Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
101 Comments Jan 23, 2020
Updated Oct 16, 2024
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Only three ingredients to make these easy Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs! Great for any party.
Frozen meatballs are easily made in the slow cooker, besides this easy recipe I love to make barbecue meatballs, cranberry meatballs, and slow cooker meatball subs.
Table of Contents
- How to make Grape Jelly Meatballs:
- What is chili sauce?
- Can I use a different type of Jelly?
- What can I use instead of chili sauce?
- My store doesn’t carry 32 ounce bags of meatballs what can I use?
- Can I use turkey meatballs or Italian style meatballs?
- What to serve with Grape Jelly Meatballs?
- Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe
- More meatball recipes to make in the crockpot:
My go-to meatball recipe has always been with barbecue sauce until I tried crockpot grape jelly meatballs! What amazing flavor these meatballs have. I can’t just eat one but MUST go back for many plates of these. You can also use this recipe to make Grape Jelly Little Smokies!
How to make Grape Jelly Meatballs:
- Grape Jelly – Grape jelly (I use Welch’s) is the magic ingredient in this recipe. It is not overpowering, it’s a subtle flavor and add sweetness to the recipe.
- Chili Sauce – Look for Heinz or the store brand
- Meatballs – These are found in the frozen section in your store.
What is chili sauce?
- There are different types of chili sauce, the one in this recipe is near the ketchup in your grocery store (I use Heinz chili sauce).
- Heinz chili sauce is made from tomatoes, garlic, sweet peppers, and aromatic spices
- DO NOT use sriracha hot chili sauce or sweet Thai chili sauce unless you want it to be VERY spicy.
Can I use a different type of Jelly?
Yes, use a jelly, jam or preserves. Here are some great alternatives to grape jelly:
- Strawberry jam or jelly
- Apple jelly
- Raspberry jam or preserves
What can I use instead of chili sauce?
Chili sauce works best for this recipe if you can’t find it or in a pinch and can’t get to the store you can substitute with one of these:
- Ketchup – add a touch of onion, garlic and chili powder.
- Barbecue sauce – any kind will work.
My store doesn’t carry 32 ounce bags of meatballs what can I use?
- This recipe is very flexible! You can use a slightly smaller bag or two bags that equal a little more than 32 ounces.
- Will work fine, there is plenty of sauce in this recipe.
Can I use turkey meatballs or Italian style meatballs?
- Any style of frozen meatball can be used in this recipe such as Italian, angus or even turkey.
- If you are looking for a healthier meatball try Trader Joe’s brand.
- You can even use meatless meatballs in this recipe!
What to serve with Grape Jelly Meatballs?
- Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks at a party
- With steamed rice
- Over mashed potatoes
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Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
Classic recipe for meatballs made with frozen meatballs, grape jelly and chili sauce.
Ingredients
- 32 oz. bag frozen meatballs, I use homestyle
- 20 oz. grape jelly, I use Welch's
- 12 oz. Heinz chili sauce
Instructions
- Put the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker. Add the grape jelly and chili sauce.
- Stir until the meatballs are coated in the grape and chili sauce mixture.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 2.5-3 hours or LOW for 4-5 hours. Stirring occasionally so the meatballs won't burn on the edges.
Keeping the grape jelly meatballs warm at a party:
- Turn the slow cooker to warm. Can be kept warm at a party for 3+ hours. Stir often, and add a splash of water if the sauce thickens too much.
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
What is chili sauce?
- There are different types of chili sauce, the one in this recipe is near the ketchup in your grocery store (I use Heinz chili sauce).
- Heinz chili sauce is made from tomatoes, garlic, sweet peppers, and aromatic spices
- DO NOT use sriracha hot chili sauce or sweet Thai chili sauce unless you want it to be VERY spicy.
- Strawberry jam or jelly
- Apple jelly
- Raspberry jam or preserves
- Ketchup – add a touch of onion, garlic and chili powder.
- Barbecue sauce – any kind will work.
- This recipe is very flexible! You can use a slightly smaller bag or two bags that equal a little more than 32 ounces.
- Will work fine, there is plenty of sauce in this recipe.
- Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks at a party
- With steamed rice
- Over mashed potatoes
- Any style of frozen meatball can be used in this recipe such as Italian, Angus or even turkey.
- If you are looking for a healthier meatball try Trader Joe’s brand.
- You can even use meatless meatballs in this recipe!
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 252mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 121IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!
More meatball recipes to make in the crockpot:
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs – just as easy as this recipe!
- Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs – GREAT with egg noodles.
- Slow Cooker Meatballs and Little Smokies – Both of best worlds!
- Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs – Homemade and great for school night dinners.
- Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs – Same veggies as Chinese restaurants!
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs – just three ingredients!
- Slow Cooker Asian Meatballs (by Tornado Ali) – great over rice for a main meal
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs
I used to make this back in the 90’s with katsup and diced onions. Everyone loved it at parties. So good.
Worth noting: If you don’t want the full blast of spice that the Sriracha/Thai Chili sauces bring, but you think you might want to try a ‘little’ bit of spice, you can always proportionally split it with the regular chili sauce (for example: 6 oz of regular, 6 oz of the Sriracha type; you can adjust up/down as you see fit between the 2, so long as you end up with 12 oz of chili sauce)
Can you cook frozen browned meatballs in a crock pot. Should they be fully cooked
Yes, you can cook frozen cooked meatballs in the slow cooker. No need to precook.
“DO NOT use sriracha hot chili sauce or sweet Thai chili sauce unless you want it to be VERY spicy.” – My one associate team lead at work would probably try this actually. She LOVES spicy LOL!
We don’t have frozen cooked meatballs here can I use uncooked ……or should I brown them off first? Timings please….I now have some grape jelly! Excited to try
I would brown them first and do about the same amount of time. Be gentle when you stir them.
My family has been making these with homemade meatballs for at least 3 generations.We make them for party appetizers. You can use another kind of jelly if you don’t have grape.I’ve even used orange marmalade with a few drops of soy sauce.They are always a crowd pleaser and just as good with little smokies.
If I’m doubling the recipe or making a little bit more, does that increase the cooking time?
I would do 5 hours on low or 4 hours on high if I was doubling this.
What is the serving size ?
It depends on how many meatballs are in your bag. I would account for about 4 meatballs per person.