Barbecue Meatballs with Grape Jelly
Whip up delicious Barbecue Meatballs with Grape Jelly in no time with this simple recipe! With just three ingredients, it’s the best appetizer to impress your guests at any party, holiday or game-day get-together!
If you’re in search of a fun and easy appetizer that everyone will LOVE, Barbecue Meatballs with Grape Jelly should be at the top of your list. This classic party appetizer is one my mom would make every holiday season. It combines the sweet taste of grape jelly with the tangy flavor of barbecue sauce.
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Don’t worry if you’re short on time; this recipe is super simple. With just 3 key ingredients and a few easy steps, you’ll have a delicious appetizer that will be the favorite for any party, game day tailgate, or holiday meal. Grab some toothpicks and get ready to serve up a tasty bite that will have everyone going back for more!
Need more crowd-pleasing, appetizer inspiration? Be sure to check out our viral Red Lobster Sausage Balls, Roast Beef Sliders, and Ricotta Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Like This Recipe
- Quick and Easy. With only three main ingredients and minimal cooking time, barbecue sauce and grape jelly meatballs come together quickly, making them easy to whip up for last-minute gatherings.
- Tried-and-True Family Appetizer. This is always requested by my kids for parties and holidays. The combination of grape jelly and barbecue sauce creates a unique flavor that surprises and delights every palate.
- Versatile for any course. These grape jelly and barbecue meatballs work well as an appetizer, a main dish, or even as part of a potluck. Serve them alongside toothpicks for easy snacking or over rice for a complete meal.
Laura Ashley’s Tip: We make these grape jelly and barbecue meatballs even more party friendly by serving them in a slow cooker! It keeps them warm and fresh all party long.
Ingredients
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Frozen Meatballs: The star of slow cooker grape jelly meatballs, they provide convenience and save time, allowing you to skip the step of making them from scratch. Or…make them from scratch with my meatball recipe under “Tips and Substitutions.” Frozen beef meatballs are my favorite to use, but chicken, pork, plant-based, or turkey meatballs all work great! Italian meatballs are yummy too! You can also make my homemade meatballs (double the recipe).
- Grape Jelly: This ingredient adds a sweet and fruity flavor, balancing the savory notes of the barbecue sauce. It also helps to create a thick, luscious sauce that coats the meatballs perfectly.
- Barbecue Sauce: The final ingredient for crockpot bbq jelly meatballs. It brings tanginess and rich flavor to the dish, complementing the sweetness of the grape jelly and creating a delicious sauce for the meatballs.
Tools You’ll Need
How to Make Barbecue Meatballs with Grape Jelly
- Optional step: If you have extra time, bake or sear the meatballs first. If baking them, place the meatballs in a single layer on an aluminum foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake according to package directions. If searing them, place in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the exterior is slightly browned. This should take about 4-6 minutes.
- To a large crockpot, whisk together grape jelly and barbecue sauce.
- Add the meatballs to the mixture, and stir until coated well.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours or high heat for 2-3.
- Once the cooking time has completed, uncover, stir well, then set the heat to the warm setting for serving. You can serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks or over rice for a main dish.
Expert Tips
- Thawing Meatballs. If time allows, let the frozen meatballs thaw in the refrigerator before cooking for even better texture. However, you can cook them directly from frozen if you’re pressed for time.
- Make Homemade Meatballs. Want made-from-scratch, homestyle meatballs, double the ingredients of this easy recipe. Roll the meat into 1-inch balls and bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes or until golden brown with an internal temperature of 165°F is reached.
- Spice it Up. Add a splash of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or chili flakes to the barbecue sauce for an extra kick if you enjoy a bit of heat.
- Garnish Options. Add a pop of color and freshness with sliced green onion, cilantro, or chives.
Meatball Sauce Swaps and Tips
Feel free to use your favorite brand or type of barbecue sauce—smoky, sweet, or spicy—to customize the flavor to your liking. You can also opt to use a jar or Heinz chili sauce.
If you don’t have sweet grape jelly, you can substitute with other fruit preserves, such as apple jelly, raspberry or cherry, for a similar sweetness with a different twist. If you want additional sauce for serving, simply add more of each to the balance of flavors and amounts desired.
Here are some more delicious sauce options for meatballs in a crockpot:
- BBQ Raspberry Sauce: 1 1/2 cups Fischer & Wieser Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce: 2 cups teriyaki sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce: 2 cups sweet and sour sauce
- Honey Garlic Sauce: Combine 1 3/4 cups barbecue sauce, 1/4 cup honey, 4 minced garlic cloves or 1-1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
Storage
Store any leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. To freeze, place the cooled meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warm through when ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Simply combine the grape jelly and barbecue sauce in the slow cooker, add the frozen meatballs, and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
Serve the meatballs on toothpicks as appetizers or serve over cooked rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta for a main dish. They can also be placed in a warm chafing dish for parties.
Yes, you can. Just make sure the homemade meatballs are fully cooked before adding them to the sauce for the best results.
You can try adding different types of jelly, using flavored barbecue sauces, or adding ingredients like diced onions or garlic to the sauce for a more complex flavor.
More Delicious Appetizers
Barbecue Meatballs with Grape Jelly
Ingredients
- 2-2 1/2 pounds frozen meatballs beef, turkey, pork, chicken or plant-based
- 1 cup grape jelly
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Optional step: If you have extra time, bake or sear the meatballs first. If baking them, place the meatballs in a single layer on an aluminum foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake according to package directions. If searing them, place in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the exterior is slightly browned. This should take about 4-6 minutes.
- To a large crockpot, whisk together grape jelly and barbecue sauce.
- Add the meatballs to the mixture, and stir until coated well.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours or high heat for 2-3.
- Once the cooking time has completed, uncover, stir well, then set the heat the warm for serving.
- You can serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks or over rice for a main dish.
Video
Notes
Pro Tips and Substitutions
- Thawing Meatballs. If time allows, let the frozen meatballs thaw in the refrigerator before cooking for even better texture. However, you can cook them directly from frozen if you’re pressed for time.
- Make Homemade Meatballs. Want made-from-scratch, homestyle meatballs, follow this easy recipe. Roll the meat into 1-inch balls and bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes or until golden brown with an internal temperature of 165°F is reached.
- Spice it Up. Add a splash of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or chili flakes to the barbecue sauce for an extra kick if you enjoy a bit of heat.
- Garnish Options. Add a pop of color and freshness with sliced green onion, cilantro, or chives.
Storage
Store any leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. To freeze, place the cooled meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave when ready to serve.Nutrition
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
Hey! Just just making sure I understand this correctly. I can bake the meatballs according to the package directions and then still cook them in a crock pot on high for 2-3 hours? Will they be overcooked by baking them first?
They won’t be overcooked. They’ll be extra tender. I hope you love them!!
Grape jelly did not do anything for me, would have been better with just BBQ sauce.
We love it with grape jelly, but it’s an easy one to adapt to your palette 🙂 Thanks for giving it a try.
I have been making these for years, however, I don’t use Bar-b-sauce, I use Chili sauce instead. Absolutely delicious.
YUM!!! That’s such a delicious sauce combo too!
I don’t know about the grape jelly sauce I’m in wa australia haven’t seen it here is there a way of making it please
Grape Jelly of any brand will work 🙂 I noted on the tips and substitutions several combinations that will work as well. I hope you love them! So cool that you’re from Austraila too!