Crock Pot Teriyaki Meatballs

Crock Pot teriyaki meatballs are an easy homemade feast loaded with frozen homestyle meatballs, pineapple, and bell peppers, all in a rich, sweet, and savory teriyaki sauce for a classic Asian flavor, your family will love.

The only thing easier than a crock pot meal is a semi-homemade crock pot meal, which is why this meatball dish is a particular. This recipe uses frozen homestyle meatballs to cut down drastically on the work, and the final result is always a hit.

Why You’ll Love This Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe

• Family-friendly: It is an easy and flavorful dish that is a hit with both kids and adults. That can be served over rice, noodles, or veggies.
• It's Versatile: You can easily customize the recipe to just the way you like it. Add more pineapple juice or more brown sugar to make it sweeter. Throw in some red pepper flakes or jalapenos for a little heat
• Easy and Simple: It uses simple and budget-friendly ingredients you can find in your kitchen or at your local grocery store. That can be put together easily.
• Great for leftovers: Besides being tasty, this recipe stores well in the fridge for easy lunches or quick dinners later in the week.

Ingredients

• Meatballs: I used frozen homestyle meatballs; my favorite ones are from Sam's Club. But you can also make them at home. Just make sure to sear them before adding them to the crock pot.
• Pineapple: I prefer canned pineapple chunks to keep it simple. But you can also use fresh pineapple, and it works great.
• Bell Peppers: I like combining red and green bell peppers for a unique flavor combination. But you can definitely make it your own and use the kind you like best.
• Homemade Teriyaki Sauce: This easy sauce requires just a few simple ingredients. All you need are soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, fresh garlic, honey, cornstarch, and Fresh ginger. If you don't have fresh ginger on hand, you can substitute it with a ¼ teaspoon of dried ginger.
• For Serving: Serve over white rice and garnish with fresh chopped green onions and sesame seeds. You can also serve it over soba noodles, rice noodles, and lo mein noodles.

How To Make Crock Pot Teriyaki Meatballs

1. Add the meatballs, pineapple, and bell peppers to the crock pot.
2. Mix the homemade teriyaki sauce ingredients in a bowl and pour it over everything.
3. Cook until the flavors have melded and the meatballs are heated through.
4. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Recipe Tips

• There's no need to defrost your meatballs for this recipe. Just throw them right in! I guarantee this will be your go-to method for cooking frozen meatballs in a crockpot.
• Cut your peppers into 1-inch pieces. This will make them bite-size but still large enough to prevent them from getting mushy as they cook.
• If you want a thicker sauce, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and ¼ cups of water. Pour the slurry in, mix it together, and continue to cook for 10 minutes.

Flavor Variations and Substitutions

• Add red pepper flakes or sliced red chilis for a kick of heat.
• Add other classic Asian vegetables like mushrooms, onions, broccoli, or baby corn for more flavor and texture.
• You can use jarred minced garlic if you don't want to mince fresh garlic.
• Beef or chicken meatballs work equally well in this recipe.
• Use thinly sliced beef, pork, or chicken strips to completely change up the dish.

Hint

Mix your sauce ingredients before pouring them over the meatballs to ensure all the flavors meld fully.

What To Serve With Crockpot Teriyaki Meatballs

These delicious meatballs have a sweet, zesty flavor that pairs perfectly with a variety of sides or appetizers like lettuce wraps or egg rolls to make a full, delicious meal. You can also serve it alongside other Asian-inspired mains dishes for a takeout feast!

Storage

Refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

To reheat, place them in a saucepan with a splash of water and cook over medium-low heat until heated through.

PREP TIME  10minutes mins

COOK TIME  4hours hrs

TOTAL TIME  4hours hrs 10minutes mins

COURSE  Main Course

CUISINE  American, Asian

SERVINGS  6

CALORIES  491 kcal

EQUIPMENT

• Your Favorite Crock Pot

INGREDIENTS

Meatballs

• 48 ounces frozen homestyle meatballs
• 20 ouce can canned pineapple chunks
• 1 medium green bell pepper cut into 1" pieces
• 1 medium red bell pepper cut into 1" pieces

Teriyaki Sauce

• ⅔ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 cups water
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger peeled and minced
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup cornstarch

For Serving

• 3 cups white rice
• 3 green onions chopped
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a 6-quart crock pot, add meatballs, pineapple, and bell peppers.
• In a medium bowl, add soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, honey and cornstarch. Whisk until well combine and pour over the meatballs. Stir until everything is well coated.
• Cover and cook on high for 2½ hours or low for 4 hours.
• Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

NOTES

If you want a thicker sauce, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and ¼ cups of water. Pour the mixture into the meatballs, mix it, and cook for 10 minutes.

If you're tired of the same old dinner routine, you're in luck! Chef Ryan loves to create meals that are sure to impress your entire family. Whether you're a busy parent of just looking for an easy and delicious meal.