Grape Jelly Meatballs

Made in the crockpot, these easy three-ingredient grape jelly meatballs are the perfect appetizer for any gathering!

Table of Contents

Grape Jelly Meatballs Crockpot Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make Crockpot Meatballs Recipe
How To Serve Crockpot Meatballs With Grape Jelly
Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
Grape Jelly Meatballs Are A Staple For Parties!
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
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With only three ingredients, these simple grape jelly meatballs have forever been a staple at parties and are the perfect balance between sweet and savory. Tender meatballs are smothered in barbecue and grape jelly sauce and simmered in the slow cooker.

overhead shot of Grape Jelly Meatballs in a crockpot

Grape Jelly Meatballs Crockpot Ingredients

Grape Jelly Meatballs raw ingredients that are labeled

The barbecue sauce contributes a smoky and tangy richness, while the grape jelly adds sweetness to the sauce.

Combined with frozen meatballs, it creates a mouthwatering, saucy dish that’s both comforting and irresistible.

You’ll need:

18 ounces of BBQ sauce
18 ounces of grape jelly
1 (32-ounce) bag of frozen meatballs

Substitutions And Additions

GRAPE JELLY: Any brand of sweet grape jelly works well in this recipe.

Instead of grape jelly, you could also use a can of smooth cranberry jelly for a tangy flavor or pour in 16 ounces of diced pineapple for sweet and sour meatballs.

FROZEN MEATBALLS: I typically purchase home-style frozen cooked meatballs, but you can also make this easy recipe with Italian or another flavor you love.

Turkey meatballs also make a good substitute, or you could also use homemade meatballs and just make sure to fully cook them first.

BBQ SAUCE: Sweet Baby Ray’s will forever be my favorite barbecue sauce, but you can use any brand you love or make your own homemade.

If you want an extra little kick, you can choose a spicy sauce, or if you prefer something milder, you can go with that, too.

Some people swear by Heinz chili sauce for this great appetizer.

How To Make Crockpot Meatballs Recipe

This recipe is as simple as mixing up the barbecue sauce and grape jelly in the slow cooker before adding the meatballs and letting them warm up.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

I love using a crockpot liner to make clean-up easy. You can also spray the slow cooker dish with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in your ingredients.

STEP ONE: Mix the BBQ sauce and grape jelly in the slow cooker.

PRO TIP:

If you want to skip the crockpot for these easy grape jelly meatballs, you can add all the ingredients to a pan and simmer for 10-15 minutes over medium heat. Be sure to gently stir occasionally while the meatballs cook.

bbq sauce and grape jelly being whisked together in a crockpot

STEP TWO: Add the frozen cooked meatballs and stir.

How Long To Cook Frozen Meatballs In Crockpot?

Frozen meatballs will take about four to six hours on low to heat up in the crockpot.

STEP THREE: Cook on low heat for four to five hours or on high for two hours.

You can leave these cocktail meatballs on a warm setting after they’re ready to serve so that they stay at the perfect temperature for guests to enjoy.

PRO TIP:

The meatball sauce in this recipe is a slightly thinner sauce than some other recipes. Don’t worry if it doesn’t thicken up, it’s supposed to be this way.

How To Serve Crockpot Meatballs With Grape Jelly

These crockpot meatballs are a classic party appetizer that makes an appearance at almost every gathering.

Crockpot meatballs can be served as an appetizer either on a plate or individually using toothpicks. They can also be enjoyed over rice or noodles.

Don’t miss our crockpot Swedish meatballs and our buffalo meatballs recipes for more saucy meatballs that are great for entertaining.

What Do You Eat Grape Jelly Meatballs With?

Add our seven-layer dip and stuffed mushrooms for a trifecta of tasty treats.

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Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe Storage

We’ve got you covered with some easy tips to make sure your meatballs are stored properly.

MAKE AHEAD: If you’re planning ahead or prepping for a special occasion, these crockpot meatballs can be made in advance.

Simply follow the cooking instructions, let them cool to room temperature, and then transfer them into an airtight container.

Pop them in the fridge for up to two days, and when you’re ready to serve, gently reheat them in the crockpot or on the stovetop with a bit of extra sauce.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers of these slow cooker meatballs in an airtight container for up to four days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can also freeze leftovers for up to two months.

REHEATING: When it’s time to reheat, there are a few methods to choose from.

If you’re in a hurry, the microwave works well. Cover them with a microwave-safe lid, and heat in 30-second increments, stirring the meatballs between each increment.

For a more even and flavorful reheating, you can use the stovetop or crockpot.

Simply place the meatballs in a saucepan or the crockpot, add a bit of extra sauce, and gently warm them over low to medium heat until they’re heated through.

Why We Love This Recipe

IRRESISTIBLE FLAVOR COMBINATION: The sweet and savory fusion of BBQ sauce and grape jelly creates a flavor profile that’s simply irresistible.

EASY PREPARATION: With just three main ingredients and minimal steps, you can have a mouthwatering dish ready in no time.

CROWD PLEASER: These meatballs have broad appeal, making them a family favorite and a crowd-pleaser.

close up shot of a spoonful of Grape Jelly Meatballs

Grape Jelly Meatballs Are A Staple For Parties!

A crowd favorite at holiday parties and game day gatherings, with only three simple ingredients and a couple of minutes of prep time, you’ll love how easy these grape jelly meatballs are to make and the delicious flavor they have!

Frequently Asked Questions

If I double the recipe, do I double the cooking time as well?

For these slow cooker grape jelly meatballs, you don’t need to double the cooking time. Just make sure to give it a stir partway through cooking to make sure everything heats evenly.

How long can I store the leftovers in the fridge?

These crockpot grape jelly meatballs will keep in the fridge for up to four days.

Can I make my own meatballs for this delicious recipe?

If you prefer to make your own meatballs, you certainly can. They will taste just as yummy as the premade ones.

Why do my meatballs fall apart in the slow cooker?

If your meatballs do not have enough binding agent, they may fall apart in the slow cooker.

Should I thaw meatballs before putting them in the crockpot?

You can either put the meatballs in the crockpot still frozen or already thawed. You will just need to cook the frozen ones for longer than already thawed meatballs.

How do you know when crockpot meatballs are done?

Crockpot meatballs are done when their internal temperature reaches 160°F.

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Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly

5 from 4 votes

Made in the crockpot, these easy three-ingredient grape jelly meatballs are the perfect appetizer for any gathering!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 10

Servings

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Ingredients

18 ounces BBQ sauce
18 ounces grape jelly
32 ounces frozen meatballs

Instructions

Mix the BBQ sauce and grape jelly in the slow cooker.
Add the frozen meatballs and stir.
Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 hours.

Video

Notes

I love using a crockpot liner to make clean-up easy. You can also spray the slow cooker dish with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in your ingredients.
If you want to skip the crockpot for these easy grape jelly meatballs, you can add all the ingredients to a pan and simmer for 10-15 minutes over medium heat. Be sure to gently stir occasionally while the meatballs cook.
The meatball sauce in this recipe is a slightly thinner sauce than some other recipes. Don’t worry if it doesn’t thicken up, it’s supposed to be this way.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Rhadonda Sedgwick Creative Director
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Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe