Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf ofCooked Perfect® Meatballs. All opinions are 100% mine.

Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs are a super easy appetizer recipe featuring savory slow cooker meatballs in a sticky Mongolian glaze sauce. This restaurant inspired recipe is a family favorite perfect for game day food, holiday appetizers for a crowd, or even served with rice for dinner.

Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs

My whole family, and especially my kids, LOVE meatballs. The kids lovingly refer to meatballs as "magic meatballs," and get all kinds of excited when they see me get them out. I loveCooked PerfectFrozen Meatballs, as well, because they are so easy to prepare and are made using select meats, real cheeses, and savory herbs then flame-broiled to sear in the flavor.

Cooked PerfectMeatballscome in a variety of flavors, including Italian Style, Homestyle, and Angus Beef. The Mongolian Meatballs recipe below calls for Cooked Perfect Homestyle Meatballs, but I think it would be really yummy with the Angus Beef meatballs, too.

They're also really easy to find, right in your grocer's freezer aisle. You can find them near you at the link below.

Find Cooked Perfect Meatballs!

With game days and holidays fast approaching, we'll be serving up these meatballs quite a bit. There are three things that I just LOVE about this Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs recipe.

1. Cooked Perfect Meatballs make the recipe so much more convenient, so you can focus on all the other aspects of entertaining (like trying to clean up the toy tornado mess your kids made this morning! AHH!).

2. Because it's made in the slow cooker, you won't be stuck in the kitchen prepping or watching the food. You get to join in the fun!

Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs Recipe

Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs

Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs are a super easy appetizer recipe featuring savory slow cooker meatballs in a sticky Mongolian glaze sauce. This restaurant inspired recipe is a family favorite perfect for game day food, holiday appetizers for a crowd, or even served with rice for dinner.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Main, Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Asian, Chinese

Ingredients

▢ 1 package (14 ounces) Cooked Perfect Homestyle Meatballs
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1 teaspoon grated ginger
▢ 4 garlic cloves, minced
▢ ½ cup soy sauce
▢ ½ cup beef broth or water
▢ ¼ cup brown sugar
▢ 1 large onion, thinly sliced
▢ 2 green onions sliced diagonally
▢ 2 tablespoons cornstarch
▢ 2 tablespoons water
▢ Sesame seeds and more sliced green onions for garnish

Instructions

Add oil, ginger, garlic, soy, broth, and brown sugar to slow cooker. Stir to combine.
AddCooked Perfect Homestyle Meatballs, sliced onions, and green onions, and stir again.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 or low for 6-8 hours.
When there's about 30 minutes left of cook time, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Stir to create a cornstarch slurry.
Pour cornstarch slurry into slow cooker. Stir to combine. Continue cooking.
Serve warm garnished with more sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

For more inspiration, Browse More Meatball recipes here!

Find Cooked Perfect Meatballs

Browse more meatball recipes

END

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooked Perfect® Meatballs. All opinions are 100% mine.

Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs

I have been absolutely craving Asian food lately. Like every day. So good. One of my favorites to order for take-out is Mongolian beef. I know how to make it on the stove-top at home too, but it's pretty involved so I don't always have the time, energy, or desire to make it. I'm really excited to partner withCooked Perfect Meatballsto share this simple Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs recipe that is an easy, delicious appetizer for entertaining (and snacking!) all year long. My whole family, and especially my kids, LOVE meatballs. The kids lovingly refer to meatballs as "magic meatballs," and get all kinds of excited when they see me get them out. I loveCooked PerfectFrozen Meatballsbecause they are so easy to prepare and are made using select meats, real cheeses, and savory herbs then flame-broiled to sear in the flavor. Cooked PerfectMeatballscome in a variety of flavors, including Italian Style, Homestyle, and Angus Beef. The Mongolian Meatballs recipe below calls for Cooked PerfectHomestyle Meatballs, but I think it would be really yummy with the Angus Beef meatballs, too. They're also really easy to find, right in your grocer's freezer aisle.

Find Cooked Perfect Meatballsnear you!

With game days and holidays fast approaching, we'll be serving up these meatballs quite a bit. There are three things that I just LOVE about this Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs recipe. 1. Cooked Perfect Meatballsmake the recipe so much more convenient, so you can focus on all the other aspects of entertaining (like trying to clean up the toy tornado mess your kids made this morning! AHH!). 2. Because it's made in the slow cooker, you won't be stuck in the kitchen prepping or watching the food. You get to join in the fun! 3. The sauce. Oh my goodness, the sauce. It is the perfect amount of tangy and sweet, just like your favorite take-out Mongolian beef. Since the meatballs slow cook in the sauce, they absorb it just enough. So. Good. You can serve these Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs by leaving them right in the crock on warm (sitting in the sauce, of course!). Or you can put them on toothpicks and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds for a more elegant, and still easy, appetizer. I will also be honest here and say that I have also served these with veggies over rice for dinner. Because I believe meatballs should be for all occasions!

Browse more meatball recipesfor more inspiration!

Slow Cooker Mongolian Meatballs Recipe

FAQs

How to stop meatballs falling apart in a slow cooker? ›

Turn the meatballs to brown all sides. Browning the meatballs seals in the juices and toughens the exterior so they do not fall apart from sitting in the liquid in the slow cooker.

Read On ›

How to keep meatballs from drying out in the crockpot? ›

Leaving the meatballs out of the sauce until the last 30 minutes of cooking ensures that they stay juicy and tender.

Discover More Details ›

How long to heat meatballs in crockpot on high? ›

Cover the slow cooker and cook the meatballs on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through (slice one in half to check). With a spoon, gently turn the meatballs to coat them in the sauce and distribute the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle additional Parmesan and parsley on top, to taste.

Know More ›

How do you make meatballs not fall apart? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

Discover More Details ›

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Tell Me More ›

Can I leave meatballs in crockpot for 8 hours? ›

Place the meatballs into the sauce mixture. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours. Enjoy!

Learn More Now ›

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

View Details ›

How do you keep meat moist in a slow cooker? ›

How to Avoid Dry or Tough Meat

Choose the Right Cuts. The best cuts of meat for a slow cooker are well-marbled and fatty. ...
Add Just Enough Liquid. ...
Be Patient. ...
Cook Low and Slow.

Apr 16, 2020

Can you overcook meatballs? ›

What looks like a perfectly good meatball one minute can become an overcooked glob the next. Cooking meatballs is an art in a sense, mostly due to its surrounding elements. Whether simmering in a sauce or the primary ingredient for a soup, there are many ways that these tasty morsels can be overcooked.

Know More ›

How to keep meatballs warm in a crockpot? ›

Use a Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

Simply select the “Keep Warm” setting, and away you go! You can also transfer an oven-baked or stovetop dish to the slow cooker to keep them warm, too.

Read The Full Story ›

Why are my meatballs taking so long to cook? ›

Type of meat: Meatballs made with higher-fat meats like beef or pork take longer in the wall oven than lean turkey or chicken. Amount of fillers: More breadcrumbs or fillers shorten cook times in the wall oven. Oven temperature setting: Higher heat settings speed up cooking time in your wall oven.

Tell Me More ›

Can you heat meatballs in a crockpot? ›

For that reason, it's better to use the slow cooker more as a gentle reheating method for fully cooked, frozen meatballs. Now, if you plan to thaw your frozen meatballs first, or cook them in higher heat environments like the oven or stove, go ahead and freeze them raw.

See Details ›

What happens if you put too much breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Using the wrong amount of bread crumbs (or flour)

Bread crumbs are another popular binder for meatballs that can become problematic if used incorrectly. Adding too many bread crumbs to the mix will cause your meatballs to become loose and fall apart. The same applies to flour.

Read The Full Story ›

What to use in meatballs instead of breadcrumbs? ›

The Best 10 Breadcrumb Substitutes

Rolled oats. Rolled oats are the perfect gluten-free binding ingredient, replacing breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf and many more recipes when you need to bind meat and eggs. ...
Potato chips. ...
Cornflakes. ...
Almonds. ...
Croutons. ...
Crackers. ...
Seeds.

Oct 18, 2022

Get More Info Here ›

Why are my meatballs falling apart when I cook them? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Explore More ›

How to stop beef from breaking up in a slow cooker? ›

My preferred way is in BRAISING the meat in a slow cooker instead of putting in the meat entirely dry. I add a small amount of liquid (about a cup to a can full), with vegetables as well, which would add a LOT of moisture to the meat.

Do meatballs get softer the longer you cook them? ›

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Keep Reading ›

How to keep food separate in a slow cooker? ›

Use a few sheets of foil to form a divider, and place inside your slow cooker. Next, anchor one Slow Cooker Liner on each side of the divider and pour dips inside for a no-mess way to satisfy every guest at your tailgate.