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Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs are tender, succulent, and loaded with irresistible flavors. These meatballs, prepped in just minutes, are cooked in the Crock-Pot and are perfect to serve as an appetizer, for game day or on lazy weekends.
This easy slow cooker recipe is the perfect marriage of two things, ‘hands-off’ cooking and meatballs. I love using my Crock Pot and my family is always up for meatballs, making this combination is a winner.
I’ve been a fan of slow cooking for years, after all everyone loves easy crock pot meals! Whether I’m making Mexican Shredded Beef, Chicken Thighs, or Hawaiian Meatballs, I know that these recipes will be flavorful and turn out beautifully every time I make them.
What Makes These Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs So Special?
- It’s the sauce, baby! The meatballs are looked in a rich ketchup base sauce that’s sweet, tangy with a little “something” special from the bourbon.
- They are prepped and ready to cook in just 5 minutes.
- Bourbon Meatballs are ideal to serve in so many ways! As an appetizer when you’re entertaining, for the holidays, on game day, and on the weekends when you’d rather be relaxing instead of cooking.
Ingredients Needed To Make Bourbon Meatballs
- Frozen or Homemade Meatballs
- Ketchup
- Honey
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Bourbon
- Red Pepper
- Garlic
Pro Tip: Make your own meatballs using my simple recipe. These meatballs can be made ahead of time and frozen until you’re ready to enjoy them, there’s no easier way to prepare frozen meatballs than in the crock pot.
How Long Do You Cook This Crock Pot Meatball Recipe?
Using a slower cooker is easy because you just set it and forget it. I’m always a little giddy over the fact that I’m “cooking but not cooking” when using this workhorse in the kitchen.
You can cook the Bourbon Meatballs on two different settings:
- LOW for 4-5 hours
- HIGH for 3-4 hours
How To Store Leftover Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs
The cooked meatballs and any leftover sauce store well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Store in a resealable container then reheat before serving.
People Often Ask…
Yes, it does! After about 3-hours of cooking, there’s less than a trace of alcohol left in any recipe you make using bourbon. What you’ll get is a rich, mellow flavor in the sauce that you’ll love.
More Delicious Crock Pot Recipes To Make…
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken Sliders
- 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
- Crock Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Busy Day Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Crock Pot Reuben Dip
Last But Not Least…
I love hearing from you, so please leave a rating and a comment if you don’t mind. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me with a photo.
Crock Pot Bourbon Meatball Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen meatballs
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup bourbon
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 minced garlic cloves
Instructions
- In a medium-size mixing bowl, add ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, bourbon, red pepper flakes and garlic. Whisk together.
- Add meatballs to the Crock Pot. Pour sauce over and stir to coat the meatballs. Place lid on and set the timer to 4-5 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH.
- When timer goes off, gently stir meatballs in sauce and serve.
Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?
If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!
How To Get Started With Slow Cooking
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Debbie
What’s your favorite bourbon to use?
Donya
Rob, Mr. A Southern Soul, has a few favorites. Basil Haden is a good, “I don’t want to go broke” bourbon. Please let me know how you like the recipe!
~Donya
Eva
I made these for dinner the first night and served them over rice, then turned the leftovers into meatball sandwiches the next night. They were delicious both ways!
Donya
Hey there Eva!
Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so glad you liked this recipe. I love these meatballs for the exact same reason… the leftovers. You can serve these over rice, with potatoes, or even just as is. If you enjoyed this recipe, you should check out my Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs, they’re just as easy to make with a sweet and tangy flavor. Thank you for your support, if you ever have any questions please feel free to reach out!
~Donya
Evelyn Johnson
Could I use BBQ sauce in place of the ketchup?
Donya
Hey there Evelyn!
I’ve never tried that, but it sounds like it would be delicious, I say give it a try! Let me know how the recipe turns out, I hope you enjoy!
~Donya
Mimi
Hi Donya,
Should I precook the meatball recipe in the oven? Or do they bake in the crockpot?
Thanks,
Mimi
Donya
Hey there Mimi!
That’s a really great question! To make the Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs you’ll need frozen meatballs. The frozen meatballs can be homemade, if you go to my Homemade Meatballs Recipe you will find baking and freezing instructions in the blog post. Once those meatballs are frozen you can then follow this Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs recipe exactly. I hope this helps, let me know how they end up turning out! Enjoy!
~Donya