Description
This Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs recipe combines sweet grape jelly with tangy barbecue sauce and a hint of spicy chili garlic sauce, simmered to perfection in a slow cooker. It’s a flavorful and effortless appetizer or party dish that’s perfect for gatherings or game day.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 32 oz frozen fully cooked meatballs
Sauce
- 1 cup grape jelly (preferably Smuckers brand)
- 1 1/2 cup barbecue sauce (preferably Sweet Baby Ray’s brand)
- 2 Tbsp chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients: Place the frozen meatballs, grape jelly, barbecue sauce, and chili garlic sauce into the base of your slow cooker. Stir thoroughly until all the ingredients are well incorporated and the meatballs are coated with the sauce.
- Slow cook the meatballs: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours. If your meatballs are on the larger side, cook for 4 to 5 hours to ensure they are heated through properly. Midway through the cooking time, open the lid briefly and stir the meatballs to ensure even cooking and coating.
- Keep warm and serve: Once cooked, switch the slow cooker to the warm setting to maintain the temperature until serving. For an appealing finish, garnish with chopped parsley or chives if desired. Serve hot as a delicious appetizer or party treat.
Notes
- Using fully cooked frozen meatballs saves time and simplifies preparation.
- Adjust the amount of chili garlic sauce to make the dish more or less spicy according to preference.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the lid in the last 30 minutes to allow some liquid to evaporate.
- Garnishes like parsley or chives add freshness and a pop of color but are optional.
- Serve these meatballs with toothpicks for easy party serving.
- Can be kept warm in the slow cooker for up to 2 hours before serving without drying out.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 to 4 hours
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: grape jelly meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, party appetizers, sweet and tangy meatballs, easy meatball recipe
