Slow Cooker Meatballs with Orange Marmalade Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do my meatballs fall apart in the slow cooker? ›

One disadvantage to the slow cooker is that meatballs may fall apart if you put them in the pot raw. By partially cooking the meatballs before you put them in the slow cooker, you can ensure your meatballs do not fall apart.

Replace the Grape Jelly with apricot preserves, orange marmalade, canned cranberry sauce, raspberry preserves, or hot pepper jelly. Replace the Ketchup with Heinz chili sauce or barbecue sauce. If swapping the ketchup for chili sauce, it is not a spicy sauce.

Place the meatballs into the sauce mixture. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours. Enjoy!

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Adding raw meatballs to the sauce and gently simmering till cooked yields ultra-tender results, and infuses the sauce with meaty flavor—a slow cooker gives great results.

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

*Note: If you want your meatballs to be in a thicker sauce, mix together the cornstarch and water at the last hour of cooking and stir it into the sauce. If you need to do it faster, put the sauce in a saucepan and add the cornstarch slurry. Bring to a boil and turn down to a simmer until thickened slightly.

To make these sweet and tangy meatballs, you'll need: Grape jelly: For a sweetness that balances the chili sauce, and to provide a glossy finish to the sauce. Chili sauce: Tomato paste, spices, and garlic give this sauce its depth. Barbecue sauce: Thickens the sauce while complementing the jelly and chili sauce.

What's a good sauce for meatballs in a crockpot? ›

In a small bowl, whisk together honey mustard dressing, teriyaki sauce, and hot sauce. Place frozen meatballs in a crockpot. Pour sauce mixture over the meatballs and cook on LOW for a couple of hours. Keep the meatballs in the slow cooker during the party and they will stay nice and warm.

Change cooking times depending on your schedule. One hour on HIGH generally equals two hours on LOW. Add pasta at the end of the cooking process or it may become mushy. You may want to cook pasta seperatly and add it just before serving.

Stick to the cook time indicated on your recipe

Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours. If you want to avoid overcooking your dish, follow the given guidelines as closely as possible.

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Simply add the meat to your slow cooker with aromatics, stock and sauces and cook either on High for 4-5 hours or on Low for 5-8 hours. How do you make meat tender in a slow cooker? Choosing a cut of beef best suited for low and slow cooking is the ideal way to get extra tender meat.

If you're putting lean cuts in, you're going to get sawdust out. I can put a chuck roast in my slow cooker with nothing but aromatics and a splash of broth and after at least eight hours on low it's falling apart.