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Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs

These Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs are a crowd-pleasing dish that works perfectly as both an appetizer and a main course. The sweet and savory teriyaki sauce—infused with pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger—permeates every bite as the slow cooker does all the work.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatballs
  • 2 pounds frozen fully-cooked beef meatballs
Sauce
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch to be mixed with 2 tablespoons water for slurry
  • 2 tablespoons water for cornstarch slurry
  • 2 tablespoons honey optional, for extra sweetness
Garnish
  • Sesame seeds for garnish
  • Chopped green onions for garnish

Equipment

  • Slow cooker
  • Medium bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, low-sodium soy sauce, packed brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and rice vinegar. If extra sweetness is desired, stir in the honey.
  2. Place the frozen fully-cooked beef meatballs directly into the slow cooker. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the meatballs and gently stir to ensure they are well coated.
  3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2–3 hours (or on low for 4–5 hours), stirring halfway through to allow the sauce to evenly infuse the meatballs.
  4. About 30 minutes before serving, mix the cornstarch with water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker and continue cooking until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
  5. Garnish generously with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving. Enjoy the meatballs over rice, in slider buns, or simply as a hearty appetizer.

Notes

This slow cooker teriyaki meatballs recipe is incredibly versatile and effortless, making it perfect for weeknight dinners, parties, or game day snacks. You can easily swap the beef meatballs for turkey, chicken, or even plant-based options if desired. A few tweaks in the sauce ingredients, like using orange juice instead of pineapple juice or adding red pepper flakes, can personalize the flavor. The leftovers are just as delicious and reheat wonderfully over rice or noodles.