Meatballs are simmered in the slow cooker in a flavorful, sweet and spicy homemade teriyaki sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
My youngest is a fan of pretty much anything covered in teriyaki sauce, so I knew these Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs would be a big hit at my house.
I just love those precooked frozen meatballs. There are so many ways to use them in quick and easy family dinner recipes, and this teriyaki meatball recipe is about as easy as the come.
You just put a few dozen frozen meatballs in your slow cooker, then whisk together the teriyaki sauce, pour it over the meatballs, then cover and cook for 4-6 hours.
Finish the meatballs off with some green onions and sesame seeds, serve it all over hot cooked rice, and you’ve got a hot, hearty meal the whole family will love.
The teriyaki sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy ingredients like soy soy sauce, garlic, brow sugar, ginger, red pepper and pineapple juice.
Sometimes I buy plain old pineapple juice. Other times, I open a can of pineapple chunks, reserve the juice, and throw the pineapple right in the slow cooker with my meatballs.
You could also add mushrooms, sliced bell peppers, broccoli, or snow peas to the mix for a delicious one-pot meal.
I recommend adding veggies with just one or two hours of cooking time left, so they don’t get overdone.
I usually just serve some steamed vegetables on the side, since a few people around here have some strong opinions about vegetables.
However you serve up these teriyaki meatballs, this is a meal your family will request again and again. At least, mine does!
Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Ingredients
- Frozen meatballs
- Soy sauce
- Pineapple juice
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Garlic
- Spices: ground ginger, red pepper flakes
- Sesame oil
- Cornstarch
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 dozen precooked frozen meatballs
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup beef broth
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Place meatballs in a lightly greased slow cooker.
- To make teriyaki sauce: in a medium bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients until smooth.
- Pour sauce over meatballs. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until sauce bubbles and thickens. To speed up thickening, you may turn the slow cooker to high for the last hour of cooking time.
- Serve over hot cooked rice.
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Nutrition
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36 comments
Jamie Rose
I’m so happy I found your recipe!! Making this again tonight. I love how cheap, simple and quick this is to make. It turned out delicious the last time we made it. I tripled the recipe and it made great meal preps. I can’t wait for dinner to be done tonight.
Bre
Oh my gosh! This was SO GOOD! I was nervous because it smelled very strongly of soy sauce before it cooked but WOW! I didn’t make it in a crockpot. I just tossed it all (frozen meatballs and prepared sauce) in a pot and cooked for about 15 minutes. Super quick and delicious!
Sherie Constantino
Can I omit the sesame oil from the sauce recipe?
Maureen
I need a large batch. I am going to 4 times the recipe. Will I need to use 4 tablespoons of cornstarch or should I use less?
Also has anyone tried it with Costco’s Frozen Italian meatballs? I couldn’t find the plain ones!
Danelle
Yes, you should use 4 tablespoons of cornstarch if you increase everything else x4.
Shantel
If I decided to add a frozen veggie medley to the mix, to make it a quick dump and go meal, when do you think I should put it in to avoid overlooking them?
Ryvana
How much is a serving of this? It says the calories per serving but doesn’t say the serving size
Sanida
Where does the beef broth come in? Is it suppose to go in the sauce?
Danelle
Yes, in the sauce.
Keren
Hi! Do you think I could do this recipe in the instant pot? If so, what setting would you recommend?
Thank you!
Danelle
I’m sure it could, but I do not use an Instant Pot, so I couldn’t recommend the correct setting.
Janis
These are delicious! I made homemade meatballs using the recipe to a tee. So tender and delicious. I have to say that 2 hours on low and then 1 hour on high made the sauce quite thick. Next time I will double the sauce recipe.
Melisa
Do you think this recipe can work if I put the temperature on high for 3 hours? Is the sauce supposed to look as thick as the photo?
Danelle
That should work. It might not even need 3 hours on high.
Susanne
I would like to make this with teriyaki & pineapple chicken meatballs I have in the freezer (from Costco). Do you think those in your sauce will be flavor overload? Should I play it safe and go with just plain meatballs. I can’t decide!
Danelle
Hmmm…. it would be really hard to say without being able to try the Costco meatballs. Good luck!
ken
I would like to make my own meatballs with lean ground beef would i use the same cooking time of 4 – 6 hours
Danelle
Yes, but you should brown the meatballs before adding them to the slow cooker.
Bryony
I’ve not used frozen meatballs they are just fresh ones, will it still work the same?
Danelle
It will work fine, you’ll just want to cook your fresh meatballs before adding them to the slow cooker.
Kelly Lonsdale
Wanted to try this recipe but didn’t have time so I converted to a pressure cooker. It is absolutely delicious! Same recipe, served it over jasmine rice. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Kimberlee Holland
Please share the directions you used for pressure cooking!
Deborah Saxe
I’ve got some simmering right now in my crock pot. The smell is driving everyone crazy! YUM! I followed the directions to a “T” and used frozen chicken meatballs. 3 and a half hours to go! Drooling…
Sheila
My family LOVES these meatballs!! I intend to try it with chicken also. Thank you for this recipe!
Anne
Can I use cut up chicken thighs for this recipe?
Danelle
I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not.
Dawn
Would it still be ok if I made homemade meatballs or does that make it to greasy? I do a pork and beef mixture
Danelle
I’ve never done it with homemade meatballs, but I’m sure it would be delicious!
Anavi
How many pounds of meat were the 2 dozen meatballs?
Danelle
I’m not really sure, since I used pre-made meatballs, but I’d guess about 1.5 – 2 pounds. It really depends on what size you make the meatballs though.
Anna
I’m confused. Do I put in frozen raw meatballs into my slow cooker?
Danelle
The only frozen meatballs I’ve seen in stores are pre-cooked. That is what I use.
Linda Metz lm
Can you add Asian media vegetables to the teriyaki meatballs
Lauren
Is it ok that the sauce doesn’t fully cover my meatballs!?
Danelle
Yes it’s fine.
Ang
This looks so delicious!!