Crockpot BBQ grape jelly meatballs is an easy appetizer or meal that only needs 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to dump everything in your crockpot.
This family favorite dish takes the sweetness of jelly and the savory and tangy taste of barbecue sauce and creates a winning combination. Add a bag of your favorite frozen meatballs and that's it. Set your slow cooker and it's done in as little as 2 hours.
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- Simple 3-ingredient amazing appetizer that is going to be a big hit.
- A family favorite snack or perfect for a potluck.
- Easy crock pot recipe with a few minutes of prep time.
- Dump it in your slow cooker and done in a couple of hours.
- Great for a game day or tailgating party.
Crockpot bbq jelly meatballs makes a fabulous potluck dish that everyone will love to sample. Bringing meatballs is a dish that will please nearly everyone. Add your own flavor combination of bbq sauces and sweet jelly to change up the taste.
📝 Ingredients
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Pour bbq sauce and grape jelly at the bottom of your slow cooker and mix.
- Add the meatballs and mix well to cover.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours, stirring once in the middle of cooking.
💡 Tips
- Use any frozen meatballs you like; we've tried this with Italian style and Angus beef meatballs.
- Homemade meatballs work, too; cook them in the oven, then add them to the slow cooker for one hour.
- You can use the whole jar of grape jelly, but we preferred ours less sugary.
- Serve with your favorite side for an easy dinner or toothpicks for a bite-size appetizer.
- If you are serving these as an appetizer, you can keep the meatballs in the slow cooker on a warm setting for up to 3 hours. Keep an eye on it and stir often, adding a splash of water if the sauce is drying out.
🧺 Storage
Refrigerate - Leftover crockpot BBQ jelly meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. They make for an easy meatball sandwiches the next day.
Freeze - Place cooked meatballs in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat - Gently reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water on medium-low heat until heated thoroughly and the sauce is bubbly.
⌛ Make Ahead
Crockpot BBQ jelly meatballs are the perfect make-ahead meal as they can simmer in the crockpot until ready to eat the same day or be kept in your fridge for up to 4 days.
🍽️ Serve With
- BBQ meatballs can be served with Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables and look delicious on a buffet table, too!
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes or Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli taste awesome with this recipe.
- Mexican Chicken Pinwheels make the ideal spicy appetizer to complement this BBQ jelly meatballs for any gathering.
👩🍳 Variations
- Turkey meatballs work well for this recipe too.
- You can use any sort of jelly or jam you like, we've tried it with apricot and it came out delicious with a tangy sauce.
- If you are watching your carbs, you can make it with sugar free jelly and sugar free bbq sauce.
- Spice it up a bit and add some hot sauce.
- Use your favorite homemade jam or jelly.
💬 FAQs
BBQ jelly meatballs go wonderfully with mashed potatoes, potato wedges, mac and cheese, rice, vegetables, and even baked beans.
There is no need to thaw frozen meatballs before adding to your crockpot. Grape jelly meatballs cook quickly and evenly right in your slow cooker.
📣 Related Recipes
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- These buffalo chicken sliders with cream cheese are so good, they can be served at dinner, parties or for game day.
- Little smokies and crescent rolls are the perfect beefy meaty and buttery flaky combination for a quick snack or party appetizer. Make them extra special with different toppings.
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- This is the ultimate air fryer frozen chicken wings recipe. Crisp on the outside and tender and juicy inside. The perfect appetizer for sports day, backyard parties and gatherings.
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are juicy and bursting with flavor chicken dinner. Sweet, smokey, and sticky drumsticks with perfect skin and tender meat. A great dinner option or with your party spread.
More Kid Friendly Recipes
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If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.
Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 bottle bbq sauce 18oz
- ½ jar grape jelly 18oz
- 1 bag meatballs, frozen and fully cooked 20oz
Instructions
- Pour bbq sauce and grape jelly at the bottom of your slow cooker and mix.
- Add the meatballs and mix well to cover.
- Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours, stirring once in the middle of cooking.
- Serve garnished with chopped parsley or green onions.
Notes
- Use any frozen meatballs you like, we've tried this with Italian style and Angus beef meatballs.
- Homemade meatballs work too, cook them in the oven then add to the slow cooker for one hour.
- You can use the whole jar of grape jelly but we preferred ours less sugary.
- Serve with your favorite side for an easy dinner or toothpicks for bite size appetizer.
- Stovetop: Place all ingredients in a big pot, cover and cook over medium-low until bubbly then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Instant pot: Place all the ingredients along with 1 cup water in the instant pot mixing them all well then pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.
- Turkey meatballs work well for this recipe too.
- You can use any soft of jelly or jam you like, we've tried it with apricot and it was delicious too.
- If you are watching your carbs, you can make it with sugar free jelly and sugar free bbq sauce.
- Spice it up a bit and add some hot sauce.
- Use your favorite homemade jam or jelly.
- Leftover crockpot bbq meatballs can be store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days and frozen for up to to 3 months.
Neva
I’ve enjoyed these for years.
My friend Susan makes a variation on these; she uses a bottle of Heinz Chili Sauce and a can of whole berry cranberry sauce.
Donna Petree
I've made these for years and they are delicious and so easy to make. I recommend them to all my friends. Thanks for publishing them.