Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (2024)

These juicy Grape Jelly Meatballs are the best appetizer recipe. Tender and juicy meatballs smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce and slow-cooked to perfection. The sauce has just three ingredients and you’ll love how easy it is.

Grape Jelly Meatballs are perfect for New Year’s parties or any gathering. If you are looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, these are always a hit, along with our Jalapeno Poppers or the Easy Cheese Ball.

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (1)

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Grape Jelly Meatballs

These delicious grape jelly meatballs are loved by everyone. Meatballs tossed together with grape jelly, bbq sauce, and garlic chili sauce then slow cooked until tender, saucy and flavorful.

We love serving these during the holidays, game nights, or even for a simple dinner over fluffy white rice.

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Grape Jelly Meatballs

With just 4 basic ingredients you can have this amazing appetizer thrown together and allow the crockpot to do the rest of the work.

  • Meatballs – For this recipe we use frozen meatballs made of pork, beef, and chicken from the local grocery store. You can use any of your favorite frozen meatballs for this recipe.
  • Grape Jelly – Any grape jelly will work, we prefer using Smucker’s grape jelly.
  • Chili Sauce – You can also adjust the amount for the level of heat you prefer. Any chili sauce will work for this recipe, we love Huey Fong Chili Sauce (the same sauce we use in Shrimp co*cktail Sauce and Springroll Dipping Sauce).
  • Barbecue Sauce – We love Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce for this recipe.
Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (3)

How to Make Grape Jelly Meatballs

This recipe is so easy to make. With just 5 minutes of prep time, you can have this appetizer ready to go in your crockpot.

  1. Into the slow cooker, add: frozen meatballs, jelly, bbq, and chili sauce to the slow cooker. Toss until combined. TIP: You can also mix the bbq, jelly and chili sauce in a separate bowl then pour over the meatballs.
  2. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring halfway through cooking. Once the meatballs are cooked, turn the slow cooker to warm and keep warm until ready to serve.
  3. Garnish with parsley or chives if desired.

Other Cooking Methods

If you do not have a slow cooker, don’t worry, here are two other methods that you can use to make these meatballs.

  • Stovetop Grape Jelly Meatballs – Add the meatballs, barbecue, grape jelly, and chili sauce in a Dutch oven or large pot and combine. Simmer over medium/low heat for 25-30 minutes or until the meatballs are warmed through, stirring occasionally to keep the sauce from burning.
  • Oven-Baked Grape Jelly Meatballs – Add all the ingredients into a casserole dish or Dutch oven and mix to combine. Cover with lid or foil and bake at 325°F for 20-25 minutes or until the meatballs have cooked through. Note: Adjust the cooking time based on the size of your meatballs.
Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (4)

To Serve

There are several different ways to enjoy these meatballs! Here are some of our favorite ways:

  • Appetizer – They make for the ultimate appetizer, serve with toothpicks at your next gathering, or game day tailgating party!
  • Side Dish– Serve these as a side dish for the holidays. The flavors in these meatballs really stand out and this recipe always gets compliments.
  • Entree – Serve over cooked rice or with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or pasta as a main entree.
Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (5)

Common Questions

How to store grape jelly meatballs?

You can store the grape jelly meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can I use fresh meatballs?

Yes, you can use Homemade Meatballs or even our Turkey Meatballs. You’ll want to be sure to cook the meatballs first.

What kind of meatballs do I use?

You can use any type of frozen meatballs that you like, Italian, Angus, and turkey meatballs work great for this recipe. The frozen Italian-style meatballs from Costco work great.

Can I omit the chili sauce?

Yes, if you do not like spicy foods then you can leave out the chili sauce completely.

What other jelly can I use?

While the grape jelly is classic to this recipe, you can switch up the flavor of jelly you use for different flavors! You can also use strawberry, apple, apricot, mixed berry jam, or preserves.

Make-Ahead

Here’s a great food storage guide from the FDA – print this and tape it inside one of your kitchen cabinets to reference.

  • To Freeze – Once cooled, add to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 2 to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
  • To Reheat – Grape Jelly Meatballs reheat well. Just add them back to the slow cooker to reheat or you can also reheat in the oven, stovetop, or microwave until steamy hot and fully heated through.
Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (6)

More Party Appetizers

Grape Jelly Meatballs are a real treat. Everyone is always surprised when they find out what is in the sauce. It’s a keeper of a recipe.

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe

5 from 424 votes

Author: Valentina Ablaev

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (8)

These juicy Grape Jelly Meatballs are the best appetizer recipe! Tender and juicy meatballs smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce and slow-cooked to perfection. You can easily scale this recipe up, or scale down if using a smaller crockpot.

SavePinReviewPrint

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 3 hours hrs

Total Time: 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 12 servings as an appetizer

  • 32 oz frozen fully cooked meatballs
  • 1 cup grape jelly, we like Smuckers brand
  • 1 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, we like Sweet Baby Ray's brand
  • 2 Tbsp chili garlic sauce

Instructions

Notes

NOTE: The chili sauce gives the meatballs a slight kick. If you want your meatballs on the sweeter side, you can omit the chili sauce completely.

Nutrition Per Serving

342kcal Calories35g Carbs13g Protein16g Fat6g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat7g Monounsaturated Fat54mg Cholesterol558mg Sodium322mg Potassium1g Fiber26g Sugar85IU Vitamin A3mg Vitamin C28mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

342

% Daily Value*

Fat

16

g

25

%

Saturated Fat

6

g

38

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

7

g

Sodium

558

mg

24

%

Potassium

322

mg

9

%

Carbohydrates

35

g

12

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

26

g

29

%

Protein

13

g

26

%

Vitamin A

85

IU

2

%

Vitamin C

3

mg

4

%

Calcium

28

mg

3

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: grape jelly meatballs

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $$

Calories: 342

Valentina Ablaev

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (9)

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!

Read more posts by Valentina

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do people put grape jelly in meatballs? ›

To make these sweet and tangy meatballs, you'll need: Grape jelly: For a sweetness that balances the chili sauce, and to provide a glossy finish to the sauce. Chili sauce: Tomato paste, spices, and garlic give this sauce its depth. Barbecue sauce: Thickens the sauce while complementing the jelly and chili sauce.

Why are my grape jelly meatballs runny? ›

To thicken runny grape jelly meatball sauce, mix up a teaspoon of cornstarch (or even two depending on how thick you want things) with an equal amount of water. Stir this into the bubbling meatball mixture during the last hour they're in the slow cooker.

What is a substitute for grape jelly in meatball sauce? ›

Replace the Grape Jelly with apricot preserves, orange marmalade, canned cranberry sauce, raspberry preserves, or hot pepper jelly. Replace the Ketchup with Heinz chili sauce or barbecue sauce. If swapping the ketchup for chili sauce, it is not a spicy sauce.

What do you do with grape jelly? ›

DEAR JENELLE: You can add grape jelly to smoothies, yogurt, pancakes, French toast, waffles, cottage cheese, oatmeal, ice cream or muffins. Or add it to cream cheese to top a bagel, cornbread, biscuit or toast.

Why is it called baby shower meatballs? ›

Baby shower meatballs are just meatballs that people like to eat at baby showers. They're a yummy snack that's easy to eat with your fingers. They're not special meatballs, they just get called that because they're often served at baby showers.

Is grape jam and grape jelly the same thing? ›

Jams and jellies are both soft, sweet spreads made from fruit, sugar and pectin. The main difference between jam and jelly is that jam is made with fruit whereas jelly is made with fruit juice.

How do you know when grape jelly is done? ›

Keep the mixture at a slow boil until it is jelly. There are several ways to determine when it is done. One way is with a candy thermometer. When the thermometer reaches 220º it should be of the correct consistency for jelly.

How do I make my meatballs firmer? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

Why isn t my grape jelly setting? ›

Low cooking temperature: The temperature to which you cook jam significantly impacts its thickness. If the jam doesn't reach a high enough temperature, the pectin or other gelling agents won't set. If the temperature is too high, it will be too sticky and gummy. Ideal jam sets when taken to 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can you jar meatballs in sauce? ›

Ladle sauce over meatballs in jars leaving 1 inch headspace. Warm lids and rings in hot water. Clean the rims of the jars, and screw on the lids. Pressure can for 90 minutes at 10 pounds if canning 1,000 feet beneath sea level.

What is the difference between grape jelly and strawberry preserves? ›

Jelly: Jelly is made with strained fruit juice. There are no pieces of fruit in jelly. Jam: Jam is made with mashed fruit. Preserves: Preserves have whole fruit or large pieces of fruit.

Is eating grape jelly good for you? ›

Yes, grape jelly can be healthy because of its pectin and antioxidants, which promote better digestion. Even versions containing less sugar, like our sugar free grape jelly, still make it the ultimate energy booster.

Is grape jelly good for your stomach? ›

Another benefit of grape jelly consumption is that it can help improve digestion. The pectin in grape jelly can act as a natural laxative, promoting regular bowel movements and preventing constipation.

What happens if you don't refrigerate grape jelly? ›

But there are still certain microorganisms, called osmophiles, that are resistant to these conditions and can cause spoilage over time, he explains. Jam and jelly will deteriorate quicker when stored outside the fridge.

Why do people put grape jelly in meatballs on Reddit? ›

Can confirm it works great to sweeten meat and help keep it moist. The old co*cktail meatball or weenie “sauce” that's one bottle chili sauce and 8oz grape jelly.

What does grape jelly do for you? ›

Yes, grape jelly can be healthy because of its pectin and antioxidants, which promote better digestion. Even versions containing less sugar, like our sugar free grape jelly, still make it the ultimate energy booster.

Why does IKEA serve jam with meatballs? ›

The traditional way to serve Swedish meatballs (köttbullar) is with lingonberry jam and a creamy gravy. The lingonberry jam provides a sweet and tart contrast to the savory meatballs, while the gravy adds richness and moisture.

What makes meatballs stick together better? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

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