These Coca-Cola Meatballs are one of the simplest slow cooker recipes you can make! And they are versatile, working for everything from game day gatherings to weeknight dinners. You get tender, saucy meatballs with the perfect hint of sweetness from an unexpected ingredient that’s probably already in your fridge.
You will love how the Coca-Cola turns into a rich, caramelized sauce that coats each meatball perfectly. The soda doesn’t just add sweetness—it breaks down the meat for an incredibly tender texture you can’t achieve with other ingredients.
If you’ve hesitated about using soda in cooking, I understand completely. I was skeptical, too! But the final result tastes sophisticated, not gimmicky. The cola flavor mellows and deepens as it cooks, creating a delicious sauce that wil lhave everyone asking for your secret.
The sauce clings to each bite giving you a sticky-sweet glaze that works equally well a toothpick as an appetizer or over rice as a main dish. Each meatball gives you a tasty, absolutely irresistible, savory, sweet balance.
This recipe has just six ingredients and takes only about 5 minutes of hands-on time. Let me show you the simple steps for making these crowd-pleasing meatballs! They are perfect for serving at your next potluck or just making a fun and different dinner.
Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Try slow cooker Brunswick stew, slow cooker beef stroganoff, or slow cooker ham and scalloped potatoes for more easy dinner ideas.
Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Frozen Meatballs: Buy a 32-oz bag from the freezer section. Make sure they’re fully cooked!
- BBQ Sauce
- Coca-Cola: Regular Coke gives the best results. While diet soda will work, artificial sweeteners don’t caramelize as nicely. Dr. Pepper or Pepsi work too, if that’s what you have on hand.
- Brown Sugar
- Dijon Mustard
- Garlic
How to Make Coca-Cola Meatballs
- Add your frozen meatballs to the slow cooker—no need to thaw them first.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together your BBQ sauce, Coca-Cola, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic. The sauce might look a bit thin at first, but don’t worry—it’ll thicken up as it cooks.
- Pour this sweet and tangy sauce mixture over your meatballs. Stir to coat all the meatballs in the sauce.
- Put the lid on your slow cooker and let it work its magic! Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. I like to give them a gentle stir every couple hours or so if I’m around, but it’s not strictly necessary.
Serving Ideas
When they’re done, your Coca-Cola meatballs will be tender and coated in a thick, glossy, absolutely irresistible sauce. Sprinkling some chopped parsley or sliced scallions on top for a little color before serving.
We serve them as both an appetizer and a main dish in our house. When I’m hosting game-day parties, I just set out the slow cooker with some toothpicks nearby and let everyone help themselves. The sweet and tangy sauce is always a crowd-pleaser!
Here are some other favorite ways to serve these saucy meatballs:
- Over fluffy white rice for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Tucked into slider buns for mini meatball sandwiches.
- Alongside mashed potatoes.
- Over egg noodles for a twist on classic Swedish meatballs.
If you’re serving these at a party, keep them in the slow cooker on the “warm” setting. Just give them an occasional stir to prevent the sauce from getting too thick around the edges.
How to Store
Store leftover meatballs in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
Tips & Tricks
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- You can mix up the sauce ingredients the night before and store them in a sealed container in the fridge. In the morning, dump your frozen meatballs in the slow cooker, pour over the prepared sauce, and you’re good to go.
- Want to add a little kick to these sweet and tangy meatballs? Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
- While frozen meatballs are super convenient, you can use homemade ones! Just brown them first before adding them to the slow cooker. This extra step helps them hold their shape and adds more flavor.
- If you are around, give the meatballs a gentle stir every couple of hours. This helps them cook evenly and prevents them from sticking to the sides.
- The sauce will thicken as it cooks, but if you want it thicker, leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Reader Questions
Yes! Dr. Pepper or Pepsi works well in this recipe, too. I’ve tried it with root beer, which gives a different but equally delicious flavor profile. Cherry Coke is another fun idea to try.
Absolutely! You can prepare these up to 2 days ahead and reheat them in the slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours before serving.
I prefer a smoky BBQ sauce for this recipe. The meatball sauce is sweet because of the soda and sugar, so I prefer to use a less sweet BBQ sauce.
Yes, but make sure your slow cooker is large enough! For a double batch, you should increase the cooking time by 30-60 minutes.
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Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen meatballs
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup Coca Cola
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic minced
- Parsley or scallions for garnish
Instructions
- Add the meatballs to your slow cooker.32 ounces frozen meatballs
- Combine the BBQ sauce, cola, brown sugar, dijon, and garlic in a mixing bowl.1 cup BBQ sauce, 1 cup Coca Cola, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, stirring occasionally.Parsley or scallions
Notes
- You can mix up the sauce ingredients the night before and store them in a sealed container in the fridge. In the morning, dump your frozen meatballs in the slow cooker and pour over the prepared sauce.
- You can use a different soda, like Pepsi or Dr Pepper. Diet soda doesn’t caramelize as well as regular soda.
- You can use homemade meatballs too, Just brown them first before adding them to the slow cooker.
- If you are around, give the meatballs a gentle stir every hour or so. This helps them cook evenly and prevents them from sticking to the sides.
- The sauce will thicken as it cooks, but if you want it thicker, leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
I’m 80, I have used colas on my ham in a recipe my mother gave me. Idk when it became a “old family recipe” which my daughter and her daughter use on every ham they cook.