Tender meatballs slow cooked in a simple grape jelly and chili sauce. These meatballs make for the perfect simple savory party appetizer or easy dinner idea!
Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe
When I first heard of making crockpot meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce, I thought it was weird. I wasn’t sold. But hear me out.
This classic cocktail appetizer has been around for many years for a reason. Made with just three ingredients – frozen meatballs, grape jelly, and chili sauce – it has stood the test of time because it is so easy and so good. It’s getting place in my collection of 3 ingredient crockpot recipes.
I’ve been on a roll with meatballs lately. Honey Garlic Meatballs, Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs, Sweet & Spicy Meatballs, and now Grape Jelly Meatballs. All perfect to pass at a party or serve for dinner.
Why you’ll love Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
- Easy! You can’t beat three ingredients and less than 2 minutes of prep.
- They feed a crowd and are easily doubled.
- You can use your favorite meatballs, including plant based.
- Kids and adults love them!
Equipment needed to make Meatballs with Grape Jelly
- Slow Cooker – Of course you’ll need a slow cooker. My slow cooker of choice is a 6 quart that I’ve had for years and still recommend.
- Serving Spoon – Use slotted if you don’t want a ton of sauce.
- Cocktail Picks – These are fun and fancy instead of boring toothpicks.
Ingredients for Grape Jelly Meatballs
Below is a list of ingredients to help you prep. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
Meatballs – Use your favorite frozen meatballs (beef, chicken, pork, or plant based) or make homemade meatballs.
Chili Sauce – Chili sauce is found in the ketchup aisle. I like Heinz.
Grape Jelly – Grape jelly (though jam will work as well). We use Smuckers.
How to make this Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe
Are you ready for this? It’s so simple. Definitely one the kids could help with.
STEP ONE: First, pour the meatballs into the slow cooker and top with the grape jelly and chili sauce. Stir it up until fully combined and all the meatballs are coated.
STEP TWO: Then, cover the cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours.
STEP THREE: That’s it! Stir before serving and turn the slow cooker to WARM for serving.
What to serve with grape jelly meatballs
If serving as an appetizer
If you’re serving these meatballs as an appetizer, I would include them in a spread alongside Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip, Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies, and Rotel Dip with Ground Beef.
If serving for dinner
If you’re serving them for dinner, my husband likes them with buttered noodles but they’re also great with garlic mashed potatoes and oven roasted carrots.
Drinks
If you’re serving them at a party, some drinks that pair nicely include a ranch water cocktail, a fuzzy navel, or some berry sangria.
Desserts
Always have to have dessert! If serving these on a game day, chocolate covered peanut butter footballs are appropriate. Mini cheesecakes, Reese’s peanut butter cup cookies, or frosted sugar cookie bars are good handheld desserts as well.
Tips and Suggestions
- Feeding a big crowd? You can easily double the recipe, just make sure your slow cooker is large enough.
- For easy serving, leave the meatballs in the slow cooker set to WARM.
- Don’t have jelly? You can use jam, the texture is just a bit different.
- Can’t find chili sauce? You can use your favorite BBQ sauce in its place.
How to reheat and store Meatballs with Grape Jelly
How to store leftovers
Leftovers should be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze them?
I don’t recommend freezing these meatballs. Since you start with frozen meatballs, I wouldn’t refreeze them. Once is enough.
How to reheat
You can reheat by putting them back into the slow cooker (they’ll warm up pretty quickly from the fridge) or pop them in the microwave. Or even on the stovetop.
Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs FAQs
Do you thaw the meatballs before putting them in the slow cooker?
Nope, they go in frozen, which is one of the reasons why this is such an easy recipe.
Can you use grape jam instead of jelly for meatballs?
Yes, you can use jam instead of jelly. Jelly is made from fruit juice and jam uses both the fruit pulp and juice, so the texture is a bit different.
How do you thicken sauce in meatballs?
If you’d like a thicker sauce, make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl. Once it is mixed, spoon in some of the sauce from the slow cooker, stir it up, then pour it into the slow cooker and stir to distribute.
Can I make them on the stove?
Yes, if you don’t want (or don’t have time) to slow cook them, you can cook the meatballs on the stovetop. Add all ingredients to a large pot and let them simmer until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Need more easy appetizer recipes? Try these:
Baked Brie with Pecans and Honey
Loaded Zucchini Skins
Macaroni & Cheese Flatbread
Garlic Herb Dip
Click here for my entire collection of appetizer recipes.
Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen meatballs a 2lb bag of your favorite pork, beef, turkey, or plant based meatballs
- 12 ounces chili sauce approx. 1.5 cups
- 18 ounces grape jelly approx. 2 cups
Instructions
- Pour the frozen meatballs into the bowl of a 6 quart slow cooker.32 ounces frozen meatballs
- Pour the chili sauce and grape jelly over the meatballs and stir to evenly distribute.12 ounces chili sauce, 18 ounces grape jelly
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- After the cook time, stir and turn the slow cooker to WARM for serving.
Notes
- Set the slow cooker to WARM for serving.
- Recipe is easily doubled as long as your slow cooker is large enough.
- Jam can be used in place of jelly.
- BBQ sauce can be used in place of chili sauce.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
This is a super easy, and affordable, dinner idea or appetizer. I made mine in the crockpot and made some mash potatoes with it on the side. Thanks for this yummy recipe. Roxanne
Thank you , Roxanne! I love hearing that.
This is a super easy, and affordable, dinner idea or appetizer. I made mine in the crockpot and made some mash potatoes with it on the side. Thanks for this yummy recipe.
Can you do the jelly meatballs in the oven if so how long to cook them
Sure, about 30 minutes at 300°F should do. I’d put them in a dutch oven.
This has been a favorite in our family for years!! Great for potlucks or dinner with Mac and cheese. Sauce is good on potatoes too.
You’re correct it is easy and tasty and I’ve been using it for many years, more than 20. When I first started making these I used L’il Smokies instead of meatballs. In the last 5 or 6 years our group has gotten bigger so I added the meatballs too. I’ve never needed to add more jelly or chili sauce, since your using the crock pot and that adds more moisture as well as the meats too release their own juices.
Great idea to add the combo!
I’ve been making this recipe since the mid ‘80’s only when I first got it was made using Lil’ Smokies. In the last 6 or 7 years I also adding the frozen meatballs. There has never been anyone who said they didn’t like them, most go back for seconds.
One thing I learned to make it even quicker to prep I put the crock pot insert with the grape jelly and chili sauce into the microwave for a few minutes once the jelly melted and chili sauce warmed put insert back in the crock pot stir together and add the meatballs and/or the Lil’ Smokies, if I don’t need to serve soon I let them heat on low..since the sauce was already hot the meat thawed while the crock pot was heating.
I’ve done your recipe several times with the chili sauce and bbq sauce and my family destroyed them. They are so good and the meat is nice and tender. Question: Have you ever tried mixing the cocktail and bbq sauces together, and if you have, how did it taste?
I have not – let me know if you try it!