Crock Pot Cheddar BBQ Meatballs Recipe

This mouthwatering Crock Pot Cheddar BBQ Meatballs recipe transforms simple ingredients into an irresistible dish that’s perfect for family dinners, game days, or potlucks. The combination of savory meatballs infused with cheddar cheese, simmered slowly in tangy barbecue sauce, creates a flavor experience that will have everyone asking for seconds. Best of all, your slow cooker does most of the work, giving you more time to enjoy with family and friends!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortless Preparation: Just mix, form, quick-brown, and let your slow cooker handle the rest – perfect for busy days when you want a delicious meal without hovering over the stove.
• Amazing Flavor Fusion: The combination of sharp cheddar cheese melted into savory meatballs, then slow-cooked in your favorite BBQ sauce creates an incredible taste explosion that’s both comforting and exciting.
• Versatile Serving Options: These meatballs work beautifully as an appetizer, main dish, or even in sandwiches – one recipe, endless possibilities!
• Family-Friendly: Even picky eaters tend to love these meatballs. The familiar flavors come together in a way that appeals to both kids and adults.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Lean hamburger: Forms the base of our meatballs while keeping them juicy without excess fat.
• Old fashion oats: Acts as a binder that helps hold the meatballs together while adding a subtle texture that’s more interesting than breadcrumbs.
• Shredded cheddar: Brings rich, tangy flavor and incredible meltiness to every bite. Use sharp cheddar for more pronounced flavor or mild for a subtler cheese taste.
• Worcestershire sauce: Adds that umami depth that makes the meatballs taste like they took hours to prepare.
• Diced onions: Provides sweetness and texture while enhancing the savory profile of the meatballs.
• Diced garlic: Infuses aromatic flavor throughout the meat mixture.
• Dijon mustard: Contributes tangy complexity that pairs perfectly with the BBQ sauce.
• Egg: Acts as the crucial binding agent that helps everything hold together.
• Salt: Just a pinch enhances all the other flavors.
• BBQ sauce: Choose your favorite! Whether you prefer sweet, spicy, smoky, or tangy, the sauce you select will define the final character of the dish.

Variations

Different Meat Blends

Try a combination of ground beef and ground pork for richer flavor, or substitute ground turkey for a lighter option. Each variation brings its own unique taste profile to the dish.

Cheese Swaps

While cheddar is fantastic, you can experiment with pepper jack for a spicy kick, smoked gouda for deeper flavor, or even blue cheese crumbles for a more sophisticated twist.

Sauce Explorations

The BBQ sauce you choose significantly impacts the final flavor. Try a honey BBQ for sweetness, a bourbon BBQ for richness, or a spicy chipotle BBQ for heat. You can even mix in a tablespoon of apricot preserves or pineapple juice to your BBQ sauce for a fruity undertone.

Add-Ins

Consider mixing in finely chopped bell peppers, jalapeños, or even a handful of corn kernels to add texture and flavor variety to your meatballs.

How to Make Crock Pot Cheddar BBQ Meatballs

Step 1: Prepare the Meatball Mixture

In a medium bowl, combine the hamburger, oats, shredded cheddar, Worcestershire sauce, diced onions, garlic, Dijon mustard, egg, and salt. Mix thoroughly with your hands until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Step 2: Form the Meatballs

Divide and roll the mixture into 24 golf ball-sized meatballs, using slightly wet hands to prevent sticking. Try to make them uniform in size so they cook evenly.

Step 3: Brown the Meatballs

Spray a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs to the hot pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook for 2-3 minutes until browned, then gently turn and brown for an additional 2-3 minutes. This step creates a flavorful crust while helping the meatballs hold their shape.

Step 4: Transfer to Slow Cooker

Spray your Crock Pot with non-stick spray to prevent sticking. Carefully transfer the browned (but still mostly raw inside) meatballs to the slow cooker, arranging them in a single layer if possible.

Step 5: Add Sauce and Cook

Pour your BBQ sauce evenly over the meatballs, ensuring they’re all coated. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours, until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked and have absorbed the sauce flavors.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Don’t Overmix: When combining the meatball mixture, mix just until ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough.
• Brown Properly: Don’t skip the browning step! It creates a flavor foundation that makes a huge difference in the final taste.
• Use a Cookie Scoop: For perfectly uniform meatballs, use a medium cookie scoop to portion the meat mixture.
• Check Temperature: For food safety, ensure the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 160°F (71°C).
• Layer Flavors: For extra flavor depth, add half the BBQ sauce at the beginning and the remaining half during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

How to Serve

As an Appetizer

Serve with toothpicks and extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping. These make perfect party bites that are substantial enough to satisfy hungry guests.

As a Main Course

Pair with creamy mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles to soak up that delicious sauce. Add a simple green salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.

Sandwich Style

Place 2-3 meatballs on a toasted brioche bun, top with extra BBQ sauce and some coleslaw for a mouthwatering sandwich that’s perfect for lunch or a casual dinner.

Grain Bowl Base

Create a hearty grain bowl with quinoa or brown rice as the base, topped with the meatballs, some fresh vegetables, and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.

Make Ahead and Storage

Make Ahead Options

You can prepare the meatball mixture up to 24 hours in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Alternatively, form and brown the meatballs, then refrigerate until you’re ready to slow cook them with the sauce.

Storing Leftovers

Store cooled leftover meatballs with sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They actually taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld!

Freezing

These meatballs freeze beautifully! After cooking, cool completely and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag and store for up to 3 months.

Reheating

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Reheat in the microwave at 50% power for gentler warming, or in a covered saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of water if the sauce seems too thick.

FAQs

Can I make these meatballs in the oven instead of the slow cooker?
Absolutely! After browning, transfer the meatballs to a baking dish, pour the BBQ sauce over them, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to let the sauce caramelize slightly.

My meatballs fall apart when I try to turn them. What am I doing wrong?
If your meatballs are falling apart, the mixture might be too wet or not binding properly. Make sure your egg is fully incorporated, and try adding an extra tablespoon of oats to absorb excess moisture. Also, chilling the formed meatballs for 20 minutes before browning can help them hold together better.

Can I use frozen meatballs to make this recipe even faster?
While homemade meatballs provide the best flavor and texture, you can certainly use frozen fully-cooked meatballs in a pinch. Simply skip the browning step and add about 30 minutes to the cooking time to ensure they heat thoroughly.

What’s the best BBQ sauce to use with these meatballs?
The “best” sauce is truly whatever you enjoy most! For a balanced flavor that works well with the cheese, look for BBQ sauces that blend sweet, tangy, and smoky elements. Kansas City-style BBQ sauces typically work wonderfully with this recipe.

Final Thoughts

These Crock Pot Cheddar BBQ Meatballs bring together the comfort of homemade meatballs with the convenience of slow cooking, creating a dish that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The cheese melting into the meat creates pockets of gooey goodness, while the BBQ sauce develops a deep, rich flavor as it simmers. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or entertaining friends, these meatballs deliver big flavor with minimal effort. Give them a try – they might just become your new go-to recipe for both everyday meals and special occasions!

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