Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

“Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” the old song says.

Yeah, right.

A crockpot is a girl’s best friend.  Hands down.

When you are a busy mom of 4 kids (or any number!), to be able to put the food in a device, walk away and have it done when you come back, that is gold, people.  Okay, it’s diamonds.  I use my crockpot weekly, usually multiple times a week.  Piano lessons, drama practice, Lego League, student council: I’m as busy as they are!  BBQ meatballs are a simple, make ahead, freeze and then put in the crockpot type of meal.  So easy peasy.

I actually made these meatballs out of turkey burger.  I found ground turkey on markdown at our store so I bought a couple of pounds.  Now, keep in mind, my husband is a RED meat type of guy.  He enjoys turkey, chicken and pork, of course, but where there should be red meat, I’m to put red meat.  (No turkey burgers allowed in my house.)  However, when I get ground turkey at a great price, who am I to pass that up?  I knew you would agree.

I make it a point, for my husband’s sake, to make something where he won’t notice the difference as much.  I say “as much” because he is a bloodhound, I tell you.  He can sniff out substitutions like no other in his food.  It really should be an art form.  He’s amazing. 😉  I decided to make BBQ meatballs with the ground turkey.  It has so many flavors coming together to make the dish.  There’s no WAY he will notice the meat switch.

He noticed.

However, he liked it anyway.  🙂

Give this recipe a try.  Find time on the weekend to make ahead then be thrilled on that busy day when all you have to do is put them in your crockpot.  Supper’s done.

BBQ Meatballs

(This recipe is doubled)

2 lbs ground hamburger (or turkey)

1 small can tomato sauce

2 eggs

1-1 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Place raw meat into a bowl.  Add 3/4 can of tomato sauce, eggs, 1 cup bread crumbs, seasonings to taste.  Mix all together with your hands.  Roll mixture into 1-2 inch balls, depending on how big you like the meatballs to be.  (If the mixture doesn’t hold together well, you can add more breadcrumbs.)

Place on greased baking sheet and cook at 350* for 25-30 or until center of meatball is no longer pink.

For Freezing: Let cool then place in freezer bag or container.  Freeze.  When ready to eat, place meatballs in crockpot set at low for 4 hours.  Add BBQ sauce.

BBQ Sauce

1 cup ketchup

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp liquid smoke

Mix all together and pour onto meatballs.

(For this batch of meatballs, I didn’t make my own sauce, I was almost out of ketchup.  I know, can you believe it?!?  I used Kraft Hickory Smoke BBQ sauce and it was really good for a quick fix.)