Crockpot Grape Jelly & Chili Sauce Meatballs - these savory meatballs coated in sweet jelly and spicy Heinz chili sauce are a delicious (and addicting) combination of flavors that everyone in your family will love.
These grape jelly and chili sauce crockpot meatballs are always a hit when I take them to parties. In fact, my friends and family have started to expect them and anticipate them at nearly every get-together! The kids all love the grape jelly element, and the chili sauce gives them a little kick that adults enjoy. I’ll never reveal my secret (well, to them, anyway) that these only include 6 ingredients, and they’re all store-bought.
To make these 6 ingredient slow cooker meatballs, you simply whisk the jelly and chili sauce in the crockpot, add in the frozen meatballs, and let them cook. It doesn’t get much easier than that! The hardest part is waiting to eat these sweet and sour meatballs.
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
- You only need 6 ingredients, and the most prep work you have to do is open a bag, a few jar lids, and some spices!
- Cleanup is both a breeze. You don’t have to wash any cutting boards or knives!
- It’s such a versatile recipe - these are delicious as an entree or as an appetizer for an event.
- You can keep the ingredients on hand so that you have a party appetizer dish ready to go at the snap of a finger.
Equipment For your Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
- Slow Cooker/Crock Pot
- Whisk
- Toothpicks
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
- Frozen Homestyle Meatballs
- Grape Jelly
- Chili Sauce
- Onion Powder, Black Pepper, and Garlic Powder
How to Make Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
- Add chili sauce, grape jelly, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper to your slow cooker. Whisk together.
- Add meatballs to the sauce and mix together. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the sauce is hot.
- Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer, or over rice as a main dish.
Storing & Reheating
If your family doesn’t devour all of these meatballs in one sitting like mine does, you can store these in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can either keep them in the crockpot and lock the lid or switch them to a different sealed container. Make sure that the meatballs are completely cooled before refrigerating them.
You can also freeze these meatballs in a sealed container for up to 6 weeks.
To reheat leftover meatballs, make sure that they are completely thawed, and then you can either put them back in the Crockpot until they are warmed through or put them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until warm.
Tips For Making the Best Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
- The best tip that I can give you for this meatball recipe is to either line or spray your slow cooker before you start! This keeps you from having a hot, sticky mess on your hands when you’re ready for cleanup. Thank me later!
Substitutions and Variations
Are you vegetarian or trying to cut back on your meat intake? You can also make this recipe with plant-based frozen meatballs. I’ve seen these in the healthy food freezer section at most grocery stores. You could also use turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs.
If grape jelly isn’t your favorite, try experimenting with other jelly flavors. You could also use a sugar-free jelly if someone in your party has dietary restrictions.
What To Serve/Pair With Your Best Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
While these meatballs are most commonly used as a party appetizer, they can also be served as an entree! My family thinks that it’s a special treat when we have these for dinner. I pair mine with baked potatoes or Scalloped Potatoes.
If you’re looking for another appetizer to pair these with, they’re delicious when paired with a cheese tray. Because these are so filling, you could also just pair them with a veggie or fruit tray.
These pair well with almost any drink that you can imagine! One of my favorites with these meatballs is a Watermelon Lemonade. The flavor of the meatballs is so strong that I like something that’s not too sweet.
Slow Cooker Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce FAQs
Sure. Grape jelly is definitely the most popular with these, and is my favorite to use, but feel free to experiment with other fruit flavors. Raspberry or strawberry would be two good options to try! One of the favorites that I just tried was blackberry.
You can use whatever kind is available to you, but my favorite is Heinz chili sauce.
When these meatballs are done, you’ll see the chili and jelly sauce bubbling, and you’ll easily be able to stick a toothpick into a meatball.
More Recipes That You Will Love
- Crock Pot Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix
- Original Mississippi Chuck Roast (Slow Cooker Recipe!)
- Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole (With Ritz Crackers)
- Shredded Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
Make Sure to Come Back And Let Me Know How Your Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce Turned Out!
The Best Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (32 ounce) bag fully cooked meatballs
- 1 (12 ounce) bottle Heinz chili sauce
- 1 (18 ounce) jar grape jelly
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add chili sauce, grape jelly, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper to your slow cooker. Whisk together.
- Add meatballs to the sauce and mix together. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the sauce is hot.
- Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over rice as a main dish.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
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