Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs
60 CommentsUpdated Jan 28, 2026
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Easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs only have 3 ingredients; Sweet Baby Rays, frozen meatballs and sweet onion. Your family is sure to enjoy the way these taste and you’ll love how easy they are to make!
Featured Comment
“I love this recipe! I have to add extra meatballs cause can down a dozen while putting it in a dish to serve for my guests. .. addicted!”
– Patricia
This dump-and-go crockpot recipe is super easy to prep. Fun finger foods like this make the perfect appetizer. Also, try slow cooker meatball sliders or my famous baby shower meatballs.
Key Ingredients
Frozen meatballs: Pick up a bag of the homestyle (or plain) variety from the freezer section of your local grocery store or make a batch of homemade meatballs.
Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce: What I love about this barbecue sauce is that it has a classic neutral flavor – not too smoky or too sweet, it’s just right.
Sweet Yellow Onion: I stick with my sister-in-law’s “secret” bbq meatballs recipe but I add diced white onion. Because if you love onions, they make everything better.
How to make Barbecue Meatballs in a Crockpot
- Toss the frozen meatballs, BBQ sauce, and diced onion into the crockpot and stir.
- Cook until hot and coated, giving it a quick stir now and then.
Tips & Variations
Any Flavor: Use your favorite barbecue sauce in this recipe and also you can use flavored barbecue sauces such as chipotle or spicy.
Grape Jelly: Sweeten these up by using half grape jelly and half barbecue sauce.
No Onion: Skip the onion if you have fussy eaters.
Add ins: Add a touch of molasses (about 2 tablespoons) for a touch of sweetness, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a change.
How to Serve Barbecue Meatballs
Appetizer: This crockpot meatball recipe is a versatile dish perfect for any occasion. Serve these savory meatballs as an appetizer with toothpicks for an easy party snack that’s always a favorite.
Main Plate: For a heartier meal, serve the meatballs over mashed potatoes or rice for a comforting dinner.
Sandwich: You can also turn them into sandwiches by adding them to slider buns or hoagie rolls. Top with cheese or your favorite sauce for a delicious, easy meal.
How to Store and Reheat Meatballs
Place them in an airtight container once they have cooled to room temperature. Refrigerate for 3-4 days or freeze for up to three months, and ensure they are reheated thoroughly before serving.
Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 40 oz. frozen meatballs, (I use Safeway's Kitchen brand homestyle meatballs)
- 16 oz. Sweet Baby Ray's Original Barbecue Sauce
- 1 small sweet yellow onion, diced
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker.
- Add the diced white onion and barbecue sauce. Stir.
- Cover and cook on high for 2.5 hours or on low for 4 hours. Stir occasionally so the meatballs won't burn on the edges.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Stove Top Instructions
- Add everything to large stock pot. Cook over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. You know they are ready when they are hot.
To keep warm at a party:
- After the cooking time is up, set the slow cooker to the warm setting.
- The meatballs can be kept warm for up to 3 hours. Check on the meatballs occasionally and stir. Add a splash of water if sauce seems to be dry.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Meatball Recipes
Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs are a game day favorite and Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs are both sweet and tangy crowd-pleasers, perfect for parties or gatherings.
For a rich and creamy option, Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs offer a classic comfort food dish with a savory gravy.
Honey Garlic Meatballs bring a delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors, while Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs add an Asian-inspired twist.
If you’re craving Italian flavors, Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs makes an easy, hands-off dinner, and Slow Cooker Meatball Subs are perfect for a hearty, saucy sandwich.
Would like to make these for a large gathering. Can I triple the amount of meatballs in the slow cooker? Will I need to adjust cooking time? Should all the meatballs be covered with sauce at all times? Does the sauce start to dry out when kept on warm for a few hours? Thanks for your help!
You can do as many fits. You may need to add an hour cooking time. Stir occasionally. If they look dry add a splash of water or more barbecue sauce.
I am very anxious to make the frozen meatballs in the Crocker pot. I only have a red onion. Should I wait and buy a small sweet onion like the recipe calls for ?
Red onion will work well!
Can you cook them in a regular pot on stove if so help
Yes, that will work great.
Hi Sarah! Excited to cook this but one question. If I cook only HALF recipe how long do I cook?? STILL 2.5 hours on high?? Many thx.
I still would. Especially if you add the onions.
No you now OFFICIALLY R my “crockpot QUEEN”!!!!!!! Thx for quick reply and all my Truly Live-ON recipes !!!!!!
Haha! Glad to have you here.
Can they be stored in the refrigerator afterwards for what’s left over and heated up in the microwave the next day? if so how long are they good for in the refrigerator?
They are fine to put in the refrigerator, I wouldn’t keep for more than 4 days.
Also works with No-Sugar Added Sweet Baby Ray’s for those watching sugar/carb intake!
As the BBQ flavor is overpowering for some, I’ve modified adding half the bottle of BBQ sauce and a can of tomato sauce. I also throw in some sweet peppers.
Great ideas, thank you.
Hi -I need to bring these to a party 2 hours away.Can I make them in crockpot day before transport cold in a cooler then reheat in crockpot ?
I recently had these at a birthday party and they Delish !!
I would thaw the meatballs on your trip and cook them there. Reheating will take almost as long as the recipe.
Add sweet baby rays bbq and a jar of grape jelly . It is so so so good
Have a recipe using the grape jelly – really hated it, why I am here looking for an alternate!
Take them in the crockpot with the lid on. Wrap it in 2 layers of foil, then, two towels. They don’t have to be steaming hot when you arrive at the party.
So I tried this recipe mainly because I had a bag of frozen meatballs in the deep freeze. AnyWHO! Used half of that bag, some frozen chop onion from the farmers market and a mixture of my two fav bbq sauces. WOOOOWWW! Thought at first first it was not going to work when I did a stir as suggested after a while but in the end of the suggested cooking time it all came together. Came off as a comfort food to me.
So great to hear! It’s amazing what only a few ingredients can do in the slow cooker.
Can these be made with meatballs that are not frozen?
Yes. They will work great. You will have to test out the timing and make sure they cook in the middle.
I have tried your recipe very good. I am on salt free so I had to look for salt free sauce. On potatoes great on rice aha .! so I tried with Mac and cheese (home made) great