Teriyaki Meatballs come together in minutes using a few pantry staples and make the ultimate appetizer. Hearty meatballs covered in a sweet, tangy, and sticky glaze will have everyone coming back for more!

Teriyaki Meatballs

Meatballs are easy and make and among some of my favorite appetizers. Not only are they great for a crowd, the are stress-free and use ingredients you probably have tucked away in your pantry.

I love just tossing them in the crock pot and smelling the frozen meatballs cooking in the sweet and tangy sauce for a few hours. Perfect as a party appetizer or for feeding a crowd on game day!

What is Teriyaki?

Teriyaki is term to describe a Japanese cooking technique that involves marinating and then cooking the meat by grilling or broiling.

Teri means luster, which refers to the shiny sweet and tangy sauce and Yaki means grill or broil. Can’t you just smell it already? No wonder my mouth waters at just the mention of it

Here in America we have come to know it as any meat or vegetable cooked in the sweet and salty sauce. That’s where the flavor is.

Teriyaki sauce is made with a sweet component and a tangy component. The sweet comes from sugar and the tangy comes from Mirin (Japanese cooking Wine). We have adapted these flavors with brown sugar and pineapple juice.

Toss in garlic, ginger, and finish it with soy and you have a delicious homemade teriyaki sauce! They are easy to prep, use simple pantry items, can be made ahead, and you can serve them as an appetizer or a meal.

Looking for more appetizers? Why not try my Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders and my Big Mac Slider Recipe!

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Ingredients Needed

Meatballs – Use precooked meatballs for this recipe. If you are making your meatballs from scratch, be sure they are cooked before you use them in the recipe. Feel free to use beef, chicken, turkey, or meat substitutes. Just don’t use seasoned or flavored meatballs.

Pineapple Juice – Use fresh or canned.

Broth – I like beef broth with this recipe as it takes the spices really well. Feel free to use chicken or vegetable if that is all you have on hand.

Brown Sugar – You can substitute dark brown sugar if you prefer. I have not tested this recipe with white granulated sugar.

Soy Sauce – Coconut Aminos or Tamari work well as substitutes.

Cornstarch – This thickens the teriyaki sauce. Don’t leave this out or the sauce will be very thin.

Spices – I use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, and ground ginger.

Garnishes – Sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds are the perfect garnishes for this meatball recipe!

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frozen meatballs in crockpot — add meatballs to crockpot

bowl of teriyaki sauce — add meatballs to crockpot

How to Make Teriyaki Meatballs in the Crockpot

First: Coat slow cooker bowl with cooking spray or use a crock pot liner. Add the meatballs.

Second: In a separate large bowl, combine the ingredients for the sauce. Pour over the meatballs and toss to coat.

uncooked meatballs in crockpot — toss to coat

teriyaki meatballs in crockpot — toss to coat

Third: Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours or on high for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165F and the sauce is thickened.

Fourth: Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Keep on warm until ready to serve. Enjoy!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Can I make them in advance?

You sure can! Make the recipe as written, chill, and refrigerate. To reheat, place in the crockpot on low or heat in a sauce pan on the stove top until warmed through.

You can also mix up the teriyaki sauce and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just pour over the meatballs when ready.

Storage

Leftover: Any leftover meatballs can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Be sure to cool them before placing in the refrigerator.

Freezer: Cook as written and cool completely. Place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat.

Reheat: Place back in a slow cooker and heat on low for 1-2 hours or until heated through. You can also place in a sauce pan on the stove top and cook on low until warmed completely.

Serving Suggestions

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs are great on their own as an appetizer. They look great sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and are easy to eat with a tiny fork or toothpick.

If you prefer to serve them as a meal, they are great in a sub or lettuce wrap, over cooked rice, in a stir fry, or served over noodles.

Are Teriyaki Meatballs Gluten Free?

Depending on the type of meatballs you use and the ingredients in the sauce. Most frozen store bought meatballs have “filler” in them that can contain gluten.

Also, soy sauce is not gluten free. Check the labels of all ingredients to be sure.

Tapas Tips & Tricks

I prefer to cook my crockpot meatballs on low but if you cook them on high, just stir them more frequently as the sugar in the sauce can scorch. Cooking times may vary.
Serve with some steamed broccoli for a full meal or Asian style tapas!
Use ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, or plant based meatballs.
Tweak the sauce in this teriyaki meatball recipe by making it sweeter, tangier, or more heat!

The only limit is your imagination when it comes to cocktail meatballs. Want more recipes? Check out this list!

To see the rest of the list of 40+ Best Meatball Appetizers check out this post.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!

meatball on fork with text "crockpot teriyaki meatballs"

Crockpot Teriyaki Meatballs are easy to throw together and make the ultimate game day appetizer or switch up your usual dinner menu on a busy weeknight.