Slow Cooker Peach Glazed Meatballs (Print Version)

Tender meatballs in sweet peach preserves and tangy chili sauce, perfect for parties or family meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1.5 lbs 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

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, diced onion, milk, salt, and black pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture.
02 - Roll the beef mixture into 1-inch meatballs and arrange them on a baking sheet.
03 - For enhanced browning and texture, broil the meatballs on high heat for 5 minutes until the tops are lightly browned.
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 - Place the meatballs into the slow cooker and pour the peach glaze over them. Gently stir to coat all meatballs evenly.
06 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW setting for 3 hours, or until the meatballs are cooked through and thoroughly glazed.
07 - Transfer the glazed meatballs to a serving dish. Serve warm as an appetizer with toothpicks or as a main dish accompanied by rice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet peach glaze balances the savory beef in a way that keeps people coming back for more.
  • Your slow cooker does all the work while you handle everything else on your plate.
  • They work just as well spiked with toothpicks at a party as they do spooned over rice for dinner.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and the glaze thickens into something even more delicious.
02 -
  • Do not skip the broiling step if you want meatballs with a bit of texture, the quick sear makes a noticeable difference in the final dish.
  • If your glaze looks too thin after cooking, remove the lid and switch to HIGH for 15 minutes to reduce it into a thicker, stickier coating.
  • Use a cookie scoop to portion the meatballs evenly, it saves time and ensures they all finish cooking at the same moment.
03 -
  • Add a tablespoon of honey to the glaze if your peach preserves are on the tart side, it smooths everything out beautifully.
  • Line your slow cooker with a liner or spray it well with nonstick spray, cleaning up sticky glaze is no fun after a long day.
  • If you're serving these at a party, keep them warm in the slow cooker on the WARM setting and let guests help themselves straight from the pot.
Go Back