Viral Slow Cooker Cherry BBQ (Printable Version)

Tender meatballs simmered in a sweet, tangy cherry BBQ sauce with minimal effort.

# What You Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 32 oz frozen fully cooked meatballs

→ Sauce

02 - 1 cup barbecue sauce
03 - 1 cup cherry preserves
04 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
05 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
06 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/4 tsp onion powder
08 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Whisk together barbecue sauce, cherry preserves, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a medium bowl until smooth.
02 - Place frozen meatballs into the slow cooker.
03 - Pour sauce mixture over meatballs and stir gently to coat evenly.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 3 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and sauce thickening.
05 - Serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped fresh parsley.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • Super simple slow cooker prep means minimal hands-on time
  • The homemade cherry BBQ sauce delivers unique flavor with pantry staples
02 -
  • Frozen meatballs save time, but homemade meatballs (about 2 lbs cooked) work beautifully if preferred
  • Verify allergen information on packaging if sensitive to wheat, soy, or dairy ingredients
03 -
  • Stir the meatballs gently after 1 hour to keep the sauce coating even
  • Double the batch for larger crowds by using a bigger slow cooker
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