Slow Cooker Peach Glazed Meatballs (Printable)

Tender meatballs in sweet peach preserve and tangy chili sauce glaze, cooked to perfection in a slow cooker.

# What You Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1.5 pounds ground beef
02 - 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 0.25 cup finely diced onion
07 - 2 tablespoons milk
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Peach Glaze

10 - 1 cup peach preserves
11 - 0.5 cup chili sauce
12 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
13 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
14 - 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, garlic, onion, milk, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, avoiding overworking the mixture.
02 - Roll mixture into 1-inch diameter meatballs and arrange on a baking sheet.
03 - Broil meatballs on high for 5 minutes to brown the tops and enhance texture.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together peach preserves, chili sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and crushed red pepper flakes until well combined.
05 - Transfer meatballs to the slow cooker and pour the peach glaze over them. Gently stir to coat all meatballs evenly.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 3 hours, until meatballs are cooked through and glazed.
07 - Transfer to serving platter and serve warm as an appetizer with toothpicks or as a main dish over rice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The glaze clings to every meatball and creates a sticky, sweet coating thats impossible to resist.
  • You can prep everything in the morning, turn on the slow cooker, and come home to dinner already done.
  • They work beautifully as a crowd pleasing appetizer or a full meal over rice.
02 -
  • Do not skip the broiling step if you want meatballs that hold their shape and have a deeper flavor.
  • Stir the meatballs gently in the slow cooker to avoid breaking them apart, especially in the first hour of cooking.
  • If the glaze seems too thick after cooking, add a splash of water or apple cider vinegar to loosen it up.
03 -
  • Use a small cookie scoop to portion the meatballs evenly, which makes rolling faster and ensures they all cook at the same rate.
  • Taste the glaze before pouring it over the meatballs and adjust the sweetness or heat to match your preference.
  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper if you broil the meatballs to make cleanup easier.
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