Dr Pepper Meatballs–an easy sweet-and-savory appetizer made in the slow cooker with frozen meatballs simmered in a tangy homemade sauce with Dr Pepper, ketchup and brown sugar.
Dr Pepper Meatballs
This is one of those recipes that is perfect for game day, potlucks or parties. The sweet and tangy sauce made with the surprise ingredient, Dr Pepper, comes together in just a couple minutes with ketchup and a few pantry staples. Then the meatballs simmer in the slow cooker until the sauce is thick and glossy and the meatballs are warmed through. Set out some toothpicks and watch them disappear fast. We like using the Costco frozen meatballs best, but you can definitely use homemade meatballs too if you want. For convenience sake though, I usually just grab the frozen bag and call it good. Enjoy these easy Dr Pepper meatballs!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Dr Pepper–or cola
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar–light or brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar–or white vinegar
- Garlic powder
- Quick cooking tapioca–or cornstarch slurry added at the end
- Frozen meatballs–homestyle or Italian frozen meatballs, or homemade meatballs
Steps
Add Dr Pepper, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic powder and tapioca into slow cooker and whisk well. Stir in the meatballs.
Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
Gently stir and serve.
Notes/Tips
- Serve these meatballs as an appetizer with toothpicks or turn them into dinner over mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles. Another option…Hawaiian rolls work great if you want to make meatball sliders.
- Turkey meatballs work well if you want a lighter option.
- Quick cooking tapioca is usually found near the pudding mixes or baking aisle at the grocery store.
- If using homemade meatballs, it’s best to brown or bake them first before adding them to the slow cooker. Precooking helps them hold their shape and keeps the sauce from getting greasy. Fully cooked homemade meatballs can be added straight from the refrigerator or freezer.
- I used my 6 quart Ninja slow cooker.
- This recipe doubles easily for parties.
- This recipe can be gluten free if you use gluten free meatballs.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can freeze the cooked meatballs and sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the slow cooker or microwave.
- Other recipes you can make with Dr Pepper are Instant Pot Dr Pepper Chicken and Instant Pot Dr Pepper Chili.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Dr Pepper Meatballs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Description
An easy sweet-and-savory appetizer made in the slow cooker with frozen meatballs simmered in a tangy homemade sauce with Dr Pepper, ketchup and brown sugar.
Ingredients
- 12 oz Dr Pepper
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp quick cooking tapioca
- 32 oz frozen meatballs
Instructions
- Add Dr Pepper, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic powder and tapioca into slow cooker and whisk well. Stir in the meatballs.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Gently stir and serve.
- Method: Slow Cooker
More frozen meatball recipes…
Instant Pot Busy Day Soup
Meatball, macaroni and veggie soup made in just a few minutes!
Clean out the freezer dinner (Instant Pot or Crockpot)
Frozen meatballs and frozen raviolis with spaghetti sauce make a tasty meal that takes about 2 minutes of prep time! This is great for those nights when you want a homemade meal but you don’t have time to cook. It is also a great way to clean out your freezer! You can make this recipe in your Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Instant Pot 3-Ingredient Casserole
A ravioli bake with only 3 main ingredients! The fastest and easiest dinner ever. It’s perfect for busy nights.
Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Party Meatballs
These meatballs are a perfect appetizer. With only 3 ingredients and the use of your crockpot they literally take 3 minutes to prepare. They are super flavorful with a little bit of savory and a little bit of sweetness.
Slow Cooker Spicy Coconut Meatballs
A slightly spicy creamy coconut sauce that is simmered with flavorful meatballs and then topped with chopped cilantro. This is such an easy recipe but totally tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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