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    Home » Crockpot

    Grape Jelly Meatballs

    Published: Sep 10, 2021 / Updated: Jul 5, 2022 / 4 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    These 3-ingredient savory-sweet grape jelly meatballs are easily made in your slow cooker for the perfect party recipe that will go quickly at any gathering! 

    Need more crowd-pleasing appetizers? Try my Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip or these Deviled Eggs.

    grape jelly meatball being held up on a cocktail toothpick

    Wait, what?

    Ok, so meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce might sound a little nuts, but your slow cooker does some magic wizardry, and somehow you get an amazing sauce out of it! The sweet, tangy, and savory combination is irresistible, and this recipe is an American classic that's definitely worth making if you've never tried it before. 

    If you're invited to a last-minute potluck and you're not in the mood to cook, it's time to dust off your Crockpot and make this impressive yet effortless grape jelly meatball recipe! Everyone will want to know what's in that addictive sauce.

    Everything you'll need

    • Meatballs - use pre-cooked frozen meatballs. I recommend buying something fairly plain so that the sauce can shine. I usually get frozen angus beef meatballs. You can use homemade meatballs if you wish, however.
    • Chili sauce - Heinz chili sauce is the tried and true variety for this recipe. Despite the name, this sauce isn't spicy. It's quite similar to ketchup but a bit more flavorful and slightly less sweet. Definitely note that it is very different from Asian style sweet chili sauce!
    • Grape jelly - I used Smuckers for that classic taste, but if you have a favorite brand or even homemade, feel free to use it

    How to make grape jelly meatballs

    This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    adding frozen meatballs, heinz chili sauce, and smuckers grape jelly to a crockpot

    Throw the frozen meatballs into your Crockpot, and mix them up with the chili sauce and jelly.

    grape jelly meatballs in a Crockpot before and after cooking

    Cook on high for 2-3 hours or 4-6 hours on low. Keep them warm until it's time to dig in. That's it!

    Substitutions and variations

    • I buy one 24 oz. package of meatballs for this recipe, but the package size can vary depending where you live and what your grocery store carries. It's easy to adjust the sauce (use a little less or little more, keeping the same 1:1 ratio) if you buy a slightly smaller or slightly larger package.
    • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce for a little kick.
    • You can swap the chili sauce for ketchup it's all you have.
    • If you want more of a smoky flavor, use half BBQ sauce and half chili sauce!

    What to serve with this recipe

    • These Crockpot meatballs are designed to be a party appetizer, but you can totally make them part of a main course.
    • To make it a complete meal, serve them with rice or mashed potatoes.
    • Make these Easy Glazed Carrots or Easy Roasted Green Beans to get in some veggies as well.

    Leftovers and storage

    • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
    • You can also freeze leftover grape jelly meatballs for up to 3 months.
    • To reheat, place them in a small saucepan over a low heat until warmed through. I wouldn't recommend microwaving them since the texture may get rubbery.

    More delicious meatball recipes

    • Easy Baked Porcupine Meatballs
    • Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
    • Swedish Meatballs
    • Easy Turkey Meatballs
    • Easy Meatball Recipe (Italian Style)
    grape jelly meatballs in a white bowl

    Questions about these grape jelly cocktail meatballs? Have you tried them? Let's chat in the comments below!

    grape jelly meatball being held up on a cocktail toothpick

    Grape Jelly Meatballs

    These 3-ingredient savory-sweet grape jelly meatballs are easily made in your slow cooker for the perfect party recipe that will go quickly at any gathering! 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 3 hrs
    Total Time 3 hrs 5 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 375 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 24 ounces frozen cooked meatballs
    • 1 cup Heinz chili sauce
    • 1 cup grape jelly (I used Smuckers)

    Instructions
     

    • Add the frozen meatballs to your slow cooker.
    • Pour the sauce ingredients over the meatballs, then toss with 2 spoons until coated.
    • Cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low. The sauce will thicken more as it cools a bit. Use the "keep warm" setting if you're not going to be eating them right away.

    Notes

    • If you're serving this as an appetizer, it serves 8+, but it really depends what else it's served with and how much people eat. If you want to serve it as a main course (like with rice or mashed potatoes, it'll serve 4).
    • Frozen meatball package sizes vary. If yours is larger, add a bit more of the chili sauce and grape jelly (like up to 1.5 or 2 cups each).
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. I used ketchup in the nutrition info since my database doesn't have Heinz chili sauce. It's similar in calories, so it gives you a ballpark figure.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 375kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 15gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 333mgPotassium: 371mgFiber: 1gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 160IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cocktail meatballs, Crockpot meatballs, grape jelly meatballs, slow cooker party meatballs
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice (One Pot Meal!)
    Roasted Fall Vegetable Soup »

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    1. Rachel A. Baker says

      April 14, 2022 at 9:55 AM

      5 stars
      Hi can I use the instant pot?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 14, 2022 at 10:18 AM

        Hi Rachel! I haven't tested it in the IP, so I'm not really sure on timing. I'm also a bit worried that pressure cooking meatballs that are likely already cooked could be overkill and lead to dry/rubbery meatballs. You probably could simply put them in there and use the sauté setting to warm them through, though, and then have them on "keep warm" if you're taking them to a party or something. Let me know if you try!

        Reply
    2. Gloria Borja says

      December 3, 2021 at 2:11 PM

      Can I use the pot instead of crock pot?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 3, 2021 at 2:46 PM

        Yes... I'd do it over a low heat and stir often to ensure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Ensure they're heated through. Hope you enjoy the recipe, Gloria!

        Reply

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