Description
This Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Meatballs recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors with minimal effort. Using frozen meatballs combined with a simple blend of brown sugar, Italian dressing mix, and butter, this dish is slow-cooked to tender perfection, making it an ideal appetizer or a comforting main dish when served over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 32 oz bag frozen meatballs
Glaze
- 1 oz packet dry Italian dressing mix
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place the frozen meatballs in an even single layer inside your 6-quart crock pot to ensure they cook uniformly.
- Add glaze ingredients: Pour in the butter, brown sugar, and the dry Italian dressing mix evenly over the meatballs to prepare the sweet and tangy glaze.
- Cook the meatballs: Cover the crock pot and cook on LOW for 3.5 to 4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours. During the cooking process, stir occasionally with a rubber spatula to coat the meatballs evenly and to prevent the glaze from burning.
- Serve: Once tender and glossy with glaze, serve the meatballs warm as a delicious appetizer or spoon them over rice or noodles for a satisfying main meal.
Notes
- Stir gently during cooking to prevent the sugar from settling and burning on the sides of the crock pot.
- For a thicker glaze, uncover the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow some liquid to evaporate.
- Use a 6-quart crock pot for best results to avoid crowding the meatballs.
- Frozen meatballs can be swapped for fresh homemade meatballs if preferred; adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
