Delicious and tender, these crockpot grape jelly meatballs are a perfect appetizer for a pot-luck, dinner party, or game day! Simple and slightly sweet, these easy meatballs will knock your socks off!
These crockpot grape jelly meatballs will keep you coming back for more!
If you are craving something simple and delicious, you need to make this recipe for crockpot grape jelly meatballs! This easy meatball recipe has you combine the 4 ingredients, place them in your crockpot, and leave it be!
When you need to focus on making multiple dishes at once, this crockpot recipe is a great way to lighten the load. It's guaranteed to keep all your guest full and happy while you work on other things!
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❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!
Perfectly Simple! Super easy to make, these meatballs will give you that happy, stress-free feeling.
Full of Flavor! With the savory meatball, the sweet grape jelly and the luscious ketchup, you get a delectable mixture of flavors that will keep you coming back for more!
They're Versatile! Serve them as an appetizer, or make them the main course with a few simple additions!
🥘 Ingredients
Delicious and easy, you only need 4 ingredients to make this scrumptious dish! Using precooked meatballs cuts down on prep time and the sauce practically makes itself!
- 3 pounds Frozen Meatballs - You can find frozen meatballs in any supermarket and buy your favorite brand or use the generic brand (which usually has the same flavor and texture)!
- 2 cups Concord Grape Jelly - Use 11.5 ounces per cup, and any brand of concord grape jelly will work, just make sure it is GRAPE jelly!
- 1 ½ cups Ketchup - In place of ketchup, you can use BBQ sauce, sweet chili sauce, chili sauce (like Heinz 57), or the thicker chili paste (like Sambal Oelek). Now, obviously, the chili paste will bump up the spice factor, so keep that in mind when choosing ingredients!
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper - Cayenne adds a nice kick to any dish, you can add more if you want a bit more spice, but be careful, a little bit goes a long way!
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch and 1 tablespoon Cold Water - To make a slurry. If your sauce is a little too thin and you want to thicken it up, this is a great way to do it.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions
In just 4 easy steps, you will have a crave-worthy appetizer! All the equipment you need for this recipe is a crockpot and a slotted spoon!
- Add. Add 3 pounds frozen meatballs to your crockpot. *If you're meatballs are raw, cook them according to the package first.
- Combine. Pour the 1 ½ cups ketchup, 2 cups grape jelly, and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper over the meatballs. Stir to combine.
- Simmer. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through.
- Thicken (optional). Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Add to the crockpot sauce 15 minutes before serving. Use more if needed, adding only 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixture at a time to thicken.
Serve over rice or mashed potatoes if you want to make a main course out of your meatballs! Your friends and family will surely be asking you for this easy recipe! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- If you choose to substitute the ketchup for BBQ sauce, sweet chili sauce or chili paste, make sure you taste as you go! You don't want to overpower the grape jelly or the meatball taste!
- If you prefer to make your own meatballs from scratch in place of frozen meatballs, make sure you have cooked them thoroughly before placing them in the crockpot!
- For easy serving, you can leave them in the crockpot and have a large spoon ready for it or, if you want to have them looking a little more fancy, place a frilly toothpick in each meatball!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
To store these meatballs, simply place in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 7 days!
When freezing these delicious meatballs, again you want to store them in an air-tight container and they will last in the freezer for 7-8 months! Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheating Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs
You can reheat in an oven at 425°F (220°C) on a foil lined sheet pan for 8-10 minutes, let cool for 1 minute and serve!
🍲 More Delicious Crockpot Recipes!
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📋 Recipe
Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs
Ingredients
- 3 lbs frozen meatballs
- 2 cups concord grape jelly (11.5 ounces per cup)
- 1 ½ cups ketchup (or BBQ sauce, chili sauce, or chili paste like Sambal Oelek)
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more, to taste)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch (optional - to thicken the sauce before serving)
- 1 tablespoon cold water (optional - to make slurry with cornstarch)
Instructions
- To begin, add your frozen meatballs to your crockpot (*if they are raw, cook them according to the instructions on the package first).3 lbs frozen meatballs
- Pour the grape jelly, ketchup, and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper to taste over the top of the meatballs. Stir to combine so that all the meatballs are coated in the jelly mixture.2 cups concord grape jelly, 1 ½ cups ketchup, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until meatballs are sufficiently hot.
- (Optional) If you desire a thicker sauce, add a slurry of cornstarch and water to the crockpot 15 minutes before serving. Use more as needed, adding only 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time to thicken until desired consistency is reached.1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon cold water
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- Grape jelly meatballs can be kept warm (such as for a party or potluck) for up to 3 hours. Set the crockpot to 'warm' and serve them from there. Occasionally give them a stir, and add a splash of water if the sauce gets too thick.
- Place toothpicks nearby so guests can poke and grab their own meatball, or offer them on a platter with toothpicks in the center for easy grabbing.
- Enjoy jelly meatballs as a meal by serving them over rice or mashed potatoes.
- We've found that the ketchup and bbq sauce version are universally loved by everyone, regardless of their age. The chili sauce version is appreciated by groups with older kids. 🙂
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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