3-Ingredient Grape Jelly Meatballs

Make these sweet and savory Grape Jelly Meatballs for your next get-together! With only a few simple ingredients and hardly any prep, these meatballs are the perfect appetizer for a holiday party, tailgates, and game day gatherings!

When I bring these meatballs to a party, people ALWAYS ask for the recipe! Everyone is so surprised when I tell them how easy these party meatballs are to make! I use frozen pre-cooked meatballs to make it even easier, but you can make your own homemade meatballs if you really want to impress your friends!

Why Meatballs are the Perfect Appetizer

• The sweet and tangy sauce is delicious! It kind of reminds me of sweet and sour meatballs.
• They are perfect for spearing with toothpicks so you can eat on the go.
• They are easy to make, and perfect for even a novice home chef to make.
• Since they warm in the crockpot, all you have to do is throw everything in the pot and go!
• They are a huge hit at parties! Kids and adults both love them!

Ingredients for Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs

You only need three simple ingredients to make the sauce for these crockpot meatballs:

• Grape Jelly (you can also use jam which is what I prefer)
• Chili sauce (I prefer Heinz chili sauce but any brand will do)
• Worcestershire sauce (optional, but adds a bit of umami, so I highly suggest it)

Grab a 26-ounce bag of frozen meatballs from the grocery store as well to easily make this dish. I like frozen homestyle meatballs, but Italian meatballs are great too.

You can find the exact amount of ingredients you’ll need in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

How to Make This 3-Ingredient Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe

You hardly need any prep for these meatballs. You can make this easy recipe in just two easy steps:

1. Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and stir well.
2. Set the slow cooker to low, cover it, and cook for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.

To serve, set the slow cooker to warm. Serve garnished with chopped green onions or freshly chopped parsley. These slow cooker grape jelly meatballs can be served alone as an appetizer or over rice for a main dish for four to six people depending on what else you choose to serve with it.

Recipe Variations

• You could use ketchup or barbecue sauce in place of the sweet chili sauce for a slightly different flavor profile.
• You can make your own meatballs instead of using frozen meatballs.
• You can heat the sauce in a saucepan before pouring it over the meatballs in the crockpot to better emulsify the ingredients.

FAQs

How many meatballs should I plan per person?

This recipe is calculated for about 5 meatballs per person. The great news is that this recipe is easy to scale up if you need to feed more people!

How do you store leftover meatballs?

Transfer the meatballs and sauce to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in a saucepan on medium-low heat until warmed throughout or in a crockpot on LOW for 1-2 hours.

Can I make Grape Jelly Meatballs ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make the cocktail meatball recipe in its entirety, refrigerate and simply reheat it on the stove or crockpot (see instructions above).

Can I use turkey meatballs?

Of course! You will hardly be able to tell the difference. Turkey meatballs are lower in fat, so they are a good choice if that is important to you.

Looking for More Meatball Recipes?

If you want to try this recipe with homemade meatballs, or you want homemade ones in pasta, sub sandwiches or on their own with some veggies, then I highly recommend this Homemade Meatball Recipe.

Cranberry Meatballs are a must-try! These delicious, beefy cocktail meatballs are smothered in a tangy sauce, making the perfect bite! 

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs are meatballs made with onion and garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan and Romano cheeses, basil, oregano, onion and filled with a cube of mozzarella cheese to give your family or guests a tasty surprise as they cut into it.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs – flavorful meatballs made with ground chicken, buffalo sauce, and Panko bread crumbs. They are the perfect game-day party appetizer or in a roll topped with your choice of blue cheese or ranch dressing.

Try These Game Day Snacks!

I’ve got all sorts of fun recipes you can prepare for your next party:

• Baked Spiced Almonds
• Easy Layered Taco Dip
• Pepperoni Bread
• Chicken Nachos
• Beer Cheese Dip and Homemade Pretzel Bites
• Aloha Sloppy Sliders

 What’s your favorite appetizer to serve at parties?

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