Go Back

Crockpot Asian Meatballs

Crockpot Asian meatballs with a glossy hoisin-ginger glaze—frozen fully cooked meatballs simmer until hot, then the sauce thickens for a lacquered finish. Stirring through the cook keeps every meatball evenly coated and ready for an easy appetizer spread.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian-American
Calories: 280
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Frozen fully cooked meatballs
  • 32 oz frozen fully cooked meatballs Use frozen fully cooked meatballs for the best quick heat-through.
Hoisin-ginger glaze
  • 0.33 cup hoisin sauce
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
Garnish
  • 0.5 sesame seeds Sprinkle generously over the finished meatballs.
  • 0.5 sliced green onions Add right before serving for freshness and color.

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Load the slow cooker
  1. Place the frozen fully cooked meatballs into the slow cooker in an even layer.
  2. Whisk hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, ginger, and red pepper flakes until smooth.
Coat and cook
  1. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir until all pieces are evenly coated.
  2. Cook on LOW for 3–4 hours (or HIGH for 1.5–2 hours) until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce looks thicker and glossy.
  3. Stir gently every hour during cooking so the glaze clings evenly to the meatballs.
Finish and serve
  1. Transfer the meatballs to a serving platter and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Notes

For the shiniest glaze, keep the lid closed for most of the cook time and only stir when the hour is up. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat in a microwave or on LOW in the slow cooker until hot. Freezing is yes—freeze up to 2 months and reheat gently. Dietary swap: use gluten-free soy sauce to make the glaze gluten-free.