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    Home > Recipes > Slow Cooker

    Slow-Cooker Hoisin Turkey Meatballs

    Published: Sep 12, 2016 · Modified: Jan 26, 2023 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 11 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Hoisin Meatballs over rice in a white bowl
    Hoisin Meatballs over rice in a white bowl
    Hoisin Meatballs in a slow cooker
    meatballs in a slow cooker
    In search of super easy weeknight dinners, Slow-Cooker Hoisin Turkey Meatballs have jumped to the top of my list. Tender meatballs simmer slowly in a sweet and savory sauce and come in at under 300 calories per serving. Add rice and steamed broccoli or green beans and dinner is served!

     Meat in a slow cooker

    In search of super easy weeknight dinners, Slow-Cooker Hoisin Turkey Meatballs have jumped to the top of my list. Tender meatballs simmer slowly in a sweet and savory sauce and come in at under 300 calories per serving.

    Add rice and steamed broccoli or green beans and dinner is served!

    Meat over rice in a white bowl

    Meatballs in a slow cooker

    Hoisin Sauce for Hoisin Turkey Meatballs

    The key ingredient in the rich, sticky sauce that coats these meatballs is Hoisin sauce. Hoisin is a great pantry / fridge staple and if you've been reading for long, you may recognize it as a recurring favorite in our kitchen. Thick, sweet and savory, Hoisin is used in Chinese cooking and adds a ton of flavor to just about anything. I love it on salmon, pork, as a dipping sauce and as the base for saucy chicken lettuce cups. I also can't resist it in the sauce for Hoisin Ginger Rice Noodles.

    Best of all, most grocery stores carry it in their international aisle. No need to make a trip to a specialty store.

    Meat over rice in a white bowl

    For the turkey meatballs, you can make them yourself (I like this recipe from The Kitchn) or take a major short-cut and use pre-cooked frozen meatballs. I've been seriously loving Trader Joe's turkey meatballs. If I don't already have homemade meatballs in the freezer, I grab a bag at TJs and check one of the week's dinners off my list.

    Meatballs in a slow cooker

    More Slow Cooker Recipes

    • Slow Cooker Green Salsa Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Classic Beef Chili
    • Slow Cooker Corn Chowder
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas
    • Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
    • Slow Cooker Puttanesca with Beef
    • Slow Cooker Sesame Beef and Broccoli
    • Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
    • Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits

    Favorite Tools

    • Anchor 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowls 
    • Whisk
    • KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker
    meatballs in a slow cooker
    Print Recipe
    3.88 from 39 votes

    Slow-Cooker Hoisin Turkey Meatballs

    These turkey meatballs simmer in a sweet and savory sauce for a perfect, super easy weeknight meal that the entire family will love. Serve over rice with steamed broccoli or green beans on the side.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time4 hrs
    Total Time4 hrs 15 mins
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Asian
    Keyword: easy dinner, family friendly, slow cooker recipe
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 383kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowl
    • 4-quart or 6-quart Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Hoisin Sauce (look for this in the international aisle)
    • ¼ cup Low-Sodium Beef Stock
    • 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce
    • 2 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Toasted Sesame Oil
    • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
    • 1 teaspoon grated Ginger
    • 1 ½ lb Turkey Meatballs (use pre-cooked frozen or see note)
    • 1 tablespoon White Sesame Seeds
    • 2 stalks Green Onions, chopped
    • White or brown rice, for serving

    Instructions

    • Whisk together Hoisin sauce, stock, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.
    • NOTE: If using fresh / home-made meatballs, sear the meatballs in a non-stick pan with a bit of cooking oil until browned on all sides. (They don't need to be cooked all the way through, but searing the outside will help them to hold together while they cook.)
    • Place meatballs in the bowl of a slow-cooker (if using frozen, do not defrost). Pour sauce over meatballs.
    • Slow-cook meatballs on low for 4 hours for frozen meatballs / 6 hours if using fresh. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, gently stir the meatballs to coat in sauce (the meatballs will be super tender after cooking, so use a large spoon to scoop the meatballs and sauce from the bottom up to the top).
    • Transfer meatballs to a serving bowl and top with sesame seeds and green onions.
    • Serve meatballs over rice with steamed broccoli or green beans on the side.

    Notes

    Just about any meatballs will work in this recipe, as long as they will hold up to simmering in sauce. I actually prefer to use store-bought pre-cooked turkey meatballs (Trader Joe's are my favorite). I put them straight from the freezer into the slow-cooker for a dinner that just takes about 5 minutes to prep.
    If you want make them from scratch, I love this recipe from The Kitchn.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1636mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 3mg

    Molly and Clara had their first real encounter with Sunday afternoon football this weekend. They were fascinated...for about 5 minutes.

    Molly and Clara_Chiefs Game

    *This post contains affiliate links*

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

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