5 Star Featured Comment
The sauce is super good. If it weren’t for all those meatballs, I could happily have eaten the sauce as SOUP! This is a keeper, for sure. So many possibilities…
Cris
Saucy, Sweet, and Ready for Company
When I’m hosting, I like recipes that don’t make me babysit the stove. I want food that cooks while I tidy the kitchen, set out napkins, and actually enjoy the day—because that’s the whole point, right?
These bourbon meatballs are exactly that kind of recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sauce, Baby: It’s the sauce, baby! The meatballs are coated in a rich ketchup-based sauce that’s sweet and tangy, with a little “something” special from the bourbon.
- So Fast To Make: They are prepped and ready to cook in just 5 minutes.
- Versatile: Bourbon meatballs are ideal for so many ways to serve! 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.
Y’all enjoy!
Donya’s Tips for the Best Sauce + Texture
- Keep warm for serving: Switch to WARM and stir occasionally so the sauce stays smooth and glossy.
- Don’t panic if the sauce smells sharp at first. Once it cooks, it mellows and turns richer and thicker.
- Use LOW when you can. The sauce thickens a little nicer and the flavor has time to settle in.
- Want a thicker sauce? Crack the lid for the last 20–30 minutes to let a little steam escape.
- Fresh garlic really matters here. It gives a stronger, cleaner flavor than jarred.
If you love easy meatball recipes, try these Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs, Game Day Crock Pot Meatballs, and Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs.
Ingredients you need (and what each one does)
- Frozen or homemade meatballs: The shortcut that makes this fast. Any kind you like works.
- Ketchup: The base that gives the sauce body and that classic sweet-tang.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and helps the sauce turn sticky and glossy.
- Worcestershire sauce: Brings deep, savory flavor so the sauce isn’t just sweet.
- Apple cider vinegar: Brightens everything and balances the sweetness.
- Bourbon: Adds warm, rich flavor (it’s not overpowering—just adds depth).
- Garlic (minced): Fresh gives the biggest flavor punch.
- Red pepper flakes: Optional heat you can easily adjust.
Recipe Variations (top options readers actually use)
- Bourbon swap: Use whiskey if that’s what you have.
- Mild version: Skip the red pepper flakes (or add them at the end to taste).
- Honey substitute: Use brown sugar instead of honey.
- Hot honey twist: Swap in hot honey for a sweet-heat version (great for game day).
- Less sugar request: Try tomato puree in place of ketchup (the flavor shifts a bit, but it’s a popular swap).
Step-by-Step Directions
- Whisk the sauce: In a bowl, whisk ketchup, honey, Worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, bourbon, red pepper flakes, and garlic until smooth.
- Add to slow cooker: Pour meatballs into the Crock Pot and pour sauce over the top. Stir gently to coat.
- Cook: Cover and cook until the meatballs are hot throughout and the sauce thickens.
- Stir and serve: Give everything a gentle stir, then serve warm—straight from the Crock Pot.
How Long do you Cook Bourbon Meatballs in a Crock Pot?
- LOW: 4–5 hours
- HIGH: 3–4 hours
(You’re looking for meatballs that are heated through and a sauce that’s thicker and glossy.)
Ready to find the perfect slow cooker for your kitchen? You’ll love my Crock Pot buying guide to help you choose.
More Crock Pot Recipes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen meatballs
- 2 cups ketchup
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup bourbon
- ½ 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.
Notes
- Bourbon Swap: You can use whiskey in place of bourbon if needed.
- Less Heat: If you’re not a fan of spice, omit the red pepper flakes. You can always add them at the end if you decide you do want some heat.
- Honey Substitutes: If you don’t have honey, brown sugar will work, too.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes, you can keep these in the freezer for up to 3 months. I would thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating.
The cooked meatballs and any leftover sauce can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Store them in a resealable container and reheat before serving.
Yes, but you’ll want to increase the sauce so everything stays well-coated. A good rule: if your Crock Pot looks “crowded,” add more sauce.
Absolutely. Cook them earlier in the day, then keep them on WARM and stir occasionally.
Serving Suggestions
For a full appetizer spread, serve these meatballs with these Cream Cheese Sausage Balls and creamy Southern Deviled Eggs. If you want to enjoy these as an easy dinner, you can serve bourbon meatballs with Quinoa in the Rice Cooker and Skillet Green Beans.
If you tried this Crock Pot Bourbon Meatball Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
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The sauce is super good. If it weren’t for all those meatballs, I could happily have eaten the sauce as SOUP! This is a keeper, for sure. So many possibilities…
Thanks, Cris! You’ve made my day.
~Donya
Success! I found this recipe the morning of the Superbowl because I forgot to buy BBQ sauce. Everyone loved it. I cheated a bit: I baked chicken meatballs in the oven and cooked the sauce on the stove. When the meatballs were done, I stirred them into the sauce. Will definitely make this again for a party. Thank you!
Thanks, Alice! Especially for the terrific rating.
~Donya
This was a surefire hit at my party tonight! So yummy!
Can I use frozen chicken or Turkey meatballs for this recipe?
Yes, you sure can.
~Donya
I made these with Costco Jalapeno Cranberry Chicken Meatballs. I tripled the recipe to account for the almost 3lbs of meatballs and ended up using 2 cups of ketchup and then subbing the last cup with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. I also used Winter Jack Daniels (1 Cup) as the alcohol and these meatballs were incredibly delicious! The sauce was an amazing pairing with this meatball variety
Hey there Amy!
Wow! I love the way you think, using Jalapeno Cranberry flavored meatballs was a brilliant idea, I’ll definitely have to give that a try! Since you enjoyed this recipe, you should check out my Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs, they’re just as simple to make and the pineapple flavor is absolutely delicious, I hope you’ll give it a try. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this recipe and for your phenomenal rating, I really appreciate your support! Let me know if you ever have any questions, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
Hi Donya you are beautiful and rockin the short haircut!! Meatballs are amazing. Thanks
Tracey
Hey there Tracy!
My goodness you’re too sweet, thank you so much! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, I really appreciate your kind words! Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
Hi Donya,
Should I precook the meatball recipe in the oven? Or do they bake in the crockpot?
Thanks,
Mimi
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
Could I use BBQ sauce in place of the ketchup?
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
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!
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
What’s your favorite bourbon to use?
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