These Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs are bold, saucy, and absolutely irresistible! Made with a savory blend of beef and pork and bathed in a sweet and tangy Asian-inspired sauce, they’re finished with a sprinkle of sesame seeds for the perfect touch. Serve them as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next tailgate or toss them over rice for an easy weeknight dinner. 

Looking for more delicious meatball recipes? Try my Salisbury Steak Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, or my Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs!

Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Meatballs | chefsavvy.com
Kelley Simmons Kelley’s Tips

Before You Get Started

  • Don’t overmix. Combine the meatball mixture just until the ingredients come together. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough and dense instead of tender and juicy.
  • Brown before slow cooking. Don’t skip the browning step! Searing the meatballs in a hot skillet first locks in flavor and gives them a delicious crust that holds up in the slow cooker.
  • Use a cookie scoop. For evenly sized meatballs, use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion them out. This ensures they all cook at the same rate.
  • Make it gluten-free. Simply swap the panko breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs and use tamari in place of soy sauce for an easy gluten-free version.
  • Make Ahead. These Asian pork meatballs take just 2 hours to cook in the slow cooker and can be made in advance and kept warm if you are serving them at a party.
Kelley
Asian Sesame Meatballs | chefsavvy.com

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs

  • Meat: I used an equal mixture of ground pork and beef, but you could easily substitute the beef for turkey or chicken to make them a little lighter.
  • Panko breadcrumbs: Keep the meatballs light and tender instead of dense.
  • Eggs: Help bind the meatballs together so they hold their shape.
  • Herbs: I added garlic and chives to take the flavor up a notch, but the real flavor is in the meatball sauce!
  • Sesame oil: Sesame oil adds so much flavor to this sauce! It’s my favorite part!
  • Sweet chili sauce: This brings in a touch of heat and sweetness.
  • Soy sauce: For flavor and saltiness! I used low sodium soy sauce, but feel free to use regular.
  • Brown sugar: Brown sugar really brings all of the flavors together, and makes the sauce thick and sticky. So good!

How to Make Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs

  • Form & brown the meatballs: Add the beef, pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic, and chives to a large bowl and then mix the ingredients together until they are just mixed. Then brown the meatballs in a super hot skillet before adding them to the slow cooker. This adds tons of flavor and gives them a nice caramelization on the outside.
  • Make the Asian meatball sauce: While the meatballs are browning in the skillet I like to whisk together my sauce. Throw all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and mix well. You can even do this straight in the slow cooker for less clean up later. 
  • Cook: Add everything to the slow cooker and let it cook on low for 2 hours. That’s it!
Crockpot Sesame Meatballs | chefsavvy.com

Asian Meatball FAQ

How can I make these meatballs ahead of time?

You can roll and brown the meatballs ahead of time, then store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before adding them to the slow cooker with the sauce.

Can I freeze the meatballs?

Absolutely. You can freeze the uncooked meatballs or the fully cooked meatballs and sauce. Store in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the slow cooker or on the stovetop.

Can I use all beef instead of beef and pork?

Yes, you can use all ground beef if you prefer. The pork adds extra flavor and tenderness, but the recipe will still work with just beef. You can even substitute with ground chicken or ground turkey. Just keep in mind that leaner meats may result in slightly firmer meatballs.

How long do leftovers last?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Reheat in the microwave, stovetop, or slow cooker until warmed through.

Easy Sesame Meatballs

What to Serve With Asian Meatballs

This Asian meatball recipe is great on its own as an appetizer, but to make it a meal here are a few side dish suggestions:

Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Meatballs | chefsavvy.com

More Asian Meatball Recipes to Try

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    Recipe

    Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Meatballs

    4.67 from 3 votes
    These Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs are bold, saucy, and absolutely irresistible! Made with a savory blend of beef and pork and bathed in a sweet and tangy Asian-inspired sauce, they're the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer or an easy weeknight dinner served over rice.
    Author: Kelley Simmons
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
    Serves 24 meatballs
    Rate Print

    Ingredients 

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 pound ground pork
    • 2 whole eggs
    • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 tablespoons chives, (green and white parts) chopped
    • salt and pepper
    • 1 tablespoon canola oil
    • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
    • 4 teaspoons brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
    • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • sliced green onions for garnish, if desired
    • sesame seeds for garnish, if desired

    Instructions

    • Add ground beef, pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic and chives to a large bowl.
    • With your hand or a spoon mix to combine. Do not overmix.
    • Roll into 24 meatballs.
    • Heat a large skillet with oil. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides, about 2-3 minutes on each side. You do not want to cook the meatballs just brown them.
    • Meanwhile, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil and garlic. Set aside.
    • Add the browned meatballs to the slow cooker and top with the soy sauce mixture.
    • Cook on low for 2 hours. Stir gently a couple of times making sure not to break up the meatballs.
    • Serve with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish, if desired.

    Notes

    • Don’t overmix. Combine the meatball mixture just until the ingredients come together. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough and dense instead of tender and juicy.
    • Brown before slow cooking. Don’t skip the browning step! Searing the meatballs in a hot skillet first locks in flavor and gives them a delicious crust that holds up in the slow cooker.
    • Use a cookie scoop. For evenly sized meatballs, use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion them out. This ensures they all cook at the same rate.
    • Make it gluten-free. Simply swap the panko breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs and use tamari in place of soy sauce for an easy gluten-free version.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 123kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 7gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 229mgPotassium: 122mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg

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