These turkey meatballs are moist, flavorful, and slow cooked to perfection in the most delicious homemade BBQ sauce. Not only is this recipe super easy, it’s pretty darn healthy too! These Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs can be served as-is for the main course, or they make the perfect appetizer for your next gathering or game day snack.

That homemade sauce though…

This homemade BBQ sauce is a little tangy, with just the right amount of sweetness, and a little bit of heat. It’s the ideal balance of all the flavors you want in BBQ sauce (and zero preservatives, unlike the store-bought kind!)

Since the meatballs are baked in the oven first until they are juuuust cooked through, the slow cooker step is really about melding the flavors from the BBQ sauce + meatballs together while thickening the sauce.

I found that an hour and a half on low heat was just the right amount of time to get the sauce heated all the way through and thickened perfectly. But you can let your meatballs marinate in the slow cooker longer if you’d like.

Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs

Serving Size: About 24 meatballs
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: ~2 hours

INGREDIENTS:

Meatballs:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs (gluten-free if desired)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated is best!)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (or 1/3 cup finely diced onion)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or 3-4 cloves fresh minced garlic)
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

BBQ Sauce:

• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (ensure yours is gluten-free if desired)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or 4 cloves freshly minced garlic)
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• a pinch of cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together turkey, beaten egg, olive oil, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices. Stir together until all ingredients are well combined.
3. Use your hands to form the mixture into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or just cooked all the way through.
4. While meatballs are baking, add all of the sauce ingredients to a slow cooker and whisk together. Once meatballs are finished baking, add to slow cooker and coat in BBQ sauce. Cook on low for 1.5-2 hours.

If you liked this recipe, you might also love my Healthy BBQ Chicken Flatbread, Easy Baked Turkey Meatballs, or 30 Minute Thai Peanut Turkey Meatballs!