Crockpot Root Beer Meatballs Recipe
These Crockpot Root Beer Meatballs are a sweet, sticky, and crowd-pleasing appetizer perfect for parties, game days, and potlucks. Fully cooked frozen meatballs simmer in a glossy root beer barbecue sauce, creating an easy, hands-off dish that kids and adults will love.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 32 ounces frozen fully cooked meatballs
Sauce
- 1½ cups root beer (regular, not diet)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Thickening
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Add Meatballs: Place the frozen fully cooked meatballs directly into the slow cooker, spreading them evenly.
- Add Root Beer: Pour 1½ cups of regular root beer over the meatballs, ensuring they are well covered.
- Mix Sauce: Stir in ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup barbecue sauce, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce until everything is thoroughly combined, creating a sweet and tangy sauce.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Thicken Sauce: Whisk together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir this mixture into the meatballs in the slow cooker.
- Final Cook: Continue cooking until the sauce thickens to a sticky, glossy consistency. Serve the meatballs warm straight from the crockpot.
Notes
- The sauce thickens further as it cools; it may look slightly loose initially.
- Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent sauce from burning or sticking to the slow cooker edges.
- Use only regular (non-diet) root beer as sugar is crucial for flavor and sauce texture.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, loosen it by stirring in a small splash of root beer.
- Keep meatballs on the warm setting during parties to maintain glossiness and scoopability.
- Dr Pepper can substitute root beer for a different sweet flavor.
- Honey can substitute brown sugar.
- Homemade fully cooked meatballs may be used instead of frozen.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes or spicy barbecue sauce for heat, or ketchup for extra tang and sweetness.
Keywords: root beer meatballs, crockpot meatballs, slow cooker appetizers, party food, easy meatballs, sweet and tangy meatballs, game day snacks
Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/crockpot-root-beer-meatballs-recipe/
