Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Meatballs

📝Shopping list

To make this easy recipe, you will need: 

• frozen meatballs* - I use turkey meatballs
• onion - diced
• sweet chili sauce
• ketchup
• rice vinegar
• honey
• toasted sesame oil
• soy sauce
• ground ginger
• red bell pepper - chopped
• red chili flakes - optional
• sesame seeds and green onion - optional garnish

💙💜Why you will love this recipe

• Incredibly Easy: Slow Cooker Meatballs are a true toss-and-go slow cooker dish. Perfect for when you don't have time to babysit a stovetop pot.
• Flavorful and Versatile: The sweet chili sauce takes prepared sauce and doctors it up to perfection. This allows you to adjust the heat and the sweet to your preference.
• Customizable: Use your favorite frozen meatballs (turkey, chicken, or beef all work well!), or get creative and make your own. 

🔪Instructions

This great recipe just involves a few simple steps:

Cooking

• 🌶Place meatballs directly into your greased slow cooker
• 🌶Add in remaining ingredients, other than red bell pepper, and stir to combine
• 🌶Cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours (or high heat for 2-3 hours)
• 🌶About 30 minutes prior to serving, stir in red pepper pieces
• 🌶Turn your slow cooker down to the Keep Warm setting until you are ready to serve. 

🍽Serving ideas

There are tons of great ways to serve this slow cooker meatball recipe.   Some favorites include:

1. As a perfect party appetizer - Make your next party a hit by serving the easiest appetizer recipe!  Just add some decorative toothpicks or appetizer forks to this dish and you have an easy crowd pleaser.  Using cocktail sized meatballs is a great way to make these into spicy party meatballs.   Include a small bowl of extra sauce on the side for dipping/drizzling.
2. On a bed of grains or greens -  These easy crockpot meatballs are also a delicious main course. Serve over a bed of rice, riced cauliflower, quinoa or polenta . Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seed for extra deliciousness..  
3. On top of noodles - Toss these chili sauce meatballs over ribbons of yummy pasta noodles, zucchini noodles, or rice noodles for a spectacular meal. 
4. In a sandwich - These spicy meatballs are perfect served "sub-style" on long hoagie rolls with extra sauce. The ultimate spicy meatball subs! 

🔁Substitutions

1. This delicious recipe is fabulous with ground pork, beef, turkey, or chicken meatballs.  Frozen store-bought or homemade meatballs work equally well. For best flavor results use homestyle meatballs,  NOT use Italian-style meatballs.
2. If you don't have honey, substitute brown sugar or agave. 
3. Sesame oil can be swapped for a milder flavored oil, such as olive or avocado.  
4. Swap orange and yellow peppers for red
5. For added spice, add red pepper flakes to your taste preference. 

Storing

Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  They will stay fresh for 3-4 days.  

Refreezing previously frozen cooked meatballs is not recommended.  If you use a homemade meatball recipe with your slow cooker Guinness meatball glaze, you can freeze leftovers.  Be sure to use a freezer-safe container.  Frozen meatballs will last for 3 - 4 months.

😉Hints & hacks

1. If using homemade meatballs, an instant-read thermometer helps determine when meatballs are fully cooked through.  When testing, be sure to place the thermometer in the center of the meatballs. These delicious meatballs are safe to eat when they reach an internal temperature of 165℉.
2. Easily make a double batch of this recipe by doubling all ingredients.  Just make sure your slow cooker is large enough to hold it all.  Cooking should not vary all that much. 
3. To thicken the sauce, allow to cook with the lid off for the last half an hour or so.  
4. I prefer the flavor of a Thai chili sauce with this recipe (rather than a ketchup based sauce like Heinz chili sauce) 
5. Use a slow cooker liner for easy clean-up. This is a fully optional step. I usually buy liners in bulk for the best per-piece price. However, if you plan to serve right out of the slow cooker, it will look nicer without a liner.  
6. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
7. This is a great meal prep recipe. Add all ingredients, other than the meatballs, to a small bowl and blend mixture.  Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.  When you are ready to cook, just add meatballs and already assembled sauce ingredients to your slow cooker.