These Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle BBQ Meatballs are sweet, spicy, slightly smoky and the perfect appetizer for parties and football games.
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Can you believe it's playoff season already? That means only a few more weeks left of football -- and football food -- until next year. Actually, I'm not sure which one I'll miss more, the game or the amazing food! Oh well, we'll just have to make the next few weeks count, right?!
Today's recipe is perfect for football, especially if you're throwing a party or just having a few people over. You want to serve food that is easy to prepare and easy to eat -- think finger food. And if you love spicy finger food, you'll love these easy honey chipotle BBQ meatballs. They're made in the slow cooker and simmered in a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce. And, they taste amazing!
I made Crock-Pot Cranberry Orange Meatballs several times during the holiday season, but I wanted something spicier this time. So I made a simple BBQ sauce, using LA MORENA® Chipotle Peppers in Adobo for extra flavor. I absolutely love the smoky flavor of chipotle peppers, and LA MORENA® is my go-to brand whenever I make homemade chipotle BBQ sauce. You can't beat the authentic Mexican flavor.
It's easy to control the heat level. I used two peppers, out of a 7-ounce can in this recipe, plus a little bit of the adobo sauce. But you can use less or even more if you really like the heat.
Normally, when I make meatballs in the Crock-Pot, I'll add everything at once, but since I was making the BBQ sauce from scratch, I prepared the sauce separately. It's easier to blend this way and make sure the flavor is perfect.
If you want, you could use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce and just add in the chipotle peppers, but I would still recommend mixing it all separately before adding the blend to your slow cooker.
I used frozen meatballs here, but you could definitely use homemade meatballs, as well. Just place them in the Crock-Pot, and then mix in the honey chipotle barbecue sauce until it's all blended together.
These slow cooker honey chipotle BBQ meatballs are ready in about two hours, and you can let them hang out and simmer on low until you're ready to eat. It doesn't get much easier than this!
You get plenty of spice from the chipotle peppers and a touch of sweetness from the honey -- yum! We loved these little meatballs, and I hope you will too!
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle BBQ Meatballs
Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle BBQ Meatballs
Ingredients
- 25 pre-cooked meatballs
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce plus 2 chipotle peppers, finely chopped from LA MORENA®Chipotle Peppers in Adobo, 7-oz can
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and add meatballs
- In a small sauce pan, mix remaining ingredients and heat until warm, stirring frequently
- Pour sauce over meatballs, cover and cook on high for about 2 hours or until meatballs are done
- Turn heat to low, and serve
- If mixture seems too thick, add a little bit of water
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
Happy Cooking!
Patricia L. Palagi-Morrow says
It's Super Bowl Sunday 2/5/2017...
Just made these meatballs & I of course had a couple of testers that gave it 2 thumbs up so I know this recipe is a keeper. Yay "Honey Chipotle BBQ Meatballs", a real "TOUCHDOWN". A Super Bowl Keeper.
Dee says
Awesome news! I'm so glad you liked them. Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Angel Williams says
Hi there and thanks for this yummy looking recipe!! I am super excited to make these! I'm wondering what you mean by "2 cans of Ketchup"?? How many ounces is this? I've only ever seen bottles of squeeze ketchup....
Thanks again! 🙂
Dee says
Hi Angel. The recipe calls for 2 cups of ketchup, not cans. So it would be 16 ounces. 🙂
Miz Helen says
These Meatballs will be perfect for the big Game Day! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and hope to see you again real soon!
Miz Helen
Jen Gregor says
These sound great thanks for sharing. I know my husband would also love them!
Dee says
Thanks, Jen. My family really enjoyed them!
Catalina @ Peas & Peonies says
I love meatballs . And yours look really delicious.
Maryanne | the little epicurean says
Perfect for game day! I'll totally use these to make mini sliders!
Lauren says
Wow, I have to make these!
Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says
Oh YUM! I've got meatballs on my playoff football menu! Going to try these!
Dee says
Sounds great! I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Michelle Goth says
It's not a party without the meatballs! These look delicious!
Dee says
Thanks so much! These really are perfect for parties. 🙂
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
These look like a real winner. Perfect for making for the big game!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
It's a shame that we are coming to the end of football food season... I'm excited to try these meatballs!
Dee says
Thanks, Michelle. I can't wait until next year!
Jesenia says
Oh my, these BBQ meatballs are perfect for parties! Thanks for sharing! #client
Dee says
They're perfect for parties -- We love them!