Slow Cooker Whiskey Meatballs
These slow cooker whiskey meatballs take just 5 minutes to prep and are the perfect quick and simple appetizer for the holidays, football season or a Saturday night at home with the family! Everyone will be asking for seconds (and the recipe), so you’ll definitely want to make a double batch.
Why you’re going to love these quick and easy meatballs:
- They’re so easy to throw together! Just dump the sauce ingredients into your crock pot, add frozen meatballs and stir to combine. The crock pot does the rest and in two hours you’ll have a delicious party appetizer ready to go!
- These meatballs are a great “make ahead” appetizer. Stir all the sauce ingredients together in the crock pot insert and refrigerate for up to a week. Stir in the frozen meatballs and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
- They have whiskey in them! Bourbon whiskey packs these little meatballs with a punch but don’t worry, the alcohol will be cooked off by the time you serve them! You’ll just be left with a deep, subtle whiskey flavor mixed with the sweet, tangy BBQ and chili sauce – giving you a cozy, comforting appetizer that’s perfect for the holidays!
How to make bourbon whiskey meatballs:
Whisk together whiskey, chili sauce, apricot preserves, BBQ sauce, worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, garlic powder and a large pinch of salt and pepper in a medium slow cooker.
Add frozen meatballs.
Stir until meatballs are coated in sauce.
Cover and cook on high for 2 hours (or low for 4 hours) or until meatballs are heated through. Garnish with sliced green onion if desired and enjoy!
Tips for making the best Slow Cooker Whiskey Meatballs:
- Those little bottles of liquor that you’ll find near the check out in the liquor department are 1/4 of a cup. So you’ll need three of those small bottles for this recipe. Better make it four bottles though, so you can make yourself a cocktail while you’re hard at work in the kitchen!
- Try a flavored whiskey for more dimension. I’ve tried peach and apple whiskey in this recipe and both turned out great. Classic whiskey is delish but feel free to switch up and add some more flavor in there!
- To make these meatballs ahead of time just mix the sauce ingredients in the crock pot insert and stick it in the fridge until about 2 hours before you’d like to serve them. Then stir in the frozen meatballs, crank it up to high and let the slow cooker do all the work.
Frequently asked questions:
- Do I need to cook meatballs before adding them to the crock pot?
- Nope! Frozen meatballs come fully cooked, so you are basically just warming them through and marinating them in a delicious whiskey bourbon BBQ sauce.
- Toss them into the crock pot frozen and two hours later they’ll be piping hot and ready to enjoy!
- Do I need to make my own meatballs?
- NO! You certainly could make your own meatballs for this yummy appetizer if you’re cool like that. But honestly, that’s just going to leave less time for snuggling and watching cheesy Christmas movies (or football if that’s what you’re into). So I mean, do whatever makes you happy. And if it’s buying a frozen bag of meatballs (or 3) then let’s do that!
- This recipe is written for frozen meatballs, so if using freshly cooked homemade meatballs, you can reduce the cook time by at least half.
- Also, don’t worry about garnishing your meatballs with green onion if you’re not feeling it. I just needed to dress them up a bit as a bowl of brown meatballs doesn’t scream “delicious food photo!” Thanks for understanding 🙂
- Can kids eat these whiskey meatballs?
- Yep. The alcohol cooks off in the slow cooker leaving behind that toasty whisky flavor that warms you from the inside out.
- By the time the meatballs are ready to eat, there is no actual alcohol left. No one will get tipsy from cooked whiskey meatballs – promise!
Try these easy appetizers next!
Did you love this recipe?
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Slow Cooker Bourbon Whiskey BBQ Meatballs
The easiest appetizer you’ve ever made, these meatballs will have your friends and family asking for seconds (and the recipe)!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 26 (1 oz.) meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup bourbon whiskey
- 3/4 cup chili sauce
- 1/2 cup apricot preserves
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
- 26 oz. bag Italian or traditional style frozen meatballs
- thinly sliced green onion for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Combine whiskey, chili sauce, apricot preserves, BBQ sauce, worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, garlic powder and a large pinch of salt and pepper in a medium slow cooker.
- Add frozen meatballs and stir until meatballs are coated in sauce.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 hours (or low for 4 hours) or until meatballs are heated through.
- Garnish with sliced green onion if desired and enjoy!
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
Those little bottles of liquor that you’ll find near the check out in the liquor department are 1/4 of a cup. So you’ll need three of those small bottles for this recipe. Better make it four bottles though, so you can make yourself a cocktail while you’re hard at work in the kitchen!
Try a flavored whiskey for more dimension. I’ve tried peach and apple whiskey in this recipe and both turned out great. Classic whiskey is delish but feel free to switch up and add some more flavor in there!
To make these meatballs ahead of time just mix the sauce ingredients in the crock pot insert and stick it in the fridge until about 2 hours before you’d like to serve them. Then stir in the frozen meatballs, crank it up to high and let the slow cooker do all the work.
This post was originally published in November 2017. It was updated in November 2019 to include process shots, step-by-step instructions and tips for making the best bourbon whiskey meatballs every single time.
What qualifies as a “medium” slow cooker?
My apologies, Brooke – I’ve updated the recipe card to include the link to the medium crock pot I’m referring to. Hope that helps!
So easy, so much flavor! So easy to eat! They’re gone in a flash!
I am so glad to hear that, Deb! Thank you for leaving a review – I really appreciate it 🙂
What is chili sauce
It is a delicious sauce that has lots of chili flavor and just a hit of spice. Here’s a link to the brand that I use most often: https://www.heinz.com/products/00013000001120-chili-sauce/
I made these for dinner tonight. Everyone really enjoyed them. It’s one of the best meatball sauces I’ve had. However, it did not taste (or feel) like the alcohol burned off. I’m glad everyone in my house is over 21! Maybe it’s because I cooked the meatballs and sauce on low for four hours instead of high for two hours? Next time I will simmer the sauce on the stove top before I had it to the slow cooker. I will make these again.
What is Chili sauce? What do you recommend?
I usually use Heinz. This is what it looks like: https://www.heinz.com/product/00013000001120. Good question!
This sounds like the perfect recipe to take to a gathering. I was curious what is your favorite go to BBQ and whiskey for this recipe? Since I am making this for the first time for a crowd would love your opinion
Thanks 😊
I had already bought ground beef would that be okay to use instead of frozen meatballs
Yes! You could definitely use fresh ground beef and make your own meatballs for this recipe! You could also use this meatball recipe https://midwestfoodieblog.com/baked-spaghetti-and-meatballs if you’re looking for a good homemade recipe! I would make these meatballs according to the recipe directions, then bake them on a cooling rack on a sheet pan in a 450 degree oven for 10 minutes. Then follow the Whiskey Meatball recipe and add them to the sauce, cook in the crock pot for about an hour or until the meatballs are cooked through!
Hi, another question..what do you think about adding some sweet onion? would the taste be ok? we are this with sticky rice or mased potatoe
Thanks
I think that would be divine!! I imagine it would really add some great flavor as the meatballs cook!! Great idea!
Awesome!! Oh Yummmmmmy ,I cant wait for dinner tonight!!
Thanks Again,
What do you use for apricot preserves? Thank you!
I just buy a jar of apricot preserves from the grocery store. You could also use apricot jam if you can’t find preserves.
Hi How much kosher salt and pepper?
You can just season to taste. I’d start with a 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and go from there!
Thanks :0) going to make this for dinner tonight …
No problem!! Happy cooking 🙂 I’m planning to make a batch of these this weekend myself!!
The easiest meatball appetizer you’ve ever made – this recipe is definitely a keeper!