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These slow cooker bourbon BBQ meatballs are the perfect holiday appetizer. They are easy to make and packed full of bourbon BBQ sauce flavor.
If there is one thing I love more than anything else, it’s party meatballs. That is why I knew I had to update this old bourbon BBQ meatballs recipe and give it a fresh 2024 spin.
Want to know what that spin was? Heating it all in the slow cooker! It makes these meatballs perfect for parties and holiday meals. I should also add these meatballs are also excellent when eaten as dinner spooned over rice.
The base of the sauce is storebought BBQ sauce, which I added extra flavor to by pouring in bourbon, brown sugar, molasses, garlic, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes.
It’s the perfect combination of flavors to create the easiest BBQ meatball recipe EVER.
These meatballs are a fantastic option for Thanksgiving and Christmas appetizers, New Year’s Eve parties, or any other potluck dinner or party.
Ingredients needed
- Frozen beef meatballs
- BBQ sauce
- Bourbon
- Molasses
- Brown sugar
- Grated onion
- Garlic
- Dijon mustard
- Crushed red pepper
My Pro Tips
Bourbon BBQ meatballs recipe tips
Use a frozen beef meatball with no added specialty spices like Italian seasoning.
You can substitute turkey meatballs for beef.
Use an unsulphured molasses, NOT blackstrap molasses.
Add up to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper if you want a spicier BBQ sauce.
I’m using store-bought Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce as the base of my sauce.
After cooking, if you want a looser sauce, add a little beef stock.
FAQ’s
More appetizer recipes
Bourbon BBQ Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen beef meatballs, fully cooked
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
- ⅓ cup bourbon
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 tablespoon grated garlic
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Add frozen meatballs to the crock of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl whisk together bbq sauce, bourbon, brown sugar, molasses, grated garlic, Dijon mustard, and crushed red pepper.
- Add the sauce to the crock and toss to combine.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 4 hours.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve got lots of guys around that would go crazy over these and let’s face it, so would all the girls. These look fabulous!
Bourbon AND meat…on a stick, in cute little bite? UM YES…I am getting excited just looking at these photos! I want them ALL! Pinned!
Why not find a way to put meatballs in a blanket? Then you could sauce it up right! (FYI, you had me at bourbon;)
I am starving for these for breakfast – is that bad?
Um, best looking meatballs ever. I’ll take 30!
These sound absolutely amazing. I can just imagine they would be gone in seconds.
What a gorgeous appetizer that is just perfect for this time of year! Can’t wait to try this deliciousness.
You take the best photos. Seriously. These are some stunning looking meat-a-balls.
Meatballs always claim my entire plate at a party! And with bourbon? Im sold!
These would be the hit of the party! Yum!