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football party honey garlic meatballs - featured image

Football Party Honey Garlic Meatballs

  • Author: Thea
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Description

These slow cooker honey garlic meatballs are the ultimate game day snack. By browning the meatballs first and using pancake mix for tenderness, they stay juicy and flavorful while requiring zero active stress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1/2 cup pancake mix
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, pancake mix, egg, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
  2. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls (yields about 24-30 meatballs).
  3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs in a single layer for 2-3 minutes per side until browned all over. Do not cook through. Transfer to paper towels to blot excess oil.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, cornstarch, and water until smooth.
  5. Place browned meatballs in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the top and stir gently to coat.
  6. Cover and cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 4 hours.
  7. About 15 minutes before serving, stir the meatballs. If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir it in. Cook for another 5 minutes to thicken.
  8. Serve warm with toothpicks.

Notes

Browning the meatballs before adding them to the slow cooker is essential for texture and flavor. Do not overmix the meat to prevent rubbery results. Pancake mix acts as a tenderizer due to its baking powder content. For a spicy version, add sriracha to the sauce. These can be made ahead and frozen for up to 2 months.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs per se
  • Calories: 280
  • Sugar: 16
  • Sodium: 520
  • Fat: 14
  • Saturated Fat: 5
  • Carbohydrates: 22
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 18

Keywords: football party food, slow cooker meatballs, honey garlic meatballs, game day snacks, easy appetizer, party food, crockpot recipes

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Find it online: https://rootrecipes.online/football-party-honey-garlic-meatballs-the-1-trick/