Slow-Cooker Sticky Thai Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make meatballs that don't dry out? ›

For the most tender, moist meatballs, simmer in sauce

It's easy and hands-off. We use this method when making our turkey meatballs and love it. Bring your favorite sauce to a simmer, then gently drop formed raw meatballs into the simmering sauce. Leave them without moving, and cover the pot with a lid.

Generally, slow cookers cook "low and slow," so meatballs are less likely to overcook than if you were to quickly bake them in the oven. The longer you leave meatballs in a slow cooker, however, you do risk them becoming tougher and a bit chewier.

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Turn the meatballs to brown all sides. Browning the meatballs seals in the juices and toughens the exterior so they do not fall apart from sitting in the liquid in the slow cooker.

Some recipes also call for taking slices of bread, cutting the crusts off and soaking them in milk for several minutes. Once the bread is soaked, you squeeze out as much of the milk as you can. What soaking the bread does is add moisture to the meatball as well as bread for a binder.

Place the meatballs into the sauce mixture. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours. Enjoy!

Plain old-fashioned grape jelly and Heinz chili sauce are the secret to tangy, smoky, unstoppable meatballs. All you have to do is throw everything together and turn on the slow cooker. If you're using frozen meatballs, add them to the crockpot right out of the freezer.

When you cook your meat at too high of a temperature for too long, these connective tissues won't break down, resulting in stringy and chewy meat.

Can I cook meatballs in the sauce? ›

Although the meatballs are not browned first, they still cook though in the sauce and it is safe to add them to the sauce raw, as long as the sauce is kept at a simmer until the meatballs are cooked through. Cooking the meatballs this way means that they stay quite tender even when cooked.

Place the browned meatballs in the sauce and cook for a minimum of 1 hour on low heat to allow the meatballs to absorb the flavor of and braise in the sauce. When the meatballs are finished, serve with choice of pasta, grated cheese and Italian bread. Enjoy!

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

If you're looking to retain moisture though, you need a panade. A panade is a puree of milk and stale or toasted bread. Simply soak the bread in milk until it is soggy then puree it in a food processor. Incorporate that mixture into your meatball or meatloaf mix and prepare them as you would normally.

Usually if meatballs are dense or heavy then it is because the meatball mixture has been handled too much and the minced (ground) meat has become compacted. It may help to use beef with a slightly higher fat content, as the extra fat will provide a little extra moisture.