatballs into a killer dinner option, I like to round them out by doubling the sauce and serving alongside our favorite foolproof baked rice! So wether you are serving as an appetizer or finger food or a quick and easy dinner, they are sure to become a go-to recipe in your meal time arsenal in no time.
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Have I raved about these enough?! There is a reason this recipe holds a permanent spot on my go-to dinner list. And because of this, I wasn't surprised when it quickly became a Dashley's Kitchen family favorite, here on the blog. With thousands of shares it quickly became one of our top 5, most popular recipes.
Ingredients
When dinner time rolls around and I find myself in a bind, I know this recipe will always come to my rescue. I can confidently walk into my pantry, grab 6 ingredients I typically have on hand, and whisk together a meal guaranteed to knock everyone’s socks off.
- Meatballs
- Ketchup
- Honey
- Brown Sugar
- Minced Garlic
- Soy Sauce
How to make Honey Garlic Meatballs
There is no reason to stress that it is already five o'clock and you don't have a dinner plan. With this recipe we are going to get dinner on the table in a matter of minutes. Throw in those frozen meatballs and let your crockpot or Instant Pot do the heavy lifting. This recipe is the perfect way to achieve happy, full tummies with little effort on my part.
Add Meatballs to Pot
Can you cook frozen meatballs without defrosting them? Absolutely! We are all about getting dinner on the table as quick and easy as possible. And this recipe is the perfect way to do just that. Add meatballs to the instant pot.
Make the Sauce
In a small sauce pan combine all of the other ingredients for the sauce. Over medium-low heat warm the sauce and stir till combined. Pour the sauce over the meatballs. Stir to coat.
Seal and Cook
Set the lid on pressure cooker to seal and cook. When done cooking serve and enjoy!
Can I use fresh meatballs instead of frozen?
Yes, yes, yes! If you prefer to make your own homemade meatballs have no fear! You can absolutely adapt it to use delicious homemade meatballs versus a frozen option.
However, there is one adjustment that will need to be made. Raw meatballs need to be baked in the oven or seared in a pan before adding any sauce. They have to be at least three-fourths of the way cooked to hold their shape and stay together better when cooking in the sauce later.
How to cook Honey Garlic Meatballs
Instant Pot (2 minute cook time)
Put Instant Pot on sauté mode. Next, combine all ingredients for the sauce in the bottom of the pot. Then, when the pot is hot stir everything together for 2 to 3 minutes so it can get thick and bubbly. Add frozen meatballs to the pot. Stir to cover with sauce.
Place lid on the Instant Pot and set to cook on manual pressure for 2 minutes. After that, quick release the pressure cooker and open the lid when it is finished. Enjoy! (If you haven't added an Instant Pot to your kitchen arsenal and are on the lookout for one check it out HERE!)
Oven Baked (15 minute cook time)
Pre-heat oven to 400. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment or foil for easy cleanup. Place frozen meatballs in a bowl with the sauce and toss to coat. Place meatballs on the baking sheet, using the leftover sauce to baste meatballs for a sticky glaze. Bake in oven for 15 minutes.
Crockpot or Slow Cooker (4 hour cook time)
First, spray slow cooker or line with disposable liner for easier cleanup. Second, prepare the sauce in a small bowl by mixing everything together. Or instead of using a bowl you can also stir the sauce together directly in the crockpot for one less dish to have to mess with later. Third, add frozen meatballs to the slow cooker and pour sauce over the top. Fourth, stir everything together to coat the meatballs with sauce and let it cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.
What to serve Meatballs with
Honey Garlic Meatballs make the perfect accompaniment with just about anything you want to pair it up with! There are endless ways to enjoy them!
Serve with toothpicks as an easy cocktail appetizer. Or swing for the fences and make them the star of the show at dinner! These delicious little balls of flavor go great over steamed rice or buttered noodles.
We have enjoyed them alongside our favorite mashed potatoes or a creamy mac-n-cheese. Use them to make meatball sandwiches or sliders with a favorite dinner roll. Honestly, there really is no wrong way to enjoy these bad boys!!
And if you find yourself feeling extra fancy, garnishing them off with chopped chives or fresh parsley. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds for a little extra crunch or double the honey garlic sauce and serve it extra saucy with rice or potatoes.
No matter how they are served up, everyone is gonna be begging to be the official taste testers. Luna and Dash were definitely first to volunteer over here.
Easy Budget Friendly Meal
Another reason to love this recipe is that it is a super affordable and budget friendly. For instance, with just six ingredients there isn't much to purchase. In fact, you probably have 5 of those 6 ingredients in your pantry already! Which means, you just need to grab meatballs. And if you are like us, we usually purchase our meatballs at Costco in bulk which helps us to lower the cost even more.
So in other words, this recipe is especially great for feeding to large groups since it is so budget friendly. Honey Garlic Meatballs are the perfect option for large family meals, potlucks and family reunions! Get a big batch going in your crockpot, steam some rice and you are ready for the masses!
Honey Garlic Meatballs
The perfect balance of all things tangy & sweet. Juicy, tender & so flavorful these meatballs with homemade honey garlic sauce make a delicious pop-able bite, sure to steal the show!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 28 oz frozen meatballs
Instructions
Crockpot - Slow Cook
- Spray slow cooker or line with disposable liner for easier cleanup.
- Prepare the sauce in a small bowl by mixing together brown sugar, honey, ketchup, soy sauce and garlic.. (You can also stir the sauce together directly in the crockpot for one less dish to mess with.)
- Add frozen meatballs and sauce to the slow cooker.
- Stir together to coat meatballs with sauce.
- Cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Oven - Bake
- Pre-heat oven to 400. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment or foil for easy cleanup.
- In a bowl mix brown sugar, honey, ketchup, soy sauce and garlic.
- Place frozen pre-cooked meatballs in the bowl with sauce and toss to coat.
- Place meatballs on the baking sheet. Using the leftover sauce baste meatballs for a sticky glaze.
- Bake in oven for 15 minutes.
Instant Pot - Pressure Cook
- Set Instant Pot on sauté mode. Inside pot combine brown sugar, honey, ketchup, soy sauce and garlic.
- Stir until thick and bubbly (2-3 minutes).
- Add frozen meatballs to pot. Stir to cover meatballs with sauce till coated.
- Place lid on the Instant Pot and set to cook on manual pressure for 2 minutes.
- When timer goes off, quick release pressure, open the lid and enjoy!
Notes
If serving as a meal I double the sauce so there is extra to serve alongside or on top of the meatballs.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 367Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 1018mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 2gSugar: 24gProtein: 15g