Slow cooker honey buffalo meatballs are bathed in a sweet, spicy sauce for ultimate yumminess. These meatballs are an easy appetizer for game day or make a zesty meal when served over rice. Either way, thanks to the Crockpot, they are super easy to put together and yield a delicious result!
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When football season is in full swing, sit down dinners go on hiatus in favor of living room tailgate style picnics in front of the tv.
No game, however satisfying or disappointing, is complete without some version of meatballs.
The sauce may change but one of our favorite versions?
Definitely honey buffalo meatballs.
The boys love them because they are bold and spicy with a sweet honey background for balance.
I love them because I make them right in my slow cooker so I’m not working away all day in the kitchen.
Ingredients
To make these you’ll need:
- Meatballs– You can use chicken or beef meatballs and it doesn’t matter if you use store bought or homemade.
- Buffalo sauce– Your favorite kind or use your favorite hot sauce if you prefer.
- Honey– A heaping serving
- Apricot preserves– It doesn’t make the meatballs taste fruity but offers an extra sweetness to balance out the heat from the hot sauce.
- Sugar– Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- Cornstarch– To thicken the sauce
How to Make
Thanks to the crock pot, these honey buffalo meatballs are so easy to make.
To do it, whisk the sauce ingredients together vigorously in a large bowl until the sauce is evenly combined and smooth.
Put half of the meatballs into the crockpot and evenly pour about half of the sauce overtop of them.
Repeat with the remaining meatballs and sauce.
Cover and cook on low for about 2 hours.
After an hour, stir them gently so you don’t break them up.
When the meatballs are cooked, taste the sauce, and add in more buffalo sauce, to taste.
Keep the meatballs on warm in the crockpot until ready to serve.
Serve and enjoy!
What to Serve with Honey Buffalo Meatballs
If you are planning on having these for dinner, they pair well with rice and broccoli and cheddar or blue cheese.
To serve as an appetizer, pair them with carrots and celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
And of course, if you are serving them as an appetizer, add your other favorite apps to your spread!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers either right in your covered slow cooker in the fridge or in an air tight container in the fridge.
Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days.
Reheat them on low in the slow cooker until warmed through.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! You can absolutely put this together ahead of time and just reheat them right in the slow cooker when you are ready to serve.
Tips and Tricks
- If you like things hot and spicy, add extra hot sauce.
- This recipe is very easy to double- just make sure you are using at least an 8 quart crockpot.
- Don’t worry if you think the sauce will be too thin. The cornstarch will thicken it during cooking.
- Want it extra saucy? Just double the sauce recipe and use the same number of meatballs. This is especially handy if you’re serving it over rice or noodles.
Other Meatball Recipes
Slow cooker honey buffalo meatballs are a game day favorite!
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other meatball recipes?
Try these:
- Alfredo Meatball Subs With Pesto
- Peach Bourbon Meatballs (Slow Cooker Recipe)
- Crockpot Asian Meatballs
- Cranberry Orange Meatballs
If you’ve tried these SLOW COOKER HONEY BUFFALO MEATBALLS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Meatballs
Ingredients
- approximately 40 meatballs storebought or homemade
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce or other hot sauce you love, or more to taste if desired
- heaping 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together the sauce ingredients until evenly combined and the sauce is smooth.
- Put about half of the meatballs into the crockpot and evenly pour about half of the sauce overtop of them. Repeat with the remaining meatballs & sauce.
- Cover and cook on low for about 2 hours, stirring when half the time has passed, gently so you don't break them up. When the meatballs are cooked, taste the sauce, and add in more buffalo sauce, to taste. Keep the meatballs on warm in the crockpot until ready to serve.
Notes
- If you like things hot and spicy, add extra hot sauce.
- This recipe is very easy to double- just make sure you are using at least an 8 quart crockpot.
- Don't worry if you think the sauce will be too thin. The cornstarch will thicken it during cooking.
- Want it extra saucy? Just double the sauce recipe and use the same number of meatballs. This is especially handy if you're serving it over rice or noodles.
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Disclosure Policy for details.
Mollie says
This sounds like another winner and such a nice change from the old standard recipe! I love buffalo anything and I’m sure this will be no exception! Happy Throwback Thursday!! 🙂
Hanifia says
This is a great sauce for meatballs, the apricots would indeed give a nice sweet and tangy note. Yummy! Hanifia