These Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs are the perfect party appetizer, and also an easy weeknight dinner! Serve with pasta, rice, or a salad to make it a complete meal.
Two magic words: honey bourbon.
I love making honey bourbon chicken wings, honey bourbon pulled pork, and honey bourbon truffles. The sweetness of honey with the smokiness of bourbon creates such a delicious, tantalizing flavor combination. It's an amazing flavor combo for so many sweet and savory recipes!
This recipe for Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs is one I have made over and over for several years. It's an easy recipe that's perfect to serve at holidays, family gatherings, and to bring to potlucks!
What you need to make slow cooker honey bourbon meatballs
You''ll need a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker in order for the meatballs to cook well using the cooking times in my recipe. I love my 6-quart slow cooker.
If you have a smaller slow cooker, try increasing the cooking time and be sure to stir the meatballs regularly to ensure they all get an equal chance to soak up some of the lovely honey bourbon sauce.
"Super tasty - went over really well at my party!"
-Reader nattyjo
You can make your own meatballs (I love the Manchego Cheese-Stuffed Meatball recipe), but if you're in a pinch, as I usually am, this recipe works SO well with pre-packaged meatballs found in the frozen section of your grocery store.
How to serve meatballs as a meal
This recipe makes a LOT of meatballs and is meant for large parties and gatherings. If you are making this for your family dinner, you can always freeze a portion for later.
I recommend making the entire recipe, and taking half to serve for dinner. Then divide the remaining half into two separate freezer safe containers or ziplock bags. You can freeze those two servings for up to a month. Thaw out in the fridge before reheating.
Serve these meatballs over:
- rice
- couscous (as seen in the photo above)
- polenta
- salad greens
- pasta
"These were a big hit at our Kentucky Derby Party! I double the recipe but only used ½ cup of bourbon. It was the perfect ratio; you could slightly taste the bourbon without being too over-powering!"
-Reader leslie
If you are making this for dinner for you and your family, here are some serving suggestions:
- Serve over yakisoba noodles with a side of cucumber salad.
- Enjoy over rice with a side of steamed broccoli.
- Include in meatball sandwiches, with traditional slaw fixings.
How to serve meatballs as a party appetizer
To serve these Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs as a party appetizer, simply put toothpicks in each one and serve on a tray. Then watch them get gobbled up quickly!
You can keep extra meatballs heated in a slow cooker on the countertop and replenish the tray as needed.
"Made it for a New Years party. Went over very well. Doubled the recipe and only brought a handful home."
-Reader richard
More Party Appetizer recipes
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
- Meatballs with Romesco Sauce
- Dairy-Free Spinach Dip
- 15-Minute Restaurant Style Salsa
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Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- One PARTY SIZE package of frozen Italian-style meatballs about 96 meatballs
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup bourbon use less if you prefer!
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together ketchup, honey, bourbon, brown sugar, and lemon juice.
- Place frozen meatballs in your slow cooker.
- Pour sauce mixture evenly over the meatballs. Stir to coat the meatballs as evenly as possible.
- Cook on high for one hour.
- Check on the meatballs and stir them occasionally, to evenly coat the meatballs with the sauce.
- After one hour, turn down the temperature to low and cook on low for 2 hours.
Notes
PIN IT:
This post was originally published January 9, 2015. It has since been updated with new photos and helpful new content.
Melinda says
These look so good! I've pinned it so I can pull this recipe out the next time I need to bring an appetizer somewhere!
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
I feel quite convinced there is NO better flavoring for meatballs! These sound fantastic.
Renée says
I am totally with you on Team Honey-Bourbon! These look great - I'm pinning them to my Party Food board. And honestly, thank you for being real and using premade meatballs: prepping for a big gathering is the last place I want to have to spend an hour and a half forming perfect little OCDballs. (Thought you'd appreciate that, Marlynn.)
Pech says
Also on Team honey Bourbon!
Emily says
Just visiting from Portland Bloggers. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
Great idea! Perfect for Super Bowl parties!
Tracy says
Looks delicious! Nice photos too.
Rachel says
OMGOSH! These look AMAZING! I need to try these asap. Thanks for sharing. I am so pumped.
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
What an absolutely awesome sounding honey sauce for covering meatballs in!!! It would disappear so fast here!
Kristi says
omg. This is great! I love meatballs and I love your suggestion to serve with yakisoba noodles.
pam (Sidewalk Shoes) says
I love my 6 quart slow cooker too! I love the idea of serving these over noodles with a cucumber salad - yum!
Kayla Whittington says
So simple! Perfect for so many things!
Kimberly Ann @ Bake Love Give says
These are perfect for lazy Sundays watching football!
Susan@LunaCafe says
Honey and bourbon. Together with savory meatballs. Wow, I can taste that from here. I have a slow cooker somewhere and really must locate it. What a lovely and easy dinner dish.
Kathy kozlowski says
help! I cannot get the recipe for the slow cooker honey bourbon meatballs to load. I have the ingredient. List but what next?
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Hi Kathy! Sorry about that - it looks like the recipe for this one wasn't loading properly, so I appreciate you letting me know! Try refreshing the page now and the recipe should come up for you. Thank you!
Sarah says
I added some sriracha sauce for a little more kick--huge party hit!
Bruce says
I used 3/4 cup of bourbon....delicious!!! Mixing had a disgusting smell but the end product was perfection
Leslie says
These were a big hit at our Kentucky Derby Party! I double the recipe but only used 1/2 cup of bourbon. It was the perfect ratio, you could slightly taste the bourbon without being too over powering!
Bonnie says
Just made this. Simply delicious!
Mel says
This was a huge hit. Previously made BBQ style ones, but this was a winner!
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