Slow Cooker Whiskey BBQ Meatballs

Name: Slow Cooker Whiskey BBQ Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb meatballs (frozen); 1 ½ cups your favorite BBQ Sauce; 3 oz whiskey; 2 tbsp garlic powder

While my beloved Broncos aren’t on the field this year, I’m still really excited to watch and cheer on my true team – the commercials – and the absolute best part of any super Sunday – THE FOOD!

A person holding a toothpick in a bowl of Whiskey BBQ meatballs.

Close-up view of several Whiskey BBQ Meatballs coated in a rich brown sauce.

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

How to Make Slow Cooker Whiskey BBQ Meatballs

These meatballs are so easy to eat and serve and can be made well ahead of any action on the field. They are smoky, a little garlicky, a bit sweet, and completely craveable!

Slow Cooker Whiskey BBQ Meatballs ingredients

First you will want to assemble the following ingredients:

Meatball – I prefer using frozen meatballs for this recipe. If you make your own make sure you brown them in a pan before adding them to the slow cooker so they stay separate.
BBQ Sauce – I prefer spicy BBQ sauce for this recipe for a Kansas City style BBQ but you can use whichever type of sauce you want.
Whiskey – whiskey has a sweet flavor and will contrast your BBQ sauce well and give these meatballs a very special taste.
Garlic powder – garlic powder will add that a nice intense earthy flavor to these meatballs. If you use fresh garlic press it or mince finely.

Steps to Make Crock Pot Whiskey Meatballs

Add to cooker. Add the meatballs to the slow cooker, then add all the other ingredients and toss to coat.

Cook. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.

Serve. Stir so the meatballs are coated in the sauce and garnish with green onions if you prefer. Enjoy while they are warm!

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Slow Cooker Whiskey BBQ Meatballs

If you want a caramel flavor. You can pour the whiskey over the meatballs first, and light it (carefully) with a match, to create a nice toasty glaze around the meatballs before adding the BBQ sauce and garlic powder. It is best to use thawed meatballs if preparing this way – otherwise you can go ahead and use frozen meatballs!

Substitutes for whiskey. If you’d like to skip the whiskey, you could add a DROP (ONE DROP) of liquid smoke, and a tablespoon of molasses to get a similar smoky sweet flavor.

Make in Instant Pot. If you want to make this recipe in an instant pot you can mix all the ingredients in the Instant Pot and cook for 12-15 minutes.