Slow Cooker Asian Pork Meatballs
Deliciously seasoned slow cooker meatballs with an Asian sauce that make a perfect appetizer or perfect dinner.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 1/2 pounds ground pork
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 egg large
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger fresh grated
- 3 scallions thinly sliced, green part only
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 20 ounce pineapple chunks undrained, can
For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce low sodium
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the pork, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, ginger, scallion, sesame oil, salt, and pepper until well combined. I like to use my hands for this.
- Portion the meatballs into 1.5 tablespoons and roll them into a ball with your hands. Place on the prepared sheet tray, not touching.
- Bake for 15 minutes until they are lightly golden on the tops.
- Place the meatballs into the body of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Add the pineapple with the juice.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, broth, hoisin, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Pour the sauce into the slow cooker and stir everything gently to combine.
- Place over low heat for 6-8 hours or on high for 2-4 hours. Stir every so often so nothing burns on the sides.
- Optional, if you would like a thickened sauce, during the last hour of cooking whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Pour into the slow cooker while stirring, place on high heat. Make sure to stir every 15 minutes. Serve as an appetizer or over rice as a main dish.
Notes
- You can use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey in place of pork or your favorite mix.
- Even though there is pineapple and pineapple juice, it is not a prominent flavor unless you eat an actual piece of the pineapple. So, even non-pineapple lovers would like this dish.
- Kick up the heat by adding some sriracha or your favorite hot sauce to the mix.
- If serving as an appetizer, you can put it on the warm setting and serve right out of the slow cooker.
- If you don’t want to add pineapple chunks, you can add ⅓ cup of pineapple juice. Or, more beef broth in place if you don’t want any pineapple at all.
- Reheat in the slow cooker, stovetop, or microwave. If you did the optional thickening step, you will need to add a splash of more stock to loosen it up.
- Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 27 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 102
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 102kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.001g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 24mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 162mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 114mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 0.5g | 2% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 35IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 12mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.