Korean BBQ meatballs are made with a combination of ground beef & ground pork, then slow cooked in a crock pot in a scrumptious Korean BBQ Sauce for a totally tasty recipe!

Korean meatballs in slow cooker with Korean BBQ sauce and serving spoon

Ever since my bestie PK introduced me to Korean BBQ, I’ve been hooked!

Korean BBQ is all about the marinades and sauces. Luckily for you, I’m sharing the most delicious Korean BBQ sauce recipe, along with this meatball recipe! The sauce is sweet and spicy and really easy to make!

I will put this sauce on anything and everything! I make Korean BBQ Salmon by glazing the sauce over fresh salmon on the grill. You can also slow cook chicken in the sauce for Korean BBQ Chicken Tacos.

I sous vide Korean BBQ Short Ribs, then poured the sauce over the short ribs. You can also pour the sauce over ground beef to make easy Korean BBQ Beef Bowls. Seriously, I can’t get enough of this scrumptious sauce!

Korean BBQ meatballs piled on a plate topped with green onions with wooden skewers stuck in the meatballs

How to make the sauce

  1. Combine brown sugar, low sodium soy sauce, mirin, water, rice wine vinegar and chili paste in a medium sized pot.
  2. Add sesame oil, black pepper, ginger, garlic and green onions.
  3. Place the pot on the stove over medium high heat.  Bring the sauce to a boil.
  4. Combine cornstarch and water, then add it to the sauce. 
  5. Whisk the sauce, then reduce the heat to medium and allow the sauce to simmer 3-4 minutes.
  6. Remove the sauce from the heat and allow it to cool.
  7. Add the sauce to your favorite Korean BBQ dish or store it in the fridge to use later.

How to make the meatballs

  1. Combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs and egg yolks in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add low sodium soy sauce, chili paste, sesame oil, garlic, green onion, salt and pepper.
  3. Use your hands to combine all of the ingredients. Form into 1 inch diameter meatballs.
  4. Heat an oven to 375°F.
  5. Place all of the meatballs on a baking sheet and into the oven for 10 minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven and place in a slow cooker.
  7. Top with Korean BBQ sauce. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
Korean meatballs piled on top of each other in a crock pot
Korean BBQ Meatballs, covered in Korean BBQ sauce in a crock pot

How to make them on the stove

If you don’t have a slow cooker or don’t have the time to slow cook these meatballs, you can easily make them on the stove. Follow the instructions above for making the Korean BBQ sauce and the meatballs.

After the meatballs come out of the oven, instead of transferring them to a slow cooker, transfer them to the pot of BBQ sauce on the stove. Simmer the meatballs in the sauce on the stove over low heat for 20 minutes.

What to serve with them

Korean meatballs can be served with white or brown rice. For a really delicious Korean twist, serve them with Kimchi Fried Rice.

Korean meatballs can also be served by themselves with wooden skewers as a great party appetizer!

Are they gluten free?

These Korean BBQ Meatballs are gluten free. Always make sure to use gluten free soy sauce to make the Korean BBQ sauce and meatballs.

Korean BBQ meatballs on a plate with Korean bbq sauce on the side and green onions

More meatball recipes

Korean bbq meatballs in spoon in crock pot
Korean BBQ Meatballs on plate with korean bbq sauce and diced green onions
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Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Meatballs

Korean BBQ meatballs are made with a combination of ground beef & ground pork, then slow cooked in a crock pot in a scrumptious Korean BBQ Sauce for a totally tasty recipe!

Ingredients

Korean BBQ Sauce

Meatballs

Instructions

Korean BBQ Sauce

  • In a medium saucepan, over medium high heat, combine the first 11 ingredients of the BBQ sauce and bring to a boil, cook 5-7 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water.
  • Add this mixture to the boiling sauce.
  • Whisk to combine well, reduce heat to medium and cook 3-4 minutes.
  • Turn the heat off and set the sauce aside.

Korean Meatballs

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Add all of the meatball ingredients to a large bowl.
  • Use your hands to combine all of the ingredients, then form into 1” balls.
  • Place the meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet.
  • Place the meatballs in the oven for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the meatballs from the oven and add them to a slow cooker.
  • Pour the korean bbq sauce over the meatballs.
  • Cook on low 5-6 hours or on high 2-3 hours.

Notes

Stovetop Version: To make these on a stovetop instead of in a slow cooker, add the meatballs to the pot with the bbq sauce when they come out of the oven. Cover and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 116kcal (6%)Carbohydrates 7g (2%)Protein 5g (10%)Fat 6g (9%)Saturated Fat 2g (10%)Cholesterol 34mg (11%)Sodium 321mg (13%)Potassium 112mg (3%)Sugar 6g (7%)Vitamin A 25mg (1%)Vitamin C 0.7mg (1%)Calcium 13mg (1%)Iron 0.6mg (3%)
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