Honey Garlic Meatballs

Mouthwatering Honey Garlic Meatballs are the perfect balance of all things tangy and sweet. Juicy, tender and so flavorful these are always scooped up quick. Because these meatballs are the perfect pop-able bite they are especially great for parties, social gatherings, tailgating, or quick and easy family dinners.

Three Reasons to Fall in Love

As if flavor alone wasn’t reason enough to add this to the weekly meal rotation, I have three other reasons you will fall in love with these Honey Garlic Meatballs!

Reason 1:

When dinner time rolls around and I find myself in a bind, I can confidently walk into my pantry, grab 5 ingredients I typically have on hand anyways, and whisk together a yummy homemade honey garlic sauce that is guaranteed to knock everyone’s socks off.

Reason 2:

There is no need to stress that everyone is anticipating dinner to be ready to enjoy in a matter of minutes and I haven’t got anything in the works. With 5 minutes of prep time I can allow my crockpot or Instant Pot do all the heavy lifting for me and have happy, full tummies with little effort on my part.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Reason 3:

This is a super affordable, budget friendly recipe. Especially great for feeding large groups! We usually purchase our meatballs at Costco in bulk which helps lower the cost even more. Honey Garlic Meatballs are definitely a good option for large family meals, potlucks, or family reunions! Get a big batch going in your crockpot, steam some rice and you are ready for the masses! 

Have I raved about these enough?! By now it should be no surprise when I tell you this recipe has absolutely secured its spot on my Top 10 Week Night Dinner recipe go-to’s.

Meatball Making Queen?

If you prefer to make your own homemade meatballs have no fear! This recipe is still for you. You can absolutely adapt this recipe to use delicious homemade meatballs versus a frozen option. The only adaption you need to make is making sure to bake raw meatballs in the oven or pan searing in a skillet so that they are at least three fourths cooked so that when you add the sauce they hold their shape and stay together. Once you have them almost entirely cooked go ahead and add your sauce and continue as normal!

Cooking Style Preference

Crockpot or Slow Cooker (4 hour cook time)

Spray slow cooker or line with disposable liner for easier cleanup. Prepare the sauce in a small bowl by mixing together. (You can also stir the sauce together directly in the crockpot for one less dish to mess with.) Add frozen meatballs to the slow cooker and pour sauce over the top. Stir together to coat meatballs with sauce. Cook on low for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.

Oven Baked (15 minute cook time)

Pre-heat oven to 400. Line a 9×13 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.

Instant Pot (2 minute cook time)

Put Instant Pot on sauté mode. Combine all ingredients for sauce in bottom of pan, stirring until thick and bubbly (2-3 minutes). Add frozen meatballs to pot. Stir to cover with sauce. Place lid on the Instant Pot and set to cook on manual pressure for 2 minutes. Once done, quick release the pressure open the lid and enjoy! (If you haven’t added an Instant Pot to your kitchen arsenal and are on the lookout for one check it out HERE!)

Many Ways to Enjoy

As I’ve mentioned these meatballs are so great because of the endless ways there are to enjoy them! Serve them with toothpicks as an easy cocktail appetizer. Or you can totally 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 creamy mac n cheese. And don’t be afraid to use them to make meatball sandwiches or sliders. There truly is no wrong way to enjoy these bad boys!!

However you decide to enjoy them don’t forget the garnish to add a little extra finesse. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley. Top off with sesame seeds for a little extra crunch. Or maybe you will want to double the honey garlic sauce and serve it extra saucy for enjoying with rice or potatoes. No matter how you serve them up everyone is going to be begging to be your official taste testers. Luna and Dash were definitely first to volunteer over here.