Korean BBQ Meatballs are bursting with incredible umami flavor with a little heat. They are easily made in a slow cooker and can be served as an appetizer or main dish.
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Korean BBQ Meatballs are a super flavorful, super easy to make, slow cooker recipe. They have a much more intense, yet very tasty, flavor. It’s the kind of food where you want to keep eating just one more.
Korean style barbecue sauce is soy based rather than vinegar based like most American sauces. It has an umami flavor that is tangy, sweet, and spicy.
Meatballs are a fun food to experiment with using different flavors, especially sauces. Another unique, yet very flavorful meatball recipe you may enjoy is my recipe for Coconut Curry Meatballs.
Why This Recipe Works
This is a very easy crockpot recipe. It’s made using frozen meatballs which saves a ton of time, but if you prefer to make your own you definitely can.
These meatballs are very flavorful. The sauce is sweet and tangy, yet a bit on the spicier side.
You can serve these meatballs as an appetizer or main dish over rice with veggies on the side.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Ingredients
- 1 32 ounce bag frozen meatballs: you can use beef, turkey, pork or chicken.
- 1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Gochujang: Gochujang is a Korean chili paste that is spicy with umami flavor. It can be found in the Asian condiment section of your local grocery store or at an Asian grocery market. You can substitute with Asian chili paste or sriracha, if needed.
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated or minced)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 teaspoons sesame seeds (garnish)
- 2 sliced green onions (garnish)
The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.
Prep!
Mince the garlic and ginger. Slice the green onions and keep in a container with a lid in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve the meatballs.
Create!
Add the frozen meatballs to the bottom of a six quart or larger slow cooker.
In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, Gochujang, ketchup, garlic, ginger, onion powder, and pepper until well combined.
Pour the sauce over the meatballs.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on high for 1-2 hours or low for 4-6 hours, or until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened.
Chef’s Tip: if you’d like your sauce thicker you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir the mixture into the meatballs 30 minutes before it has finished cooking.
Present!
Garnish with the sesame seeds and sliced green onions just prior to serving.
Tips and Techniques
- Gochujang can be substituted with Asian chili paste or sriracha, if needed.
- For a thicker sauce you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir the mixture into the meatballs 30 minutes before it has finished cooking.
- Add toothpicks or mini forks to the meatballs to serve as appetizers.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3 days.
- These meatballs can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
FAQ’s
Is Gochujang Really Spicy?
The spice level of Gochujang will depend on the brand used, but in general it does have some level of heat to it which can sometimes be very spicy.
What Do You Serve With Korean BBQ Meatballs?
This recipe pairs especially well with rice, like Coconut Rice, if you are serving it as a main dish. You can serve a variety of vegetable side dishes, such as roasted broccoli, green beans, or aspragus.
More Recipes
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Korean BBQ Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 32 ounce bag frozen meatballs (beef, turkey, pork or chicken)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Gochujang
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated or minced)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 teaspoons sesame seeds (garnish)
- 2 green onions (sliced, garnish)
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to the bottom of a six quart or larger slow cooker.1 32 ounce bag frozen meatballs
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, Gochujang, ketchup, garlic, ginger, onion powder, and pepper until well combined.1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons Gochujang, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on high for 1-2 hours or low for 4-6 hours, or until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened.
- Garnish with the sesame seeds and sliced green onions just prior to serving.3 teaspoons sesame seeds, 2 green onions
Notes
Tips and Techniques
- Gochujang can be substituted with Asian chili paste or sriracha, if needed.
- For a thicker sauce you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir the mixture into the meatballs 30 minutes before it has finished cooking.
- Add toothpicks or mini forks to the meatballs to serve as appetizers.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3 days.
- These meatballs can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Mertron says
These turned out super delicious! The fresh ginger and garlic mixed with gojuchang work well together.
Lauren Vavala Harris says
Thanks so much for the feedback and 5 star rating – so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!!
– Lauren
Jamie says
Seeing these pictures makes me so hungry all over again. They turned out really yummy!
Savita says
Just made the Korean BBQ Meatballs from your blog, and they are a flavor explosion!
Anjali says
These turned out perfectly – super tender and so flavorful. The sauce was everything!! Spicy, complex and delicious!
Ieva says
I am in love with Korean flavours and we always keep a tub of Gochujang paste in the fridge, but this was the first-time I made meatballs with it. Super tasty! Would highly recommend.
MacKenzie says
The sauce on these meatballs is amazing. My kids loved them too. I can’t wait to make again.
Gianne says
The flavors are bursting with deliciousness and the texture is perfectly tender. I can’t get enough of them! They’re a definite must-try for any meatball lover.