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Buffalo Crockpot Meatballs
I made these buffalo meatballs twice in the last two weeks to get the sauce absolutely perfect. The first time we devoured the slow cooker meatballs for dinner with rice – Ah-mazing. The second time, I brought them to a friend’s birthday party where everyone practically begged me for the recipe. Everyone, beg no more. These buffalo meatballs are a cross between my crazy popular Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs I posted last year and my beloved Honey Buffalo Hot Wings. Both are ridiculously delicious and easy, always crowd pleasers, and both seeping with sweet heat. So, it only made sense to combine the two for an easy, intoxicating delicious slow cooker meatball recipe AKA Honey Buffalo Meatballs! The buffalo meatballs themselves are incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful from an easy splash of spices. The spices make the ingredient list seem somewhat lengthy, but they just take seconds to throw in and take these meatballs all the way to the end zone; smother them in Honey Buffalo Sauce and you have a touchdown.
Sauce for Buffalo Meatballs
Any meatball recipe, including these buffalo meatballs, are only as good as the sauce, and this sauce is epic. It is a simple whisking of Frank’s Original Hot Sauce, honey, brown sugar, apricot preserves and a splash of soy sauce that simmers with the meatballs for an appetizer that is nothing short of addicting or, as previously discussed, the perfect dinner so you can eat them all the time.
Meatball Crockpot Recipe ingredients
For the Crock Pot Meatballs:
Ground beef: use lean ground beef so the meatballs will be tender but not greasy. Crackers: 22 saltine crackers or Ritz crackers add a fabulous flavor in place of panko or breadcrumbs. Dried minced onion: I love using dried minced onion because they deliver concentrated flavor. You can find dried minced onions with all the other seasonings at your grocery store. Eggs: 2 eggs will do the trick to bind all the ingredients together. Milk: any kind of milk will work here. Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin salt and pepper add an oomph of flavor without being overpowering.
For the Buffalo Meatballs Sauce
Hot sauce: I use Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce. You can start with less and add more to taste. Honey: is the “honey” in honey buffalo meatballs! Apricot preserves: adds a fruity, multi-dimensional sweetness that compliments the honey Brown sugar: works with the honey to balance the hot sauce. Soy sauce: grounds the sauce. Use low sodium so your recipe isn’t too salty Cornstarch: thickens the sauce into a glaze.
How to make Meatballs in Crockpot
STEP 1: COMBINE MEATBALL INGREDIENTS
These Buffalo Meatballs are super easy! First, combine the lean ground beef, eggs, saltine crackers, dried minced onions, milk, and seasonings in a bowl.
I used my mom’s perfect moist meatball recipe that uses crushed saltines instead of breadcrumbs as well as dried minced onion for maximum flavor.
STEP 2: ROLL MEATBALLS
Next, roll the meat mixture into balls and place on foil lined baking sheet for easy cleanup.
STEP 3: BAKE MEATBALLS
Bake for 8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Baking the meatballs ensures they don’t fall apart in the slow cooker and seals in the juices for more tender meatballs. Baking is also much easier in a mass batch to cook instead of frying (and healthier too!).
Step 4: Combine Buffalo Meatballs Sauce Ingredients
While the meatballs are baking, add all of the Honey Buffalo Sauce Ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Start with only use ¼ cup hot sauce at this point. You can add more hot sauce to taste at the end of cooking).
Step 5: Cook Meatballs in Crockpot with Sauce
Line the bottom of your slow cooker with meatballs, drizzle with some Honey Buffalo Sauce, then remaining meatballs followed by the remaining Sauce.
How long to cook meatballs in crockpot?
Cook Buffalo Meatballs on LOW for 2-4 hours. gently stirring one hour into cooking. The meatballs will cook and seep in the zesty, sweet, tangy, savory, spicy sauce. You can keep the crock pot on the WARM setting until you’re ready to serve.
Tips for Slow Cooker Meatballs
Slow Cooker Line. Try using a crock pot liner for effortless cleanup! Saltine substitute. You may substitute the saltine crackers for Ritz crackers. Uniform meatballs. I suggest using a cookie scoop to roll your meatballs so they are a uniform size and cook evenly. Meatball Size. The size of the meatballs is totally personal preference, but I like to make smaller meatballs when using as an appetizer and larger meatballs when serving as a dinner. Meatball quantity. This slow cooker meatball recipe will make approximately 70 meatballs using 1″ cookie scoop; 35 meatballs using 2″ cookie scoop. Always brown meatballs. Browning the meatballs in the oven before adding to the crock pot is essential. It seals in the juices, helps them not break apart in the slow cooker, and speeds up the cooking time. Double sauce. This slow cooker meatball recipe does not make saucy meatballs, but more of a glaze for appetizer meatballs. You will want to double the sauce if serving as a main course. Cooking time. The size of the meatballs as well as the size, age of your slow cooker will affect the cooking time so plan accordingly. Test for doneness. Test a buffalo meatball after two hours by cutting in half to check for doneness. Plan for longer cooking time. If this is your first time making slow cooker meatballs, plan for the meatballs to take the full 4 hours cooking time. It is better to start the meatballs early and keep them on the warm setting instead of them not being cooked in time.
Buffalo Meatball Crockpot Recipe Substitutions & Variations
Double the sauce for extra saucy meatballs. Swap the hot sauce for Gochuchang (Korean chili sauce) Swap the apricot preserves for pineapple or blackberry jam Swap the saltines for Ritz crackers or go gluten free and use your favorite gluten free crackers
Can I make these crock pot meatballs with turkey?
I recommend lean ground beef for its rich, beefy flavor, but you may also use ground chicken or ground turkey, they just won’t be quite as juicy. Trying adding some beef bouillon to enhance the flavor and a splash of oil to enhance the juiciness.
CAN I USE FROZEN MEATBALLS?
Part of the deliciousness of this Buffalo Meatball Recipe is the homemade meatballs, but you are welcome to use your favorite store-bought meatballs as well. To make Slow Cooker Meatballs with store-bought meatballs, you will need one 32 oz. frozen fully cooked home style meatballs.
SLOW COOKER: Add sauce and meatballs to a 6-qt. slow cooker and cook on low 2-3 hours for THAWED meatballs and 6-8 hours for FROZEN meatballs. STOVE TOP: Add sauce and meatballs to a large pot and gently simmer over medium low heat for 15-20 minutes for THAWED meatballs and 30-35 minutes for FROZEN meatballs, stirring occasionally.
Can I make Buffalo Meatballs on the Stove?
You may also make Buffalo Meatballs on the stove but they require a little more babysitting. I personally prefer the slow cooker method because the meatballs cook low and slow and emerge crazy tender. If cooking Buffalo Meatballs on the stove, you will still want to brown the meatballs in the oven first so they don’t fall apart when cooked. Add honey buffalo sauce and browned/baked meatballs to a large pot and gently simmer over medium low heat for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through, stirring occasionally.
CAN I BAKE BUFFALO MEATBALLS?
Yes, you can bake the meatballs and prepare the sauce on the stove. Here’s how:
Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. Top with a baking rack and spray with cooking spray; set aside. Place meatballs onto prepared baking sheet without touching. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Meanwhile, whisk all of the Honey Buffalo Sauce ingredients together in a very large skillet off heat. Once combined, bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add the baked meatballs to the sauce and stir to evenly coat. Transfer meatballs to a serving platter or bowl with either cocktail picks or toothpicks nearby or you can pierce the meatballs. Serve warm. Alternatively, transfer to the crockpot and keep on the “warm” setting until ready to serve.
How to serve Buffalo Crockpot Meatballs
If serving Buffalo Meatballs as an appetizer, it pairs well with these other popular appetizers:
Jalapeno Popper Dip Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Cheesy Chili Dip Spinach Artichoke Dip Parmesan Fingerling Fries Pretzel Monkey Bread Mexican Corn Dip Best Bean Dip Queso Fundido Cheesy Pesto Pull Apart Bread
If serving Buffalo Meatballs as a main course, it pairs well with these sides:
brown, white or cauliflower rice spaghetti squash or pasta like egg noodles garlic mashed potatoes or crockpot mashed potatoes Sauteed or roasted Brussels sprouts big green salad or wedge salad roasted asparagus or roasted broccoli perfect fruit salad or winter fruit salad
How to make Meatballs in Crockpot in advance
Assemble and bake the meatballs for 8 minutes. Let meatballs cool completely. Gently layer meatballs in slow cooker in between layer of sauce per recipe directions. Remove crockpot ceramic insert with meatballs/sauce and refrigerate, covered. Add an additional 30 minutes to cooking time when ready to make OR cook until meatballs are completely cooked through and sauce is hot.
How to store Slow Cooker Meatballs
CAN I FREEZE Slow Cooker MEATBALLS?
You can either freeze your Slow Cooker Buffalo Meatballs a) after baking but before cooking in the slow cooker or b) once fully cooked in the sauce.
TO FREEZE SLOW COOKER MEATBALLS AFTER COOKING:
Let Buffalo Meatballs and Sauce cool completely in the refrigerator before freezing. Transfer to an airtight, freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, let meatballs thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Transfer to a large pot and gently simmer until heated through.
TO FREEZE MEATBALLS BEFORE COOKING:
HOW TO THAW and Cook FROZEN MEATBALLS
When ready to make Buffalo Meatballs, you can cook meatballs either on the stove, crockpot or oven/crockpot:
Looking for more BUFFALO Recipes?
Honey Buffalo Hot Wings Buffalo Chicken Buffalo Chicken Dip (Stuffed French Bread) Buffalo Chicken Pull Apart Bread Buffalo Chicken Salad Buffalo Mac and Cheese Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Honey Buffalo Ribs Buffalo Chicken Foil Packet Buffalo Chicken Burritos
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