Slow cooker teriyaki meatballs are a semi-homemade feast loaded with pre-cooked homestyle meatballs, pineapple, and bell peppers, all in a rich, sweet, and savory teriyaki sauce for a classic Asian flavor your family will love.
The only thing easier than a slow cooker meal is a semi-homemade slow cooker meal, which is why this meatball dish is a particular favorite of mine. I use frozen homestyle meatballs to cut down drastically on the work, and the final result is always a hit with my family when I serve it.
This recipe was inspired by another easy Asian meatball recipe on my site, and it pairs well with this light, fluffy white rice.
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Why You’ll Love This Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe
- It uses simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen or at your local grocery store.
- It's a budget-friendly meal that uses affordable ingredients.
- It's an easy slow cooker recipe that's made even simpler with frozen meatballs.
- It freezes well, so it's a great option for meal prep.
- Even kids love this sweet and savory meatball dish.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- Frozen homestyle meatballs
- Canned pineapple chunks
- Green bell pepper - cut into 1-inch pieces
- Red bell pepper - cut into 1-inch pieces
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Water
- Light brown sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Fresh ginger - peeled and minced
- Garlic - minced
- Honey
- Cornstarch
For Serving
- White rice
- Green onions - chopped
- Sesame seeds
See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities.
Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- Add red pepper flakes or sliced red chilis for a kick of heat.
- Add other classic Asian vegetables like mushrooms, onions, broccoli, or baby corn for more flavor and texture.
- You can use jarred minced garlic if you don't want to mince fresh garlic.
- Beef or chicken meatballs work equally well in this recipe.
- Use thinly sliced beef, pork, or chicken strips in place of the meatballs.
If you love teriyaki flavor, then you'll enjoy this slow cooker teriyaki beef.
How To Make Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs
1: Add the meatballs, pineapple, and bell peppers to the slow cooker.
2: mix the homemade teriyaki sauce ingredients in a bowl and pour it over the meatball mixture.
3: Cook until the flavors have melded and the meatballs are heated through.
4: Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Hint
Mix your sauce ingredients before adding them to the slow cooker to ensure all the flavors meld fully.
Storage
Refrigerate these teriyaki meatballs for up to 4 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat the meatballs, place them in a saucepan with a splash of water and cook over medium-low heat until heated through.
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs
These delicious meatballs have a sweet, zesty flavor that pairs perfectly with a variety of sides to make a full, delicious meal. You can also serve it alongside other Asian-inspired mains for a takeout feast!
Tips
- There's no need to defrost your meatballs for this recipe. Just throw them right in!
- Mix your teriyaki sauce ingredients before adding them to the slow cooker to ensure the flavors meld properly.
- Because the meatballs are pre-cooked, you can cook this recipe on low or high.
- Cut your peppers into 1-inch pieces so they're bite-size but still large enough to avoid getting mushy as they cook.
FAQ
The majority of frozen meatballs are cooked before they're frozen. However, it's always best to check the bag to be sure.
Yes, you can. The slow cooker will defrost and then heat the meatballs through as the recipe cooks. You'll almost never need to defrost meatballs before adding them to a slow cooker.
Any brand will work well. However, you should stick to a homestyle meatball variety. These meatballs have only basic seasoning, so you won't have any competing flavors in your final dish.
Rice, soba noodles, rice noodles, and lo mein noodles are all classic starch pairings for this recipe. You can also add appetizers like egg rolls and desserts like cream cheese wontons.
More Delicious Meatball Recipes
Browse my other popular crock pot meatball recipes.
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Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 48 ounces frozen homestyle meatballs
- 20 ouce can canned pineapple chunks
- 1 medium green bell pepper cut into 1" pieces
- 1 medium red bell pepper cut into 1" pieces
Teriyaki Sauce
- ⅔ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup cornstarch
For Serving
- 3 cups white rice
- 3 green onions chopped
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a 6-quart slow cooker, add meatballs, pineapple, and bell peppers.
- In a medium bowl, add soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, honey and cornstarch. Whisk until well combine and pour over the meatballs. Stir until everything is well coated.
- Cover and cook on high for 2½ hours or low for 4 hours.
- Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- There's no need to defrost your meatballs for this recipe. Just throw them right in!
- Mix your teriyaki sauce ingredients before adding them to the slow cooker to ensure the flavors meld properly.
- Because the meatballs are pre-cooked, you can cook this recipe on low or high.
- Cut your peppers into 1-inch pieces. This will make them bite-size but still large enough to prevent them from getting mushy as they cook.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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