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Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

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This Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe is a family favorite with simple ingredients to complement almost any main dish! The best part is with only three ingredients, this is one of our go-to easy appetizers to make for holiday get-togethers or tailgating parties.  As a bonus, these are always a hit with the kids at the get-together, and almost always the favorite appetizer.

Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs on a tooth pick

(I have included affiliate links to products I love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) In addition, this post contains affiliate links that will make me a small commission when used to order online. 

When planning gatherings, simple dump-and-cook recipes are my go-to. Everyone is always shocked that the secret ingredient in these slow cooker meatballs is grape jelly paired with barbecue sauce! It only takes minutes of prep time when using store-bought meatballs instead of homemade meatballs. But as odd as meatballs with grape jelly and bbq sauce sound, they are amazing!

Grape Jelly Ingredients in bowls with six pack of coca cola

Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs Ingredients: 

  • Mini Meatballs-For this, the best-frozen meatballs are mini or cocktail meatballs; they work out perfectly on toothpicks and are tender meatballs cooked in the crock pot. You could make mini meatballs at home to fit this in, but grocery stores have good meatballs that don’t require much work.
  • Bbq Sauce- A spicy sauce for bbq could be used on this, but when serving kids, honey bbq sauce or plain bbq sauce makes this a great family recipe; you could do a batch of half each.
  • Sweet Grape Jelly-Red currant and apple jelly are substitutes if you don’t have grape jelly sauce. Combining grape jelly with bbq sauce is the best for this slow cooker recipe.
 

How To Make Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs: 

Spray your slow cooker with a nonstick spray or line with a crockpot bag. I did use a smaller 4-quart crockpot to make this, you can use a larger crockpot to make this easy recipe but the cooking time will change.

10 Quart Crockpot10 Quart Crockpot10 Quart Crockpot8 Quart Crockpot8 Quart Crockpot8 Quart Crockpot6 Quart Crockpot6 Quart Crockpot6 Quart Crockpot

 

Mix your grape jelly and bbq sauce in the crock pot.

After the jelly and bbq sauce are mixed, mix in your frozen meatballs or your own meatballs if you are doing homemade.

Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs Mixed In crock With Sprite and Cook

Start the crockpot on either a low heat or medium heat.

Grape Jelly Meatball On A Toothpick With Bowl Of Meatballs Behind it

I set a timer for 30 minutes to stir the crockpot and then a time for an hour later. I did stir the crockpot while cooking to help keep the sugar from burning and sticking to the edges of the crock.

*If you are using raw meatballs that are homemade, the cooking time will differ on this*

Grape Jelly Meatballs on Toothpicks On White Plate

Cook until done; for the frozen meatballs on low, my cook time was about 4 1/2 hours.

Be sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure they have cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Serve!!! We ate ours on toothpicks was a huge hit.

Grape Jelly Meatball Cooked On A Toothpick over a bowl of cooked meatballs

What perfect appetizer do you make for your family and friends at get-togethers?

How To Store LEftover Grape Jelly Meatballs:

  • Leftover crockpot grape jelly meatballs can be frozen into a freezer bag. Pour extra sauce from the crock on top of the meatballs before storage.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days in an airtight container. Pour extra sauce from the crock on top of the meatballs before storage.

To reheat leftover meatballs, you can do so in a crockpot or a microwave on medium-low heat.

Storing leftovers properly requires the right tools! My preferred storage method is if the leftovers can be sealed in a food saver. If not, then an air-tight container or Ziploc bag for the fridge is the way I go. The air-tight container and a freezer Ziploc bag are the next best bet for freezing the leftovers. I also use a food scale to often measure leftovers into serving sizes.

Freezable storage ContainersFreezable storage ContainersFreezable storage ContainersFood SealerFood SealerFood SealerFreezer BagsFreezer BagsFreezer BagsFood ScaleFood ScaleFood Scale

 

What To Serve With Grape Jelly Meatballs

  • As a main dish in a meatball sandwich, over mashed potatoes, or with white rice for a simple dinner using savory meatballs.
  • Alongside other Crockpot Tailgating recipes, it is a superb stand-alone dish that goes alongside anything else for tailgating or parties!

OTHER ADD-INS FOR Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe:

  • Chili Paste 
  • Sweet Chili Sauce or Heinz Chili Sauce
  • Apple Jelly
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Sweet Jelly
  • Sriracha 
  • Smoked Kielbasa 

favorite meatball recipes

  • Grape Jelly Meatballs – Use your crockpot to make these easy meatballs for an appetizer with only two ingredients.
  • Meatball Tater Tot Casserole– Use meatballs to make a classic tater tot casserole with a new twist
  • Meatball Biscuit Casserole– An easy weeknight dinner that is easy to make for dinner and the kids will love it. Perfect for a school night and perfect for kids to make as well.
  • Homemade Meatballs– It is easy to make meatballs at home that are frozen for later use.
  • Crockpot Meatball Subs-An easy recipe perfect for tailgating on game days! These also double for an easy In addition to being perfect for tailgating; these are also easy to make for weeknight dinners!
  • Instant Pot Meatballs and Pasta-Perfect for weeknight dinners with busy schedules and a frugal dinner. Just dump in all the ingredients and let it cook for a perfect weeknight dinner that requires no effort at all. 
Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs on a tooth pick
3.6 from 5 votes
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Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

These Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs are perfect for any get together and are quick and easy to whip up! Put it on a toothpick and it’s a crowd favorite!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot grape jelly meatballs, Grape Jelly Meatballs, Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings 64 Servings
Calories 61 kcal
Author Jenny

Ingredients

  • 64 Each Meatballs
  • 28 ounce Bbq sauce
  • 30 ounce Grape jelly

Instructions

  1. Spray your slow cooker with a nonstick spray or line with a crockpot bag.

  2. Put in your grape jelly and your bbq sauce in the crock pot and mix it together.

  3. After the jelly and bbq sauce are mixed, mix in your frozen meatballs or your own meatballs if you are doing homemade.

  4. Then put in your meat balls and stir it all together

  5. Turn the crockpot on low heat or medium heat will work as well.

  6. I set a timer for 30 minutes to stir the crockpot and then a time for an hour later. Stirring while cooking helps to keep the sugar from burning and sticking to the edges of the crock.

  7. Cook until done, for the frozen meatballs on low my cook time was about 4 1/2 hours.

  8. Be sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure they have cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

  9. Serve!!! We ate ours on toothpicks was a huge hit.

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
Amount Per Serving (64 g)
Calories 61 Calories from Fat 3
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.3g0%
Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.03g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 133mg6%
Potassium 42mg1%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 0.3g1%
Vitamin A 28IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 7mg1%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. seattle art commune says

    December 19, 2016 at 3:17 PM

    looks so yummy

    Reply
  2. Ali B says

    December 19, 2016 at 7:39 PM

    I remember having these once at a get together and meant to get the recipe. Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to make these for our New Years get together.

    Reply
    • Connie Reed says

      December 28, 2017 at 12:38 PM

      Do you use regular meatballs or Italian frozen meatballs???

      Reply
      • Jenny says

        December 28, 2017 at 1:05 PM

        You could use either. I use the smaller sizes just to make sure they cook properly.

        Reply
        • DeeAnn says

          September 29, 2019 at 6:10 AM

          So frozen meatballs are good to use? What about fresh ground beef meatballs, has anyone tried it that way, if so how did it come out?

          Reply
          • Jenny says

            September 29, 2019 at 11:42 AM

            I haven’t tried it that way but you would want to make sure they are packed good and the cooking time would be reduced as well.

          • Marie says

            December 16, 2019 at 8:02 PM

            I want to make turkey meatballs. Reduce time to 3 hours?

    • Dee says

      December 16, 2019 at 8:25 AM

      In the 70’s I made with a jar of chili sauce and a bag of Frozen Hawaiian vegetables. Serve over rice.

      Reply
      • Jenny says

        December 16, 2019 at 11:12 AM

        That sounds so good!! Thanks for the suggestion!

        Reply
  3. Nicole Elliott ~ Client says

    December 20, 2016 at 10:30 AM

    Yumm!! I love slow cooker meatballs at parties, they’re always one of my favorites!

    Reply
  4. CakePants says

    December 20, 2016 at 7:21 PM

    I’ve never heard of pairing grape jelly with meatballs, but this looks delicious! What a simple recipe!

    Reply
  5. Lynn says

    December 21, 2016 at 7:46 AM

    I’ve been doing something similar for years. Still use the grape jelly but instead of BBQ sauce I use a full bottle of Heinz chili sauce. So yummy.

    Reply
    • Barb S says

      November 12, 2017 at 12:57 PM

      Ohhhh that sounds yummy! Thx for the tip!

      Reply
    • Dorothy Miller says

      December 23, 2017 at 9:53 AM

      Yes I use the chili sauce also, with meatball or little smokies! Delicious with either!

      Reply
  6. Christine says

    December 29, 2016 at 6:41 AM

    Jenny I am so going to try this. It looks wonderful and so easy to make.

    Reply
  7. MZ says

    October 8, 2017 at 3:52 PM

    These are really good I add a good squirt of mustard too …good on a hot dog bun also

    Reply
  8. Jill says

    November 18, 2017 at 2:05 PM

    I use 2 bottles of cocktail sauce and 1 jar grape jelly big hit at office xmas party

    Reply
  9. Peggy says

    December 4, 2017 at 8:14 PM

    I have been making these for years, except use the chili sauce, and add a package of little smokies along with the meatballs! ALWAYS a party/gathering favorite. I will try them with the BBQ sauce to see which we prefer. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Christine says

    March 17, 2018 at 7:29 AM

    Seems like a recipe I would like. Don’t understand spraying pot and then adding jelly and barbecue sauce and stirring. Purpose of spray being defeated. After spraying pot it seems as though jelly and barbecue sauce should be mixed together before putting them in pot

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      March 18, 2018 at 9:27 AM

      I spray the pot so that sugar in them doesn’t stick to the crock pot. You could mix them together in another bowl if you want, I just like to save on dishes so that’s why I do it this way. When I make it at like potlucks and it cooks there its just easier to be able to dump and stir in one dish.

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 11, 2018 at 8:51 AM

        Crock pot liners are a plus with this too. No mess.

        Reply
      • Joanne says

        December 16, 2018 at 9:25 PM

        Replace the meatballs with Little smokies hotdogs or any other brand of cocktail hotdogs. They are just as delicious as the meatballs.

        Reply
        • Jenny says

          December 17, 2018 at 2:44 PM

          That sounds amazing! I am going to have to try this out!

          Reply
      • Kfetz says

        December 26, 2019 at 11:28 AM

        Can these be used as meatball hoagies as well

        Reply
        • Jenny says

          December 27, 2019 at 6:17 PM

          I don’t see why not it would be tasty!!!

          Reply
  11. Bobbi says

    October 1, 2018 at 7:46 AM

    Sorry so ignorant but here goes At first glance I thought this wS a quick appetizer but you have to make the meatballs first, right – I don’t buy pa kaged meatballs due to all the salt ?

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      October 1, 2018 at 11:07 AM

      I use packaged meatballs. I have a girlfriend who batch cooks her meatballs to freeze them so recipes like this are still easy for her to do. I need to learn to make meatballs but I haven’t been brave enough yet

      Reply
  12. Crystal says

    December 21, 2018 at 7:07 PM

    I just use same ingredients that I use to make meatloaf and form each meatball. I like to use the Lipton Beefy Onion soup mix it has meatloaf recipe on back of box.

    Reply
  13. Barbie harris says

    December 23, 2018 at 11:09 PM

    I have used plum jelly and ketchup. Worked great. So yummy!

    Reply
  14. Dan says

    January 19, 2019 at 9:53 AM

    Do you cook the meat ball before you mix the jelly in

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      January 20, 2019 at 9:27 AM

      No I put them in frozen and let it cook. I just stir every so often to make sure everything gets blended together.

      Reply
  15. BARBARA ALLEN says

    November 28, 2019 at 12:33 AM

    What kind of meatballs are good to use..A Brand Name and where you can get them

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      November 28, 2019 at 9:21 AM

      Cooked Perfect® Homestyle Meatballs are good meatballs I get them at Safeway or Winco. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  16. Kathy says

    December 16, 2019 at 8:39 AM

    So the meatballs are cooked first before going in crock pot?

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      December 16, 2019 at 11:12 AM

      I buy precooked frozen meatballs and just drop them in

      Reply
  17. Becky says

    December 19, 2019 at 4:51 PM

    I use chili instead of BBQ sauce!

    Reply
  18. Carol Baugh says

    December 21, 2019 at 3:03 AM

    I use the “meatless” balls with the jelly & chili sauce. So many of friends & family are vegetarian and they are great!

    Reply
  19. Kathy says

    December 22, 2019 at 3:28 PM

    I mix grape jelly, crushed ginger snap cookies and ketchup… makes a great sauce

    Reply
  20. Karla says

    December 26, 2019 at 5:23 PM

    I have used Hormel Chili (no beans) instead of the BBQ sauce.

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      December 27, 2019 at 6:17 PM

      That sounds tasty!!

      Reply
  21. MaryAnn Conners says

    December 17, 2022 at 6:26 AM

    My daughter uses a can of jellied cranberry sauce and jar of chili sauce along with frozen Swedish meatballs….her children love them!

    Reply

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