These saucy crockpot sesame meatballs make the best appetizer for large gatherings. The meatballs are quickly broiled and then simmered in a sweet and spicy Asian-inspired sauce!

The crockpot is a perfect place to make party appetizers that cook and clean up easily. These crockpot meatballs are just that!

It’s an easy holiday appetizer that requires a very small effort to feed a big crowd with little cleanup.

These sesame meatballs are juicy, and tender in a lightly sweet and tangy sauce that penetrates the meatballs while they simmer away in the slow cooker. The sauce is EVERYTHING!

It’s a perfect blend of sweet and a little spicy. You can go as much or as little as you like on the crushed red pepper flakes but I found that 1/2 teaspoon is a perfect medium.

crockpot meatballs

Ingredients

The sauce is some of my favorite ingredients, all blended and simmered in a slow cooker along with simple pork and beef meatballs just until tender. Then sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions just before serving.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make these juicy Asian crockpot meatballs.

Meatballs:

  • ground pork
  • ground beef
  • eggs
  • garlic
  • white onion
  • Panko breadcrumbs
  • cilantro

Sauce:

  • brown sugar
  • soy sauce
  • ketchup
  • honey
  • white wine vinegar
  • garlic
  • red pepper flakes
  • green onions
  • sesame seeds
  • salt and pepper
asian crockpot meatballs

How to Make Crockpot Meatballs

  • In a large bowl, combine the meatball ingredients. Form the mixture into about 1 1/2-inch balls.
  • Place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and broil for about 7 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer to a crockpot.
  • Whisk together the sauce ingredients, except for the green onions and sesame seeds. Pour over the meatballs.
  • Cook on low for 3 hours. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
crockpot asian meatballs

Serving Suggestions

These sesame meatballs are a perfect way to entertain your guests as they go with so many other appetizer dishes. Create an appetizer table with other small plate-type dishes and let everyone choose what they like. Here are some of our favorites:

savory meatballs crockpot

More Meatball Recipes

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Crockpot cocktail meatballs are a perfect blend of sweet and savory. Perfect for holiday entertainment with easy prep and hardly any clean up. | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Crockpot Sesame Meatballs

  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 3 hours 10 mins
  • Total Time: 3 hours 30 mins
  • Yield: 50 mini meatballs 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Crockpot
  • Cuisine: Asian

Description

These saucy crockpot sesame meatballs make the best appetizer for large gatherings. The meatballs are quickly broiled and then simmered in a sweet and spicy Asian-inspired sauce!


Ingredients

Units Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 lb. ground pork
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup grated onion
  • 1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Kosher salt and pepper

Sauce

  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (use 1/4 tsp. for little less heat)
  • 2 Tbsp. green onion, white and green parts chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Instructions

Meatballs

  1. In a large bowl, combine the meatball ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Line two large baking sheets with foil and lightly coat with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper. No need to use non-stick spray then. Form 1 to 1 1/2 inch meatballs and place on the lined baking sheet in a single layer.
  3. Broil the meatballs for 6-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, or just until browned. You want the meatballs ONLY browned on the outside and not cooked through.

Sauce

  1. Combine all the sauce ingredients, except for the green onion and sesame seeds.
  2. Place the meatballs in a crockpot, coating with sauce evenly.
  3. Cook the meatballs on low for 3 hours. Mixing a couple of times to evenly coat with sauce.
  4. Transfer the meatballs to a serving platter and sprinkle with green onion and sesame seeds.

Notes

  • To Make Ahead: Broil the meatballs and prepare the sauce the night before. Store separately covered in the refrigerator until ready to be cooked in the crockpot.
  • Frozen Meatballs: I haven’t tried this recipe using frozen meatballs, however, a handful of the readers have. Please see comment section for their feedback.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3-4 meatballs with sauce
  • Calories: 266
  • Sugar: 21.5 g
  • Sodium: 568.6 mg
  • Fat: 10.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25.7 g
  • Protein: 17.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 80.9 mg

Keywords: cocktail meatballs, appetizer, party food