Buffalo Meatball Crockpot: Sweet-Hot Honey Buffalo Meatballs That Vanish Fast

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Slow cooker honey buffalo meatballs glossy in sauce with scallions
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1 Why this Buffalo Meatball Crockpot recipe is a weeknight dinner lifesaver
2 The honey buffalo sauce that makes these meatballs irresistible
3 How to make tender meatballs (and why the crackers matter)
4 Slow cooker timing: how long to cook for best results
5 Recipe: Buffalo Meatball Crockpot

Why this Buffalo Meatball Crockpot recipe is a weeknight dinner lifesaver

Buffalo Meatball Crockpot Recipe is a weeknight dinner that feels like party food but works for real life. You brown the meatballs quickly in the oven, then let the slow cooker do the rest while the honey buffalo sauce turns sticky, glossy, and packed with flavor. This is perfect for family dinner because it’s warm, comforting, and easy to serve with rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, or slider buns. It’s also great for meal prep because the meatballs reheat well and the sauce stays bold even after a day or two. If you’re looking for a “set it and forget it” slow cooker meal that still tastes exciting, these buffalo meatballs deliver big flavor with simple steps.

Close-up of buffalo meatballs in crockpot with glossy sauce
Set-it-and-forget-it family dinner

The honey buffalo sauce that makes these meatballs irresistible

The sauce is what makes this Buffalo Meatball Crockpot Recipe stand out. Frank’s gives classic buffalo heat, honey adds that sweet glaze, and apricot preserves bring a fruity depth that makes the sauce taste unique without being complicated. Brown sugar rounds it out, soy sauce adds savory balance, and cornstarch thickens everything into a clingy coating that sticks to every meatball. This is why it works so well for weeknight dinner and family dinner—sweet, spicy, and savory all at once. It’s also a meal prep win because the sauce stays glossy and flavorful after reheating. You can adjust heat easily by adding more hot sauce at the end to match your spice comfort level.

How to make tender meatballs (and why the crackers matter)

The meatballs stay tender because the recipe uses a smart binder mix: eggs for structure, milk for moisture, and crushed saltines to hold everything together without making them dense. The dried minced onion adds flavor and helps distribute onion taste evenly through the meat. Spices like garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and chili powder create a seasoned meatball that tastes great even before it hits the sauce. For a healthy dinner approach, using lean ground beef helps reduce excess grease while still keeping meatballs juicy. For meal prep, tender meatballs matter because they stay soft even after reheating, which keeps your weeknight dinner leftovers enjoyable.

Pro Tip 💡 :

“For best texture, don’t skip the quick oven-browning step.”

Slow cooker timing: how long to cook for best results

This Buffalo Meatball Crockpot Recipe cooks on LOW for 2–4 hours. The sweet spot is usually around 3 hours, when the sauce thickens and the flavors deepen without drying anything out. Stir gently about once an hour so the sauce coats evenly and doesn’t scorch on the edges. If your slow cooker runs hot, stay closer to 2 hours. If you’re using larger meatballs, you may need closer to 4 hours for the sauce to fully glaze and the meatballs to heat through. The best part for weeknight dinner is that once they’re done, you can keep them on warm until serving—perfect for family dinner timing and hosting.

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Square close-up of glossy honey buffalo meatballs with scallions

Recipe: Buffalo Meatball Crockpot

  • Author: Emma Skillet
  • Total Time: ~2 hr 25 min to 4 hr 30 min
  • Yield: 10 Servings 1x
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Description

Tender beef meatballs browned quickly, then slow cooked in a sweet-hot honey buffalo sauce with Frank’s, honey, and apricot preserves. Perfect weeknight dinner, family dinner, and meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 22 saltine crackers, crushed (approx. 1 cup)
  • 1/3 cup dried minced onion
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Honey Buffalo Sauce

  • 1/4 cup Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 cup apricot preserves
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, add eggs and gently whisk. Add all remaining Meatball Ingredients and mix until well combined. Roll meat mixture into desired meatball size. Place meatballs onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes, or until lightly browned.
  3. Meanwhile, add all of the Honey Buffalo Sauce Ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk to combine (only use 1/4 cup hot sauce at this point. You can add more hot sauce to taste at the end of cooking).
  4. Line the bottom of your slow cooker with meatballs, drizzle with some Honey Buffalo Sauce, then remaining meatballs followed by the remaining Sauce.
  5. Cover and cook on low heat for 2–4 hours, gently stirring every hour. When done, taste and stir in additional hot wings sauce to reach your preferred heat level. Keep warm until serving.

Notes

  • For best texture, don’t skip the quick oven-browning step.
  • Start with 1/4 cup hot sauce, then add more at the end to control spice.
  • For meal prep, store meatballs in sauce so they stay juicy and reheat well.
  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 2–4 hours on LOW
  • Category: Comfort
  • Method: Slow Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Serving
  • Calories: 400kcal
  • Fat: 20g
  • Carbohydrates: 25g
  • Protein: 25g

Keywords: Buffalo Meatball Crockpot

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