Crockpot Sesame Meatballs
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.
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
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.
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:
More Meatball Recipes
- Asian Chicken Meatballs
- Turkey Pesto Meatballs
- Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Healthy Chicken Meatballs
Crockpot Sesame Meatballs
- 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
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
- In a large bowl, combine the meatball ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
- 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.
- 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
- Combine all the sauce ingredients, except for the green onion and sesame seeds.
- Place the meatballs in a crockpot, coating with sauce evenly.
- Cook the meatballs on low for 3 hours. Mixing a couple of times to evenly coat with sauce.
- 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
Hi! I'm Katya -- a former corporate paralegal turned full-time recipe developer and blogger behind Little Broken. Here you'll find family-friendly and seasonal recipes made from real ingredients.
Hello Katya, I made these meatballs back in 2015 and they were a huge hit. I prepped the meatballs and the sauce today (6/18/21) and I will cook them in my crockpot tomorrow. My question is, should I store the meatballs separate from the sauce? Or can I put them in the sauce in the fridge overnight? I was wondering if the meatballs would absorb some of the sauce if I put them together. Thanks in advance. Donna
Hi Donna, I would keep the meatballs and sauce separate. Thanks.
Could the meatballs be cooked over the stove top after broiling? If so, how long should they take to cook?
(I have a huge crockpot and don’t want to have to double the sauce for the meatballs to be covered)
Hi Michelle: Are you trying to make this recipe on the stovetop or just the meatballs?
I’m trying to cook the meatballs through after broiling in the oven and wondered if this could be done on the stovetop and if so how long to have the same affect as crockpot?
It’s hard to say exactly how long as I haven’t tried them on the stovetop but yes you definitely can prepare them on the stovetop. I would make the sauce, bring it to a simmer, then add the meatballs to the sauce and cook until fully cooked through.
I use rice wine vinegar as a substitute every time and it’s perfect, I always have that on hand whereas I don’t have white wine vinegar on hand.
Thank you! That’s a great tip.
Great! I used the recipe for the sauce and used frozen meatballs! Cooked on low for 4 and half hours and they were yummy!
★★★★★
Thank you Tina! Love the frozen meatball hack.
My sister in law can’t have pork. Would you recommend ground turkey or ground chicken for these meatballs? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, you can certainly substitute turkey or chicken! Let me know how they turn out for you.
If you put this for 8 hours in the slow cooker on low wil it be the same outcome?
It’s hard for me to give you a definite answer without trying first. Honestly, I think it would be too much but like I said I’m not positive. If you try it for 8 hours, let me know how it turns out.
For those asking about frozen meatballs, I used Farm Rich frozen turkey meatballs and they turned out great. Cooked on high for about 3 hours, stirring a couple times per the original recipe. Big hit at potluck
Thanks for your feedback Olivia! Glad you enjoyed the meatballs.
Just made these for a party last night and they were a huge hit!!! Substituted turkey for beef and these turned out delicious. Thanks so much for the recipe!
So happy to hear that Ksharma! I’m glad they turned out well 🙂
Hello, sorry I’m late to the post! I was wondering how the cooking time would change in the crockpot if I use a bag of the frozen precooked meatballs? Thanks!
Hi Jessica, it’s hard to say as I only used fresh meatballs. I would recommend you use your best judgement.
Hi! Did yours turn out well with the frozen meatballs? I went to go buy ground pork and supermarket was out. Will try going back later but in the meantime I have frozen ones just in case. Wondering if I just pop them in there or defrost night before and cook in sauce. Any suggestions will be greatly helpful before end of day! Thanks!
I made these for Thanksgiving and they were a hit!
I’m going to make for Christmas Eve too, but don’t have the time for them to cook in the crockpot as we need to drive.
Can I cook all of the way in the oven and then just use the crockpot to rewarm them with the sauce?
Any suggestions on temp and length of time to bake them?
Hi Anna: You can certainly cook them all the way in the oven but I would NOT broil them but bake at 350F for about 15 minutes, then turn them over and continue baking for additional 5 minutes or until somewhat crispy on the outside. This is a good starting time and you can always check for doneness after 15 minutes and see how much longer you need to cook. Hope this helps 🙂 I’m glad you liked the meatballs to make them over again. Merry Christmas to you! Let me know how they turn out.
Hi Katya,
I made these recently and they were fantastic. I am not a fan of beef, so I used ground turkey, 93% lean. A little strange, but all of the ground pork was gone at the market…didn’t want to go to another market, so I bought ground pork sausage instead. I love this recipe and will be making these to bring to a party. The party invite asks people to bring appetizers, so I’m wondering if the hostess has anything to keep the food that people bring warm. I would like them to stay warm to hot – any suggestions as to what to put them in when I bring to the party?
Hi Donna! I’m so glad you liked these meatballs to make them again! I would suggest to keep them in the actual crockpot that you use to make them in and reheat the meatballs on low heat setting at the party. Or if that’s too much hassle, you can bring the cooked meatballs with you and use hostesses crockpot to reheat on low setting. Another option would be to reheat them in the oven in a casserole dish at a low 300F and serve them right away. These are some options. I think your best bet would be to keep them in a crockpot if you want them hot all evening low. Hope this helps! Enjoy your party !!!
Thanks, Katya!
I appreciate the different options! It should be a fun party – haven’t seen these people (high school friends) for around 40 years!
Thanks again.
Donna
Can you substitute chicken for the pork?
Hi Steffanie! You can certainly swap chicken for the pork, however, chicken tends to be a little dry so if you are swapping, I would recommend you cut the broil time approx in half or just watch the meatballs when they broil so the chicken is not overcooked. Let me know how they turn out for you! Happy Holidays!
These meatballs look mouthwatering, Katya! I am always hesitant to make them because they are so time consuming but my kids love them and beg me to make them all the time. Great recipe!
★★★★★
These look yummy , I am going to make them for Christmas Eve!
Hi Karen! Thank you! Let me know how they turn out for you. Happy Holidays!
Great recipe utilizing the crock pot. I am always on the lookout for slow cooker recipes and this one looks awesome!
★★★★★
Wow these meatballs look delicious! I especially love that they can easily be made in a crockpot and left to cook whilst entertaining guests.. definitely perfect for the upcoming festive season!