Description
Savor mouthwatering Asian Crockpot Meatballs packed with bold, tangy flavors that dance across your palate. Juicy beef blended with aromatic spices creates an irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (500 grams) ground beef or pork (or a mix)
Meatball Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Sauce and Garnish Ingredients:
- ½ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce (low-sodium)
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional, for heat)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Combine ground meat with breadcrumbs, milk, egg, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly blending ingredients until uniformly incorporated.
- Delicately shape the meat mixture into uniform spherical portions, approximately one-inch in diameter, yielding roughly two dozen cohesive morsels.
- Optionally enhance flavor profile by quickly searing meatballs in a heated skillet with minimal oil, rotating to achieve a golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture and develops rich caramelization.
- Craft a vibrant Asian-inspired sauce by whisking together hoisin sauce, additional soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, finely minced ginger, and crushed garlic until ingredients harmonize into a glossy, fragrant liquid.
- Transfer meatballs into the crockpot, gently cascading the prepared sauce over the protein, ensuring each morsel receives an even coating through gentle stirring.
- Secure crockpot lid and allow meatballs to simmer on low temperature for 4-6 hours or accelerate on high setting for 2-3 hours, monitoring until internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- Approximately half an hour before serving, introduce a cornstarch slurry to transform sauce texture, creating a luxurious, clinging glaze that embraces each meatball.
- Elevate presentation by garnishing with thinly sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro, serving either as an elegant appetizer or atop steamed rice and noodles for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Prep Ahead Option: Mix meatball ingredients and form balls in advance, storing covered in the refrigerator overnight to enhance flavor development and save time during cooking.
- Meat Flexibility: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option, ensuring equal flavor intensity by maintaining the same seasoning ratios.
- Sauce Customization: Adjust sauce sweetness and heat levels by modifying honey and adding optional chili sauce or red pepper flakes to suit personal taste preferences.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed gluten-free crackers, and use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce to make the recipe celiac-friendly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg