Slow Cooker Apple Butter Meatballs Recipe
These Slow Cooker Apple Butter Meatballs combine sweet and tangy flavors with the convenience of slow cooking. The sauce made from apple butter, maple syrup, and chili sauce perfectly coats tender frozen meatballs, creating a delicious appetizer or a hearty entrée served over mashed potatoes or rice with roasted vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5 to 3 hours (HIGH) or 4 to 5 hours (LOW)
- Total Time: Approx. 3 to 5 hours
- Yield: About 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 12 oz. bottle chili sauce (Heinz Chili Sauce recommended; do not use sriracha hot chili sauce or Thai sweet chili sauce)
- 1 ½ cups apple butter (Musselman’s Apple Butter preferred)
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp. molasses
- ¼ tsp. ground cloves
- ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon (or allspice as a substitute)
Meatballs
- 40 oz. frozen precooked meatballs (two 20-ounce bags)
Instructions
- Prepare Sauce: Add the chili sauce, apple butter, maple syrup, molasses, ground cloves, and ground cinnamon to the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly, ensuring the sauce will be well balanced in flavor.
- Add Meatballs: Place the frozen precooked meatballs into the sauce mixture in the slow cooker. Toss gently to coat all the meatballs with the sauce, which will infuse flavor as they cook.
- Cook Meatballs: Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2.5 to 3 hours, or on LOW for 4 to 5 hours. Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent the meatballs from sticking and burning on the edges, allowing for even cooking and flavor absorption.
- Serve: Once cooked through and the sauce is thick and flavorful, serve the meatballs as an appetizer or as a main dish over mashed potatoes or rice, paired with roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use only the specified chili sauce (Heinz Chili Sauce) to get the best flavor balance. Avoid using sriracha or Thai sweet chili sauces as they alter the taste.
- Frozen meatballs must be precooked and frozen; do not use raw meatballs.
- If you don’t have ground cinnamon, allspice is an excellent substitute.
- Stirring the meatballs occasionally during cooking prevents them from burning and helps distribute the sauce evenly.
- This recipe works well for both appetizers and main courses, adaptable by changing side dishes.
Keywords: slow cooker meatballs, apple butter meatballs, easy appetizer, sweet and tangy meatballs, crockpot recipes
