Slow Cooker Chipotle BBQ Meatballs with Garlic Toast.
I have game day eats for you today!
Slow cooker meatballs!
Tell me. Are we still doing the slow cooker thing? Because I think that a lot of you are doing the instant pot thing. If you follow my Instagram stories, you know that I’m certainly NOT doing the instant pot thing. Or let’s just say that the instant pot is not doing my thang.
Errr… at least not yet. I find it to be awful for meat (four cuts in one week – ruined!) but I do find it to be amazing for rice and beans and things like that.
The replies I got to my instant pot saga were hilarious. Many of you (I even want to say the majority buuuuut) were in the same boat. Saying that meat tastes horrible from the instant pot and that anyone who actually likes meat from the instant pot, doesn’t like to eat meat that is cooked properly. (I laughed for a long time, to be real.) Others said it was the best meat they’ve ever had!
Some of you want the instant pot but think it’s a fad and don’t want to jump on the bandwagon. Many of you don’t have the space for the instant pot! Neither do I. It’s sitting on my dining room table and I want to punt it.
And then some of you acted as if I had just given you horrific news and that I was 100% RUINING THE LIVES OF EVERYONE by not using the instant pot.
People are serious about their instant pots. Let’s just say that.
For me? It just seems to take MORE time. It seems MORE difficult to use! More complicated. And I mean, I’m not only talking about the fact that I’m also convinced it might blow up our house.
Perhaps I was completely unfazed by the instant pot because I have used this slow cooker over the last few years that sears IN the slow cooker (and haven’t stopped raving about it – I KNOW!), so that part is not impressive to me. I mean, it was SO impressive two years ago when I bought this slow cooker because that is downright perfect. Less dishes? Seared meat? I love it!
For now, I’m just side eye-ing my instant pot from across the room. We shall see.
Okay, back to the freaking meatballs.
So this BBQ sauce? Obsessed. It’s the best combo of sweet and spicy. Maple, which I rarely love on its own PLUS chipotle.
I took the idea of this cherry chipotle BBQ sauce and ran with it. Could eat this stuff with a spoon. I mean, I pretty much did. It’s delicious.
And once you make BBQ sauce at home once or twice? It’s pretty darn easy enough to keep doing.
I like to make the meatballs on the more, let’s say… mini size. The smaller the better! Because they are cute. And then they fit on small sliced of garlic buttered baguettes.
OMG. Yes. I just said that. Put your meatball on a garlic buttered baguette slice and eat it. Devour it. Best thing ever, forever.
In all seriousness, one of the other reasons that I like these meatballs to be smaller in size is because of the BBQ sauce. Does that sound weird? The BBQ sauce on a small meatball isn’t as overpowering as the BBQ sauce on a large meatball. If that makes sense. Probably doesn’t!
But when do I ever.
And yessss I used turkey for these, but you can totally use beef. Or chicken! Or pork. Maybe a mix of two or three or four. Whatever the heck you would like, for sure.
Yep. So I think that I adore this combo of the meatballs with toast because it’s just different enough. Just ENOUGH. It’s different from the traditional tomato-y sauce that you expect with the garlic toast. So very good.
Down below, I’m also telling you how freeze these babies! Back before I had Max, I made the freezer meatballs from Seriously Delish. I threw them into the slow cooker that New Years Eve with a ton of sauce and they were absolutely perfect. Like some of the best meatballs I’ve ever had – so that is forever my go-to recipe. Always!
And now let these take you away.
Slow Cooker Chipotle BBQ Meatballs with Garlic Toast
Ingredients
meatballs
- 1 pound ground turkey or beef!
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 green onions thinly sliced, plus extra for serving
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
maple chipotle BBQ sauce
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 2/3 cup water or beer!
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce minced
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce from the can of chipotles
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
garlic baguettes
- 1 baguette sliced into rounds
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the turkey, beaten egg, garlic, onions, bread crumbs, paprika, salt and pepper until just combined. Do not overmix! For the mixture into meatballs about 1-inch in size and place them on a sheet of parchment paper.
- At this point, you can throw the meatballs directly in the BBQ sauce in the slow cooker, you can brown them first (my favorite) or you can freeze them (see below)!
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat (or use a slow cooker that does this for you!) and add the olive oil. Add the meatballs in batches and cook just until golden on the outsides. Place the meatballs and the BBQ sauce in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours (long is okay too, but they will be done in 4 hours if they are browned).
- Serve with extra sliced green onions on top!
maple chipotle BBQ sauce
- Place all ingredients in a saucepan and stir together until combined. Heat oven medium heat and bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and cook for 30 to 60 minutes, until thickened. Stir occasionally. Remove from the heat and let sit at room temperature until it cools and thickens even more. This stays great in the fridge for a week or so when sealed in a container.
garlic baguettes
- To make the garlic baguettes, slice the bread into rounds and place it on a baking sheet. In a bowl, mix together the melted butter and garlic cloves. Brush or drizzle it on the baguettes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until slightly toasted.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Ooooh that toast!
50 Comments on “Slow Cooker Chipotle BBQ Meatballs with Garlic Toast.”
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For Christmas, I got the exact same slow cooker as you based on your recommendation! I looooove it!! Slow cooker for life!
I am so glad you like it too! I love it so much!
A crockpot meal the day after This Is Us? I can’t!
HA. omg, right? :(
OMG, I was thinking the same thing!
I’m falling under the “100% RUINING THE LIVES OF EVERYONE” category at the moment…
No, not seriously! But, I am bummed that you’re not loving the Instant Pot, because I love your recipes and love to use it! Mine has barely had time to be put away I’ve been using it so much lately! Give “Dinner in an Instant” by Melissa Clark a chance. The spicy cuban pork and risotto recipes especially are awesome and yielded great results for me.
The only thing I don’t love is using the IP AS a slow cooker, that hasn’t been great as I think it only heats from the bottom on that setting. I’ve been adapting a lot of slow cooker recipes to pressure cooker lately, and the short cook time has been so time (and dirty dish) saving! Even with the pressure building time and the release time (I usually quick release after a few minutes) things come out super tender and with great, “cooked all day” flavor.
BTW- these meatballs look awesome!!
I actually bought her book because I LOVE everything she does! It just came yesterday, so hopefully this week I can get some good things down. Thanks Deanna!! xoxoxo
Things I love using my instant pot for: Rice, beans, getting ground meat tender (chili, taco meat), hard boiled eggs.
Things I hate using my instant pot for: Fatty cuts of meat. It just doesn’t render the fat the same as a slow cooker.
I definitely think theres a time and a place for the instant pot, but it isn’t the “end all be all” kitchen appliance!!
love this, thanks megan!!
Real maple syrup or…something like Log Cabin or Mrs. Butterworth’s….??
hi amy! i always use real maple syrup, so i’d go with that. if you only have the other stuff on hand, it still might work. if it’s overly sweet syrup you might want to decrease the amount?
Yes to the slow cooker!
I so wish you loved your IP! One thing I’ve noticed is you have to let the pressure natural release for 10-20 minutes after you’re done cooking meat, otherwise it tastes kind of boiled. Not a flavor you want! Can’t wait to make this for our “we don’t watch football but we love football food” night
I love my slow cooker. I don’t want an Instant Pot either.
I don’t have room in my kitchen to validate the purchase of an Instant Pot, so please keep the slow cooker recipes coming!
I love the crock pot and have no desire for an insta pot! It just seems like another thing to store. And I love that the crock pot cooks dinner for me while I am at work. Please keep posting slow cooker recipes!!!
Slow cooker always!!!!!! I don’t need another appliance when the slow cooker is the best. I love your slow cooker recipes.
So far, I’m a total hold out on the Instant Pot. I just don’t think I really need it! I’ve mastered both brown and white rice on the stove and they’re both so easy, I don’t it for that. I don’t know. I think I’m gonna be team slow cooker for the long haul. And, since this recipe is for a slow cooker, then I am all in!
Hi, Jessica—should I make the sauce on the oven first then transfer to the slow cooker? Can’t wait to make these!
And by “oven” I mean “stove.” I haven’t had coffee yet. :)
I am not planning on buying an instapot! I guess I am old school…. stove top, crock pot. Thank you for this delicious recipe. I do appreciate some food bloggers who take the time to give preparation instructions for insta pot, crockpot and stove top. Thanknyou for many wonderful recipes I have made! Love your blog!
I got a slow cooker like yours for Christmas (it’s the Ninja cooking system – it sears and can function as a stove top, an oven, a steamer AND a slow cooker) and I’m obsessed with it. I have absolutely no desire to get yet another fancy gadget for the kitchen that I don’t have room for when I’ve already got something amazing – so please, keep the slow cooker recipes coming!
Have you had problems with the non-stick coating on your slow cooker flaking? I’m torn…it sounds amazing, but the reviews mention the coating flaking no matter how you treat it. For the price, I’d want to make sure it will last! Have you experienced this at all? Thanks!
Thank you for always making us laugh and another amazing recipe. Slow cookers Rock!
I just got the Breville Fast Slow Pro Cooker and love it so far (I’ve made soup and beans). I’m kind of regretting not getting yours, but some of the recent reviews indicate that the quality is not there. I can’t pressure cook because I live at 9,700 feet. But, I love browing/sauteeing all in the crock pot-that is a dream come true if you ask me.
This recipe looks amazing! I’m definitely making it for the Superbowl, if not before.
And I agree with you on the IP-it’s just not my kind of cooking. But I have teenagers, so am maybe in a different place than a lot of your readership. Peace, everyone!
I referenced this when choosing to buy an Instant Pot a year ago, and I have agreed with Kenji’s findings.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/10/why-pressure-cookers-are-better-than-slow-cookers.html
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I’m in both camps. I occasionally use the crockpot (and love it when I do) but not everything is great when cooked then “stay warm” for the 9 hours we’re out of the house. I have a Cuisinart pressure cooker and LOVE IT. It is much less complicated then the IP. It has been ideal for pork and I use it a lot for rice/beans/butternut squash/etc. I can’t get over the ease and perfect consistency of risotto in there.
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Just made this, so good and spicy.
Love this recipe! Made it with my 11 year old. She was in charge of the BBQ sauce. We didn’t have a meatball left. Perfect blend of sweet and spicy.
I made these yesterday and I am so sad that after lunch today they will be gone! OMG SO GOOD! yes that needed all caps! I used just 1 chipotle pepper cuz my little person would howl otherwise, but these would be awesome for some such footbally party. Make extra or just don’t share.
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oh.my.gosh! This sauce was amazing! I’ve made a few different recipes and this is definitely now my go to! Loved the meatballs too, so juicy and tender, I couldn’t stop eating them out of the pan!
that BBQ sauce sounds fabulous!
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This sauce! So, so good. Just made it for a party and my crockpot was being used for a dip, so I cooked the sauce in a large pot on the stovetop and then threw in frozen meatballs (can’t wait to try it with homemade, though!) and warmed them up in the sauce and it worked great. They were the first thing to go!
Sounds delicious, I am looking for a meat to make for a fall bonfire. Soooo silly question, would it be weird to make the meatballs, meatdisks??? LOL I’m thinking, I love the idea of the baguette but being round they are going to roll. If you make disks or flatten the meatball they would sit flatter on the bread. Is that weird?? Seems weird but sounds like it would work??? Or is it more take a bite of meatball take a bite of bread??? Maybe that’s the idea.???
Made these meatballs today, they are deeeelicious! I don’t have a crock pot, so after browning the meatballs, I simmered them in the sauce in a Dutch oven for a couple hours. I served them over rice. Got lots of compliments!
Made these with venison, my man is a hunter. They were incredible! I don’t always love ground venison, but the seasoning in this recipe paired perfectly with this wild game meat. We will have these again! Also I did not slow cook. I cooked on stove top on simmer to speed things up a bit. Ready in an hour. In case anyone wants a quicker meal.