Slow Cooker Meatballs With Homemade BBQ Sauce
The easiest appetizer you’ll make all holiday season (and the one everyone will ask for the recipe for).
There are holiday appetizers… and then there are slow cooker meatballs — the reliable, crowd-pleasing, vanishes-before-you-even-walk-away-from-the-table heroes. And this version might be my favorite ever because instead of using bottled BBQ sauce, we’re making our own homemade sweet-tangy-sticky version in approximately 30 seconds.
I know.
We’re basically chefs.
This recipe is perfect for parties, game days, Friendsgiving, Christmas gatherings, New Year’s, or any chaotic moment where you need to feed people without turning your kitchen into a war zone. You just mix the sauce, pour it over frozen meatballs (no shame — frozen meatballs are elite), turn on the slow cooker, and boom: magic.
Why These Meatballs Are So Good
These meatballs hit every note:
- Sweet from the brown sugar
- Sticky + glossy from the apricot preserves
- Savory + tangy from the ketchup and Worcestershire
- Deep + smoky from slow cooking
- Convenient because frozen meatballs are the MVP
They taste like the classic party meatballs your mom used to make, but slightly elevated — a little fruitiness from the apricot, a little shine, a lot of flavor.
And because they’re slow-cooked, they get that perfect “fall-apart when you poke them but still hold their shape” texture we all know and love.
Let’s Talk About the Homemade BBQ Sauce
This four-ingredient BBQ sauce is so easy it almost shouldn’t count as a recipe, but trust me — it TASTES like something you simmered all afternoon.
It’s made with:
- ketchup (the base)
- brown sugar (caramel sweetness)
- apricot preserves (the secret weapon)
- Worcestershire (depth + savoriness)
A quick whisk and it becomes this glossy, sweet-tangy sauce that coats the meatballs perfectly and tastes better than anything from a bottle.
If you’ve never used apricot preserves in BBQ sauce before… prepare to enter a new era.
Why Frozen Meatballs Are Actually Perfect
Look — sometimes convenience foods are actually the move. Frozen meatballs are consistent, tender, reliable, and they hold up REALLY well in a slow cooker. No crumbling, no dryness, no fuss.
Plus, using frozen means the sauce has time to soak in gradually as they thaw and warm. It’s like marinating while cooking.
And if you want turkey meatballs? Go for it. Beef? Great. Italian-style? Works. Homestyle? Perfect. Truly any meatball plays well with this sauce.
What This Tastes Like
Imagine the sweet and tangy BBQ of your dreams.
Now imagine it coating a tender slow-cooked meatball.
Now imagine eating one… and then suddenly eating five more without realizing it.
That’s this recipe.
They’re glossy, sticky, a little fruity, a little smoky, and 100% addictive. The kind of appetizer you have to physically walk away from.
When to Make This
Perfect for:
- Holiday parties
- Finger-food nights
- Family gatherings
- Game day
- Potlucks
- Christmas Eve
- Days when you need something hands-off and delicious
Basically: when in doubt, bring the meatballs.
Serving Ideas
- Toothpicks if you want them appetizer-style
- Over rice for an easy dinner
- With mashed potatoes
- Over buttered noodles
- On Hawaiian rolls as little sliders (OMG perfection)
Slow Cooker Meatballs with Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 bags frozen meatballs NOT Italian Style
Homemade BBQ Sauce
- 1½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup apricot preserves
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Add Meatballs: Place the frozen meatballs into a slow cooker.
- Make the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, apricot preserves, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
- Combine: Pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs and toss to coat.
- Cook: Cover and cook on HIGH for 2–3 hours or LOW for 4 hours, stirring halfway through.
- Serve: Keep warm in the slow cooker for serving. Serve with toothpicks, over rice, or on slider buns.
