Slow Cooker Peach Glazed Meatballs (Printable)

Tender beef meatballs slow-cooked in a sweet and tangy peach chili glaze. Perfect appetizer for parties or serve over rice for an easy main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meatballs

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

→ Glaze

09 - 1 cup peach preserves
10 - 0.75 cup chili sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
12 - 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
13 - 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, finely diced onion, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined, avoiding overworking to maintain tender texture.
02 - Shape mixture into 1-inch meatballs and arrange on a baking sheet.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together peach preserves, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and crushed red pepper flakes until well combined.
04 - Transfer meatballs to slow cooker and pour peach glaze evenly over top, ensuring complete coating of all meatballs.
05 - Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 3 hours until meatballs are cooked through and tender.
06 - Gently stir before serving. Serve hot as appetizer with toothpicks or as main dish over steamed rice with vegetables.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • These meatballs practically cook themselves while you get on with your day, then reward you with that perfect balance of sweet peach and savory meat that nobody can resist.
  • The sauce transforms into this glossy, sticky glaze that makes even the most basic weeknight dinner feel like youre celebrating something special.
02 -
  • If you shape your meatballs and then immediately refrigerate them for 30 minutes before cooking, theyll hold their shape better and wont fall apart in the slow cooker.
  • The sauce might look thin at first, but it concentrates and thickens as it cooks, so dont be tempted to reduce the liquid ingredients or add cornstarch at the beginning.
03 -
  • Keep a silicone brush nearby and halfway through cooking, open the lid and quickly brush the exposed tops of any meatballs with more glaze to ensure not a single bite misses out on that flavor.
  • If youre taking these to a potluck, slightly undercook them at home by 30 minutes, then finish the cooking once you arrive, ensuring perfectly tender meatballs exactly when needed.
Go Back