These Grape Jelly BBQ Meatballs are easy to make in the crock pot. This recipe only takes 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep! Doesn’t get better than that.
These meatballs are a tried and true appetizer recipe of mine. They literally couldn’t be easier to make and everyone always loves them. Other easy go-to’s are little smokies, meatball sliders and pigs in a blanket.
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Table of Contents
The Perfect Appetizer
These crockpot BBQ grape jelly meatballs are one of my family’s favorite meatball recipes. They are seriously so good and the perfect appetizer for game day! They almost remind me of sweet and sour meatballs but taste better.
My Grandpa has been making these crockpot meatballs for years and we always loved them growing up. My sister even talked him into making them as an appetizer at her wedding. Everyone loved them! Now of course my family has their actual “homemade meatballs recipe,” which are just as amazing.
The best part about BBQ meatballs is that no one would ever know how simple they are to make. Turn them into a main dish and serve them over sticky rice like I do with honey garlic meatballs. YUM!
3 simple ingredients!
These slow cooker grape jelly meatballs are so easy to make. You just need the 3 ingredients below to get started:
- Meatballs: I love getting the frozen meatballs from Costco or Kroger. They taste the best in my opinion. Homemade meatballs taste great as well if you have the time.
- Grape jelly: I keep it simple and use Smucker’s grape jelly.
- BBQ Sauce: Sweet baby ray’s BBQ sauce is my personal favorite. :) You can also make a homemade BBQ sauce if preferred.
How to Make Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
- Add ingredients to crockpot. Pour grape jelly and BBQ sauce in the bottom of your crockpot. Add in the meatballs and stir until fully coated.
- Cook meatballs in crockpot. Cook frozen meatballs in crockpot for 2 to 3 hours on high, or until warm. Make sure to stir a few times throughout.
- Serve and enjoy! Garnish with sliced green onions if desired and serve as an appetizer or main dish.
Variations
There are plenty of ways to easily mix up the flavors in this recipe. Check out some other yummy variations below:
- Sub Heinz chili sauce for BBQ sauce for an extra kick, like I did with these chili sauce meatballs or add brown sugar with chili sauce for cocktail meatballs!
- Replace grape jelly with 16 ounces sliced or diced pineapple for Hawaiian meatballs.
- Use 1/4 cup honey instead of jelly for a a little healthier alternative (add more or less to to taste).
- Make cranberry meatballs with leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. Sub an equal amount of cranberry sauce for grape jelly.
- Use 2 packages of little smokies instead of meatballs.
FAQ
We love to serve them with coconut rice, green beans and fresh cut pineapple.
If you’d like to thicken your sauce, you can mix together a cornstarch slurry (about 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 Tablespoon of water) and stir it into the sauce and allow it to simmer.
This is the base of the sauce (which helps thicken it) and brings the best flavor. I promise you won’t taste the grape flavor.
More Easy Appetizers:
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- 4-Ingredient Cheese Ball
- Easy 7-Layer Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Crockpot Bbq Meatballs
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (18-ounce) jar jar grape jelly
- 1 (18-ounce) jar BBQ sauce
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen fully cooked meatballs (about 50)
Optional: Cooked rice, Sliced green onions
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or the base of a slow cooker, combine the grape jelly and BBQ sauce. Add meatballs and stir until coated in sauce.
- Cook on high 2 to 3 hours or low 3 to 4 hours. Turn the slow cooker to warm until ready to serve.
- Enjoy as an appetizer or serve over rice and top with green onions for a main dish.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Patti
What brand of meatballs and where did you buy them?
Patti
What Brand are the meatballs?? What store do you get them at??
Jamielyn
Hi Patti! I usually get the Italian style meatballs from Costco!
Hannah
Hi! I’ve made these before and I want to make again but I need to make them ahead of time and bring them to a dinner party. Would that still be good? I can cook them in the crockpot during the day and then store them in the refrigerator and then heat them up in the oven at the party. Would like your feedback on this. And if it’s ok what temp in the oven do you recommend and for how long?
Jamielyn
Yes that would work fine! I have even reheated them the next day in the microwave and they tasted amazing! I would do 350 for 8-10 minutes and then check them!
Hannah
Could I make these in the morn/afternoon, bring in Tupperware to a party and reheat them in the oven? Trying to find simple yet tasty appetizer to bring to a dinner party but something I can make before. If I can hear them up, what temp in the oven would you recommend? Would you recommend tossing in am oven safe casserole dish? Thanks!
Jamielyn
Yes definitely! You could even microwave them if you didn’t have time to heat them up in the oven! I wouldn’t do higher than 350 if you decide to heat them in the oven.
autumn smith
could i make them while im at church and then keep them in the crockpot and travel and just re heat them in the crockpot ?
Beverly
Ok, I’ve come across this, and want to try it, but my family is kinda picky. Can you taste the grape jelly??
Jamielyn
I’m not a fan of grape jelly on sandwiches and I love these meatballs so I would say you can’t tell! :)
Kaitlin
Can you do this with uncooked homemade meatballs?
Jamielyn
It should work great with homemade meatballs! I would suggest cooking the meatballs first!
Amanda
Is it possible to use fresh ground beef for the meatballs?
Jamielyn
Hi Amanda! I haven’t tried this recipe with fresh ground beef since it makes it a super simple meal with frozen meatballs. I would think it would work the same but I would cook your meatballs first and then add them to the sauce.
Dorothy Johnson
Yes, I season the beef, crumbs garlic powder, onion powder an egg, little salt and pepper . To make the crumbs softer, and 1/4 cup of milk and 1 egg. Mix it and form your meatball, should be delicious. I have quite a few ways I make this recipe. This is a easier way, short cuts.
Noelle
Made this for a teacher potluck today at work. Nearly every teacher came by my room to ask for my recipe! Haha
Jamielyn
I love when that happens! I’m so glad everyone liked it, thanks for trying it! :)
sierra
Instead of 3 hours on high could i do 6 on low?
Jamielyn
Yes definitely! :)
Martha christensen
Hi I’m going to cook these for my son’s memorial service p0tluck . He loved things like these. Lost him on Xmas eve 2017.
Jamielyn
I’m so sorry for your loss Martha! Praying for you and your family.
diane grill
I’ve had Sam’s frozen meatballs, yes, they are ok. I prefer to make my own meatballs, that way I know whats in the meat. fyi, but going the other way is much more convenient.
Rebecca+Cooper
These sound so interesting! Going to have to give them a try!!
Jamielyn
I love how easy they are! Hope you enjoy this family favorite!
Melissa Hughes
I’ve made these for years and they are always eaten up immediately. I use Heinz Chili Sauce instead of bbq sauce. I’m thinking a combination of all 3 (bbq, chili sauce, and grape jelly) would be good as well.
Jamielyn
Mmmm a combo of all three of those would be delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Faithy
I’m trying this combination tonight. I will post you with the results!
Jamielyn
Hope you enjoy! :)
Shaunta
These look so good! We always have a bunch of different little munchies like this for New Year’s Eve and I think I’m going to add these to the mix this year. Thanks!
Jamielyn
I love little appetizers like these too! Glad you could add these to your NYE mix. :)
Kristyn
GREAAAAAT picture – seriously, these look so yummy!
Peppermint
What brand are the meatballs?
Janet
I myself but the Farm Rich Italian Style meatballs.
Michelle
These meatballs are amazing!! I love how easy they are too!
Lidia Anderson
Been making these for years and they are wonderful! Don’t overthink it, just throw it all together – guaranteed to be eaten immediately!
Jamielyn
They really are wonderful! I love how easy they are too! :)
Julie Stacks
Where did you grow up?
Jamielyn
I grew up in Arizona!
Lisa
We’ve been making these for years at my mom’s, but in lieu of bbq sauce, we use Heinz Cocktail Sauce. Has a tangy flavor. Secret is not to stir often so they get some little crunchy bits and they won’t fall apart.
Jamielyn
Mmmm sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing Lisa!
Chrissy
These look and sound similar to a friend’s meatballs that are amazing! I cannot wait to try these out for something different!!!