Crockpot grape jelly BBQ meatballs are one of the easiest and best appetizers to take to a party or social gathering. This is a delicious fix it and forget it recipe everyone will love.
This is the perfect game day food since it’s hearty and stays warms in the slow cooker for the entire game.
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You won’t believe how easy it is to prepare this dish that’s full of flavor and will have your guests begging for the recipe!
What Kind of Meatballs Should I Use?
I love versatile recipes and this one qualifies as easy to customize.
There are lots of different meatball options and you can pick your meatball type by what you like or have on hand.
Some different meatballs to consider are:
- Ground Beef Meatballs
- Italian Meatballs
- Homestyle Meatballs
- Pork Meatballs
- Turkey Meatballs
I like to keep bags of frozen meatballs in the freezer so I can throw this appetizer together for those last minute gatherings. This has turned out wonderfully with different meatball styles.
You can also make homemade meatballs for this recipe!
Do I Need to Brown the Meatballs?
I am happy to report that for those of you wondering if you need to brown the meatballs before cooking them in the crockpot the answer is NO.
There is no need to brown the meatballs first. That is one reason this is such a great recipe. This Crockpot Meatballs recipe is easy!!
If you want to brown them for the nice color it adds you can definitely do it.
How Should I Serve the Meatballs?
These meatballs are the perfect appetizer. But how you serve the meatballs is a matter of personal preference.
It is totally acceptable to leave the meatballs in the crockpot and let people scoop what they want out with a serving spoon. This is nice because it allows people to get extra sauce if they like their meatballs saucy.
If you want a more polished look for your party you can remove each meatball from the crockpot and put a toothpick in the meatball and put all the meatballs on a platter. You can always drizzle the extra sauce over the top.
Another way to serve these is by putting all the meatballs in a heap on a big platter or in a large bowl and let guests get a meatball with tongs.
If you’re serving them as a meal, make a side of mashed potatoes or rice. Or, spoon them over egg noodles or spaghetti.
Ingredients
The recipe for these crockpot grape jelly meatballs only has three ingredients. It always amazes me how good these little meatballs taste with just 3 ingredients! Even better, you can keep all three on hand so you can make a batch anytime.
- Meatballs
- BBQ Sauce
- Grape Jelly
Variations
This recipe is a variation of my Easy Sweet & Sour Meatballs. For that recipe, I use Heinz chili sauce instead of BBQ sauce and add some Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard and ground ginger.
Both BBQ sauce and chili sauce work well paired with grape jelly so try them both and see which one you like better. Both have a tomato sauce base, spices, vinegar and a sweetener, so it really comes down to small differences in flavor preferences.
You can always change the flavor profile too by adding onion powder or garlic powder. A little bit of salt can bring out the other flavors nicely too.
Grape jelly works best not only because of the sweetness, but also the dark color that blends well with the sauce and the meatballs. However, apple jelly, currant jelly, and orange marmalade all work great too.
How to Make Barbeque Sauce and Grape Jelly Meatballs
If you can dump ingredients into a crockpot then you can make this recipe! It really is that easy.
Step 1: Make Sauce
Start off by combining the barbecue sauce and the grape jelly in a small bowl. Whisk these ingredients together until well-combined.
Step 2: Fill Crockpot
Now pour the sauce into a crock pot and then stir in the meatballs.
Step 3: Slow Cook
Turn the crockpot on to low heat and cook the meatballs for 3-4 hours or until they are cooked thoroughly.
Serve immediately and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly
You can print off the complete ingredients and instructions for these Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs via the recipe card below.
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๐ Recipe
Crockpot Grape Jelly BBQ Meatballs
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Equipment
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 32 oz Meatballs frozen or homemade
- 18 oz Barbecue Sauce
- 30 oz Grape Jelly
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce and grape jelly until combined.
- Add the sauce to the crockpot. Stir in the meatballs.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve immediately. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
If you loved this easy meatball recipe be sure to check these out these other meatball recipes:
Do you thaw the frozen meatballs first or add them frozen?
You don’t need to thaw the meatballs first, you just add them frozen. However, if you decide you want to thaw the meatballs first, you would cook them an hour less in the crockpot.
Delicious and easy – that’s the best!!
I made this for my family and it was an instant hit. Every chance I get, I make these and serve over rice. Instant meal.
I’m glad your family likes the meatballs. Thanks for commenting.