Crock Pot Root Beer Meatballs
Tender Crock Pot Root Beer Meatballs are an easy appetizer made with frozen meatballs simmered in a sweet and tangy root beer barbecue sauce.
A Fun Appetizer!
I love an easy party appetizer like these Crock Pot Root Beer Meatballs. They are the perfect choice to make for serving a crowd. I love how they’re incredibly simple to make in the slow cooker and are perfect for game day, potlucks, cookouts or holiday gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Root Beer Meatballs are a popular appetizer where meatballs simmer in a sweet and tangy sauce made with root beer, barbecue sauce, and brown sugar. As the mixture cooks, the soda helps create a thick glaze that coats the meatballs perfectly.
Yes, homemade meatballs can work well in this recipe. Just avoid Italian-style meatballs since those flavors don’t pair as well with the sweet barbecue sauce. A simple homestyle meatball made with lean ground beef works best. Also, be sure to use lean meat when making the meatballs because you don’t want any extra grease in the Slow Cooker with the sauce. Since you’re using raw meat, these will need to cook longer.
If you prefer a lower sugar version, you could try using diet root beer, a brown sugar substitute like Stevia or Swerve, and a sugar-free barbecue sauce. However, keep in mind the flavor and thickness of the sauce may vary.
Yes, this recipe can easily be made on the stovetop instead of the slow cooker. Add the meatballs, root beer, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire sauce to a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated through. Stir together the cornstarch and water, add it to the sauce, and continue simmering for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat them gently in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the slow cooker on low, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below For The Full Recipe)
- frozen homestyle meatballs– any frozen homestyle meatball will work. Skip the Italian meatballs as their flavoring won’t go so well with this sauce. You could even use Swedish meatballs. Or use your own homemade meatballs (I would just make sure you use lean meat though so there isn’t so much grease.)
- root beer– Dr Pepper or Coke can replace root beer. I suppose you could use diet if necessary. I haven’t personally tried it.
- light brown sugar – Honey can replace brown sugar.
- barbecue sauce– any of your favorite bbq sauces will work. Spicy bbq sauce or Homemade BBQ Sauce is a great alternative too.
- Worcestershire sauce
- cornstarch and water – this will be used to thicken the sauce.
How To Make Crock Pot Root Beer Meatballs
To a 5-6 quart slow cooker, add in meatballs, root beer, brown sugar, BBQ sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Give it all a stir. Cover and cook on low for 3–4 hours, stirring occasionally. In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir the mixture into the meatballs. Cover and cook on high for about 20-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
Then serve!
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Ingredients
- 32 ounce bag frozen homestyle meatballs
- 1½ cups root beer
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon water
Instructions
- To a 5-6 quart slow cooker, add in 32 ounce bag frozen homestyle meatballs, 1½ cups root beer, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup barbecue sauce and 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
- Give it all a stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 3–4 hours, stirring occasionally.
- In a small bowl, mix together 1 Tablespoon cornstarch and 1 Tablespoon water until smooth.
- Stir the mixture into the meatballs. Cover and cook on high for about 20-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Then serve!
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- This makes between 8-10 servings and will cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Very simple and delicious. We loved them.