These Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Meatballs are sweet, tangy, and downright addictive. Not only do they make an easy meal for the family but they also make a great appetizer!
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Serve them up anytime for family dinners, potlucks, game days, or whenever you need a quick dish with minimal effort. The ease of cooking with a slow cooker and the deliciousness of these meatballs will have you coming back for more.
With the sweetness of Dr. Pepper and the smoky richness of barbecue sauce, these meatballs will quickly become a favorite in your household!
If you love meatball recipes, then next you should try this recipe for Meatball Dump and Bake Casserole or this Cajun Meatball Stew.
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Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients that you need to make this recipe. You can find the full list of ingredients in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Frozen Meatballs – Keep things simple and stress-free! Use your favorite brand of frozen meatballs to save time.
- BBQ Sauce – This recipe works best with a smoky and slightly sweet barbecue sauce, but feel free to use your go-to brand.
- Dr. Pepper – Dr. Pepper adds a sweet, caramel-like depth to the recipe.
- Brown Sugar – For a touch of extra sweetness and to thicken the sauce, weโre adding brown sugar. Combined with the BBQ sauce and Dr. Pepper, it creates the most luscious glaze for these meatballs.
Instructions
This is an overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. The full instructions are available in the recipe card.
Step 1: To your slow cooker add the meatballs.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, Dr. Pepper, and brown sugar.
Step 3: Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir.
Step 4: Cover and cook, stirring occasionally.
Storage
Storage: Store the meatballs in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Cool the meatballs completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Theyโll stay good for up to 3 months.
Reheating – These Dr. Pepper BBQ meatballs reheat beautifully. Simply warm them up in a saucepan over medium heat, or pop them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Wendy’s Tips
- Want a thicker sauce? Cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes to help the sauce reduce and thicken.
- Feeding a crowd? Double the recipe! Just make sure youโre using a large enough slow cooker.
- Add garnish: Fresh parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, or green onions make for a beautiful finishing touch.
What To Serve With Dr. Pepper Meatballs
- Mashed Potatoes: The sweet and tangy sauce is perfect drizzled over creamy mashed potatoes. Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes is also a health option.
- Steamed Rice: Serve the meatballs over white or brown rice for a hearty main course.
- Salad: Pair the rich meatballs with a light, crisp Bell Pepper Cucumber Salad for a balanced meal.
FAQs
Yes! To make instant pot meatballs, combine all the ingredients in your instant pot, set it to pressure cook on high for 10-12 minutes, then release the pressure naturally.
Absolutely! Homemade meatballs work wonderfully in this recipe. Just ensure theyโre pre-cooked before adding them to the slow cooker to prevent them from falling apart.
Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Meatballs
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- Mixing Bowl
- spoon
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen meatballs
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup Dr. Pepper
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- To your slow cooker add the meatballs.
- In a mixing bowl combine the BBQ sauce, Dr. Pepper and brown sugar.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, stirring every now and then.
Notes
- Want a thicker sauce? Cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes to help the sauce reduce and thicken.
- Feeding a crowd? Double the recipe! Just make sure youโre using a large enough slow cooker.
- Add garnish: Fresh parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, or green onions make for a beautiful finishing touch.
Disclaimer:
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
Nutrition
More Recipes
Looking for more slow cooker recipes like this? Try these:
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