Healthier turkey meatballs made easy with minimal prep in the crockpot! Game-day guests will love the bacon and homemade BBQ sauce in these flavorful appetizer meatballs.
Who’s ready for the Tuesday meatball of their dreams?
The meatball that obviously took a swim in barbecue sauce, hung out in the crockpot for awhile, then came out all wrapped in bacon.
I’m currently doing the meatball victory dance. And don’t even try to tell me that you’re not. 😉
So guys. How’s the Superbowl prep coming along? Have you racked up enough appetizer ideas to feed several football teams? That’s the situation I’m finding myself in. Too many bean dips and too many different varieties of nachos to narrow it down. So dang the luck, I guess I just have to make it all.
And I mean it too. Wait ’til you see the two other apps I have to share with you this week.
Lord, save our diets. 🙂
So I have to tell you about these meatballs. And when I say tell I really mean I have to shove picture after picture of meatball insanity in your face and beg you to make them immediately because they really are just the amazing.
Is it the sauce or the whole bacon wrappin’ thing that make them so finger-lickin’ awesome? Maybe the combo of both? Make no mistake, the secret IS in the super-simple homemade BBQ sauce slathering these meatballs. But bacon. It’s an automatic cause for WIN.
And the meatballs themselves. Oh glory, turkey meatballs win every.dang.time. They’re always so so moist and ultra-flavorful, but without the overload of calories.
Cooking ’em in the crockpot only intensifies all that turkey awesomeness to extreme winning heights. Go home, beef!
Each one of these meatballs only contain 91 calories, so I’ve basically given you the green light to eat them all. Give it your best shot.
Just make sure you attack them before your Superbowl guests do, because an empty, meatball-less crockpot is most definitely in your future.
Crockpot BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 lbs ground turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 12 strips bacon cut in half widthwise
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, garlic, salt, and pepper until just combined. Shape meat into 1-in meatballs. Wrap each meatball in bacon strips and place in a 3-qt slow cooker. Set aside for a moment.
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In a small bowl, whisk tomato sauce, molasses, and chili powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Pour sauce over meatballs. Cook meatballs on low 5-6 hours or on high 3-4 hours until meatballs register 160F on a thermometer. Enjoy meatballs hot!
Make sure you add these other gameday winners to your menu!
Extra-Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Cincinnati Turkey Chili Spaghetti Squash Boats
Meatballs made in the crock pot are the best! They just seem to taste better than making them in the oven. I love that you wrapped these cuties with bacon. ..because bacon makes everything better! 🙂 Sounds delicious!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Banana Kiwi Green Smoothie Bowl
These look awesome! The bacon looks so crispy for being cooked in the crockpot! Love! I’ll definitely have to try these babies. 🙂
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel recently posted…Pineapple Fried Rice with Pineapple-Soy Glazed Chicken Skewers
Oh my goodness I want to eat like, twelve of these! They look AMAZING – duh…anything wrapped in bacon can’t be bad. Pinned!
Rachel @ Bakerita recently posted…Green Chile Corn Muffins
I LOVE meatballs! Seriously we had lamb meatballs last night and pork ones last week, I think these turkeys ones are next! Gorgeous Sarah! Love the touch of bacon too. I want to come to your superbowl party 🙂
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu recently posted…Chocolate Chip Muffins
These look amazing!! And I feel like I can reach my fingers into the screen and lick that BBQ sauce right up because of how amazing your photos are! Pinned of course!!
My husband and I were just talking about how we want to have bbq meatballs for the superbowl, these would be perfect! With the bacon and homemade bbq sauce. Yum!!
aimee @ like mother like daughter recently posted…Cream Cheese Stuffed Red Velvet Bundt Cake with White Chocolate Ganache
Such a great and easy recipe Sarah! My husband would be all over this!!
Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen recently posted…Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Wings
These look wonderful for super bowl Sunday! Love that they are made in a crockpot!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Allergy Friendly Eats recently posted…Garlic Shrimp and Fresh Tomato Pasta.
I made some crockpot meatballs recently for a gathering we had to attend. They were a huge hit. Next time I’m making this version. Love the bacon!!
Jen | Baked by an Introvert recently posted…Sweet Potato Scones with Brown Sugar Glaze
Oh, YES. These are the perfect little bites! Meatballs + bacon + barbecue sauce is like a dream come true for me.
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel recently posted…Chocolate Truffle Rice Krispie Treats
“Lord save our diets” lol bless that. I l o v e me some bbq sauce, holy cow. I tried Qboda’s sauce and was freakin hooked. Throw turkey meatballs and bacon into the mix and I am ALL THERE. Meatballs are so fun, you really can’t go wrong. Plus, bbq. Amen friends, amen.
Mary Frances recently posted…The Best Fruit Salsa
Bacon makes everything better! These meatballs look so good!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen recently posted…Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Oatmeal Skillet Cookie
I feel like these would disappear immediately at a football party!!! That sauce!!
Ashley recently posted…Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Quinoa Chili
These are the ultimate meatballs! Bacon makes everything better! They’re perfect for game day!