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    Home » Holiday

    Slow Cooker Whiskey Meatballs

    Published: Nov 3, 2019 » Modified: Jan 24, 2023 » By: Kylie » This post may contain affiliate links. » 18 Comments

    8.5K shares
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    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.

    Overhead shot of a white crock pot insert filled with bourbon whiskey meatballs
    Table of Contents show
    Why you're going to love these quick and easy meatballs:
    How to make bourbon whiskey meatballs:
    Tips for making the best Slow Cooker Whiskey Meatballs:
    Frequently asked questions:
    If you loved these meatballs, check out these other appetizer faves:
    Slow Cooker Bourbon Whiskey BBQ Meatballs

    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!
    Close up shot of a white crock pot insert filled with bourbon whiskey meatballs

    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. 

    Overhead shot of an oval white crock pot insert filled with whiskey bourbon barbecue sauce

    Add frozen meatballs.

    Overhead shot of an oval white crock pot insert filled with whiskey bourbon barbecue sauce and frozen meatballs

    Stir until meatballs are coated in sauce.

    Overhead shot of an oval white crock pot insert filled with whiskey bourbon barbecue sauce and frozen meatballs

    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!

    Overhead shot of a white crock pot insert filled with bourbon whiskey meatballs

    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 ¼ 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.
    Close up shot of a white crock pot insert filled with bourbon whiskey meatballs

    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!
    Overhead shot of a white crock pot insert filled with bourbon whiskey meatballs

    If you loved these meatballs, check out these other appetizer faves:

    • Loaded Jalapeno Popper Potato Skins
    • Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip
    • Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry Tarts
    • Baked Sesame Beef Meatballs
    • Baked Jalapeno Poppers
    • Roasted Garlic & Goat Cheese Dip

    Questions?
    Leave a comment below!
    Liked the recipe?
    Leave a comment below!
    Made this dish?
    Leave a comment and star rating below!

    Print

    Slow Cooker Bourbon Whiskey BBQ Meatballs

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    The easiest appetizer you've ever made, these meatballs will have your friends and family asking for seconds (and the recipe)!

    • Author: Kylie
    • 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

    Scale
    • ¾ cup bourbon whiskey
    • ¾  cup chili sauce
    • ½ cup apricot preserves
    • ½ cup BBQ sauce
    • 1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • ¼ 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

    1. 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. 
    2. Add frozen meatballs and stir until meatballs are coated in sauce.
    3. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours (or low for 4 hours) or until meatballs are heated through.
    4. Garnish with sliced green onion if desired and enjoy!

    Notes

    Those little bottles of liquor that you'll find near the check out in the liquor department are ¼ 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.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 3.25 meatballs + ⅛ sauce
    • Calories: 383
    • Sugar: 22.4 g
    • Sodium: 1131.2 mg
    • Fat: 20.7 g
    • Saturated Fat: 7 g
    • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 36.8 g
    • Fiber: 3.1 g
    • Protein: 14.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 60.8 mg

    Keywords: BBQ meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, crock pot meatballs, whiskey meatballs

    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.

    « Short Rib Chili
    Easy Olive Tapenade Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deb

      December 12, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      So easy, so much flavor! So easy to eat! They’re gone in a flash!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie

        December 12, 2021 at 6:55 pm

        I am so glad to hear that, Deb! Thank you for leaving a review - I really appreciate it 🙂

        Reply
        • Trina

          March 12, 2023 at 11:58 am

          What is chili sauce

        • Kylie

          March 13, 2023 at 10:12 am

          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/

    2. Stacy

      March 11, 2021 at 10:29 pm

      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.

      Reply
    3. Cj

      January 29, 2020 at 8:05 pm

      What is Chili sauce? What do you recommend?

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        January 30, 2020 at 9:17 am

        I usually use Heinz. This is what it looks like: https://www.heinz.com/product/00013000001120. Good question!

        Reply
      • Ash

        December 02, 2021 at 7:13 am

        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 😊

        ★★★★★

        Reply
    4. Tammy

      January 19, 2020 at 11:35 am

      I had already bought ground beef would that be okay to use instead of frozen meatballs

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        January 20, 2020 at 10:56 am

        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!

        Reply
    5. Loretta Baker

      May 07, 2019 at 2:24 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        May 07, 2019 at 2:29 pm

        I think that would be divine!! I imagine it would really add some great flavor as the meatballs cook!! Great idea!

        Reply
        • Loretta Baker

          May 07, 2019 at 3:04 pm

          Awesome!! Oh Yummmmmmy ,I cant wait for dinner tonight!!
          Thanks Again,

    6. Loretta Baker

      May 07, 2019 at 10:04 am

      Hi How much kosher salt and pepper?

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        May 07, 2019 at 10:06 am

        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!

        Reply
        • Loretta Baker

          May 07, 2019 at 10:11 am

          Thanks :0) going to make this for dinner tonight ...

        • Kylie Lato

          May 07, 2019 at 10:12 am

          No problem!! Happy cooking 🙂 I'm planning to make a batch of these this weekend myself!!

    7. Midwest Foodie

      February 04, 2019 at 11:03 am

      The easiest meatball appetizer you've ever made - this recipe is definitely a keeper!

      Reply

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

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    HELLO FROM THE MIDWEST - I'm Kylie and as a mom and blogger, I understand how hard it can be to get a wholesome dinner on the table at the end of a long day. Here at Midwest Foodie, I focus on sharing simple recipes that make it easy to feed your family real food.

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