Slow Cooker Bourbon Apple Butter Meatballs Recipe
These Slow Cooker Bourbon Apple Butter Meatballs are a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors with a hint of bourbon. Made with frozen homestyle meatballs simmered in a rich apple butter sauce, they’re an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer or meal addition that requires minimal prep and slow-cooking for tender, flavorful results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 7 hours 10 minutes (low) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: Approximately 20 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 lbs frozen homestyle meatballs
Sauce
- 1 cup apple butter
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish (optional)
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the apple butter, bourbon, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well until all ingredients are fully incorporated to create a smooth, flavorful sauce.
- Add Meatballs to Slow Cooker: Place the frozen homestyle meatballs evenly at the bottom of your slow cooker, ensuring they are spread out for even cooking.
- Pour Sauce Over Meatballs: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the frozen meatballs, making sure they are fully coated to absorb all the flavors during cooking.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Stir gently once halfway through the cooking time to ensure the meatballs are well coated and cooking evenly.
- Stir and Serve: Once cooking is complete, give all the meatballs a good stir to coat them thoroughly with the thick, flavorful sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm for best taste.
Notes
- You can use any style of frozen meatballs you like, but homestyle or beef/wild blend works best for texture and flavor.
- If you prefer less alcohol flavor, you can reduce the bourbon slightly or let the meatballs simmer a bit longer to cook it off.
- The sauce can be made a day ahead and refrigerated to deepen the flavors before cooking.
- Serve with toothpicks for easy party appetizers or over mashed potatoes or rice for a hearty meal.
- Fresh parsley garnish adds a nice visual pop and fresh flavor but is optional.
Keywords: slow cooker meatballs, bourbon apple butter sauce, party appetizers, easy slow cooker recipes, sweet and tangy meatballs
