Crockpot Orange Chicken Meatballs

A plate of white rice with orange chicken meatballs

Crockpot Orange Chicken Meatballs

Crockpot Orange Chicken Meatballs are a sweet and savory slow cooker diner that practically makes themselves. Ready-to-use frozen chicken meatballs simmer in a sticky homemade orange sauce that's bursting with sweet citrus flavor, garlic, and ginger. Serve the over rice for an easy family favorite dinner.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword crockpot orange chicken meatballs, orange chicken meatballs with frozen meatballs

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 4 20

Total Time 4 25

Servings

Calories 532kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

1 bag (22 oz) fully cooked frozen chicken meatballs
1 jar (18 oz) orange marmalade
1/3 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger OR ginger paste
1 teaspoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder

Cornstarch Slurry (For Later)

3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold water

For Serving

cooked white rice
sliced green onion
white sesame seeds

Instructions

Dump the frozen chicken meatballs into the crockpot.
^{* If you don't want to dirty a seperate bowl, you can mix the orange sauce ingredients first in the crockpot and then dump in the meatballs. I like to mix the sauce separately because I feel like it gets mixed better.}
1 bag (22 oz) fully cooked frozen chicken meatballs
In a small bowl, whisk together the orange marmalade, orange juice, low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, hoisin sauce, minced garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and garlic powder until well combined.
1 jar (18 oz) orange marmalade, 1/3 cup orange juice, 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger OR ginger paste, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Dump the sauce over the meatballs inside the crockpot and stir everything together to coat all the meatballs in the sauce.
Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, stirring it 1-2 times during the cook time, until the sauce is hot and bubbly, and the meatballs are tender.
When ready to serve, stir the cornstarch and water with a fork and pour it into the crockpot. Let the mixture cook for about 15-30 minutes, still on low heat, with the lid off until it's thickened.
3 tablespoons cornstarch, 3 tablespoons cold water
Serve over cooked rice and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
cooked white rice, sliced green onion, white sesame seeds

Notes

Even with the cornstarch slurry, the sauce won't be like really thick, but rather it will thicken but still be a drizzable consistency so you can easily serve it over top the rice. If you want the sauce really thick you could try doubling the cornstarch + cold water; I have never had to do this, but it's an option you could try.
Most stores should sell the frozen chicken meatballs, I find mine at Walmart, if you can't find them there is always regular frozen meatballs but for the integrity of 'orange chicken' I highly suggest only using the frozen chicken meatballs and not the beef or other varieties.
Orange marmalade is a jam-type ingredient that gives the sauce its sticky, orange flavor and helps it clings to the meatballs rather than becoming watery. You will find orange marmalade by the other jars of jam and jelly at the grocery store.
Hoisin sauce is a small but really important addition because it gives the sauce a deeper takeout-style flavor without making the recipe complicated. Hoisin sauce is easily found near the soy sauce at the store.
To add some heat to the orange sauce, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
This is best served over cooked white rice, or other rice of choice, or over noodles. Another option is to serve it as an appetizer - leave the meatballs in the crockpot on the WARM setting and set a small jar of toothpicks to the side. People can grab & go as they please.
Nutrition Information does not include the rice or garnishes; as those will vary depending on what you use. It is for one serving of meatballs plus some sauce. About 5-6 meatballs per serving with some sauce.

Nutrition