Grape Jelly Meatballs

Crockpot grape jelly meatballs are a sweet and spicy party appetizer that takes just 4 ingredients to whip up. These meatballs are always a crowd-pleaser!

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Why this recipe works

If you’re looking for an easy appetizer to bring to your next potluck or get-together, these grape jelly meatballs are perfect for you. They only take about 5 minutes to prep and the slow cooker does the rest of the work. How great is that?

Though there are many ways to make party meatballs out there (like our bacon cheeseburger meatballs and our meatball stuffed biscuits), grape jelly meatballs always seem to be the most popular option, and for great reason! The sweet and spicy combination tickles your tastebuds, encouraging you to go back for seconds and thirds.

RELATED: you might also like this recipe – Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

MEATBALLS – We’re using frozen Italian mini meatballs, but you can definitely make them homemade if you’d like, see our spaghetti and meatballs post for a recipe.

SAUCE – Now, we like to spice it up a bit by adding some sriracha to the mix, but you can easily omit the spicy component of these meatballs to suit your taste! The jelly/bbq mixture can be cooingly sweet to some, that’s why we add in a tablespoon of hot sauce for a sweet and spicy flavor profile.

How to Make Grape Jelly Meatballs

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Add the sauce ingredients to the crockpot and whisk.
2. Add the frozen meatballs and toss to coat with a serving spoon.
3. Cook on high 2 hours, stirring every so often to further coat the meatballs.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Store leftover grape jelly meatballs in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Yes, you can make these meatballs in the oven. Bake them on an insulated baking sheet lined with tinfoil at 350F for around an hour.

Absolutely! Store the prepared meatballs in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. These are great to prep ahead of time and reheat the day of. Defrost your meatballs in the fridge overnight, and pop them back into the slow cooker for 2-3 hours. Check on the meatballs occasionally and add a bit of water or a little more sauce accordingly.

Sure, you can use larger meatballs. If doing so, you’ll probably want to raise the cook time to 4 hours on high, and around 7-8 for low.

Serving Suggestions

Though these meatballs are heavenly on their own, you could also serve them over a bed of rice, mashed potatoes, or alongside a bowl of pasta as a main dish. Our favorite way to serve grape jelly meatballs is to stick them with a toothpick (or keep the toothpicks on the side) for your guests to easily grab and go! They’re awesome football party food and an all-around delicious appetizer for all occasions.

More Appetizer Recipes

• Cheeseburger Sliders
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
• Sausage Balls
• Blooming Onion
• Jalapeno Poppers
• Pigs in a Blanket

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